Talking heads

London Theatre News Today: Thursday 10 December

By Kitty Underwood Published 10 December 2020

Talking Heads makes £293,000 donation to Theatre Artists Fund

The international sales success of Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads, made by Nicholas Hytner and Kevin Loader for BBC One this spring, has enabled its collective of writer, actors, directors, producer and heads of department to make their second substantial charity donation to help those most affected by Covid. A donation of £293,000 will be made next week to the Theatre Artists Fund (TAF) which recently launched a new fundraising campaign as the pandemic has lengthened.

Thousands of theatre professionals in the UK are struggling. Many of them haven’t been able to get help from the existing Government schemes, and the situation continues to worsen. They need help now.”  Sam Mendes, who spearheads TAF.

The series, a re-make of ten of the original Talking Heads plus two new ones, was made in April and May at Elstree with 2m social distancing at the invitation of Piers Wenger, BBC’s Controller of Drama. Waiving their usual fees except for a single ‘furlough’ payment each of £2,500, the collective donated over £1million to NHS Charities Together this summer.

The individuals responsible for the charity donations are: Alan Bennett; actors – Jodie Comer, Monica Dolan, Martin Freeman, Tamsin Greig, Sarah Lancashire, Lesley Manville, Lucian Msamati, Maxine Peake, Rochenda Sandall, Kristin Scott Thomas, Imelda Staunton, Harriet Walter; directors – Marianne Elliott, Nadia Fall, Sarah Frankcom, Jeremy  Herrin, Nicholas  Hytner, Jonathan  Kent, Josie Rourke; heads of department  Simon Bowles, Naomi Donne, Jacqueline Durran, George Fenton, Zac Nicholson, Robert Sterne; producers – Steve Clark Hall, Kevin Loader, London Theatre Company, Wiggin LLP, Dinah Wood.

New production photos of The Comeback

The Comeback, a brilliantly original and hilarious new comedy, is set to delight all generations at the Noel Coward Theatre this December. This debut play from The Pin’s award-winning Ben Ashenden and Alex Owen – ‘destined to become one of the great comedy duos’ (Radio Times) – tells the story of two double acts fighting to wrest control of the most chaotic, farcical and high-stakes gig of their respective careers.

Check out the brand new production shots from this laugh-a-minute show!

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alan bennett Talking Heads theatre artists fund

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