Starring David Yelland, Veronica Robertsand the Olivier Award-winning Matthew Kelly, The Habit of Art is centred on a fictional meeting between poet W. H. Auden and composer Benjamin Britten in a University of Oxford room. Written as a play-within-a-play, this multi-layered masterpiece explores friendship, rivalry and heartache, and examines the joy, pain and emotional cost of creativity.
The Habit of Art premiered at the National Theatre in November 2009, directed by Nicholas Hytner and starring Richard Griffiths, Alex Jennings and Frances de la Tour, before touring in autumn 2010 with a new cast. This production, directed by award-winning director Philip Franks, marks the first revival of the play since its opening.
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Philip Franks[/caption]
Matthew Kelly stars as Fitz/W.H. Auden. Kelly’s West End credits include Waiting For Godotwith Ian McKellan, Tim Firth’s Sign of the Times, and Of Mice and Menfor which he won the Olivier Award for Best Actor.
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Matthew Kelly[/caption]
David Yelland will play Henry/Benjamin Britten. Yelland’s most recent theatre credits include Witness for the Prosecutionat London County Hall), A Winter’s Taleat Shakespeare’s Globe andTaken at Midnightat Chichester Festival Theatre and Theatre Royal Haymarket.
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David Yelland[/caption]
Alan Bennett is one of our greatest, most celebrated playwrights, with blockbusters including The History Boys, The Madness of King Georgeand Talking Heads. He is applauded as a genius for his sharp character observations and treasured for the way he beautifully balances wit, wistfulness and compassion.
Tickets for The Habit of Art at Oxford Playhouse start at £10 and are available from the Ticket Office on 01865 305305 or book online at www.oxfordplayhouse.com