The sixth and final collaboration between alan bennett and thora hird was originally broadcast as the last instalment of the sixpart talking heads 2 bbc, tx. Mar 17, 2003 in 1987 thora hird filled several roles in alan bennetts talking heads series. The talking heads monologues are widely regarded as one of alan bennetts finest dramatic achievements. Doris is an elderly, but independent woman who suffers a fall while tidying up. It was first performed by thora hird on television in 1988. Cracker under the settee is played out as a monologue by doris thora hird. Thora hird stars as an independent old lady who has a fall that decides her future. A cream cracker under the settee is a dramatic monologue written by alan bennett in 1987 for television, as part of his talking heads series for the bbc. Talking heads east sussex county council overdrive.
A cream cracker under the settee thora hird series two 7. Talking heads is a complete collection of bennetts six masterful monologues, performed by the authour and five of britains leading actresses. Mar 15, 2003 dame thora hird, dbe 28 may 1911 15 march 2003 was an english actress and comedian of stage and screen, presenter and writer. It starred thora hird as doris, a woman of uncompromising standards. Scene and hird and is it thora, published in 1976 and 1996 respectfully. Apr 7, 2016 a cream cracker under the settee thora hird talking heads youtube. Her film credits included the love match, the entertainer, a kind of lo. This collection includes all twelve talking heads, plus the precursor of that. The first solo he created for her, a cream cracker under the settee, in the original talking heads series, won her first bafta award in 1988. Thora was a pleasure to watch as she could switch so cleverly from comedy to pathos.
First broadcast on bbc tv and bbc radio 4 in the 1980s and 1990s, they won a host of awards and huge popular acclaim, and remain among his most admired works today. Waiting for the telegram 1998 and lost for words 1999. Last programme in the series with thora hird in a cream cracker under the settee. With alan bennett, stephanie cole, thora hird, patricia routledge. For a better experience on mubi, update your browser.
Hird, who won a bafta in 1989 for performing alan bennetts solo piece a cream cracker under the settee in the original talking heads series on the bbc, was proud of being a morecambe lass. Here read by bryan melton in the style of the author. May 24, 2017 a cream cracker under the settee doris thora hird finds herself in a predicament in alan bennetts classic talking heads monologue. Like the previous hird bennett monologue, a cream cracker under the settee bbc, tx. A cream cracker under the settee 1988, talking heads. Six monologues tell the stories of six different repressed souls. In one of alan bennetts six talking heads monologues, a cream cracker under the settee, she memorably portrayed a bitter widow, doris. All alone and waiting for help, she stews over her life and what the future holds in store. Her character faced a lonely death after a fall in the. Thora hird biography facts, childhood, family life.
Her performance in a cream cracker under the settee in which she played the houseproud doris, who suffers a fall. The series became very popular, moving onto bbc radio, international theatre, becoming one of the bestselling audio book releases of all time and included as part of both the alevel and gcse english syllabus. Hird could perform comedy and tragedy with equal strength. Bed among the lentils with anna massey soldiering on with stephanie coleher big chance with julie waltersa cream cracker under the settee with thora hird. In these compelling pieces, bennett displays the wry observation, knowing irony and tender misunderstement that have ensured his rightful place at the foref. Apr 7, 2016 a cream cracker under the settee thora hird talking heads youtube stay safe and healthy. Talking heads bbc one london 24 may 1988 bbc genome. Hirds conversation shared with bennetts writing the exactlyplaced names a cup of horlicks, a tumbler of dandelion and burdock and a sense of a vast, lost innocence, of a world where knobbly knees were lifes norm. A cream cracker under the settee by alan bennett essay. Dame thora hird, dbe 28 may 1911 15 march 2003 was an english actress and comedienne of stage and screen, presenter and writer. Talking heads, series 1, a cream cracker under the settee bbc. One of the highlights of television drama in the 1980s, talking heads was a series of six television monologues transmitted on bbc1 in april and may 1988, written by the acclaimed playwright alan bennett. A cream cracker under the settee doris thora hird finds herself in a predicament in alan bennetts classic talking heads monologue. Nothing like a dame is a combined volume of thora hird s two volumes of memoir.
Campaign for thora hird statue in morecambe gets tv boost. Mar 09, 2012 originally written for thora hird as one of allan bennetts talking heads monologues. A cream cracker under the settee thora hird in the performance of her life, imho addeddate 20180822 06. Theyre respectable enough when they hang straight, especially when made from lace, not nylon. The one that caused the most stir at the time, because it depicted a slow death, was called a cream cracker under the settee. Originally broadcasted on the bbc, thora hird was the first actress to take on the role of doris and was awarded a bafta for best actress.
The complete talking heads wellington city libraries. Morecambe campaign seeks to honour dame thora hird with. A cream cracker under the settee doris, voiced by thora hird, 75 widow, lives alone. This 2001 collection of both books also includes a detailed chorological of her life and career up to 1998. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times.
The series became very popular, moving onto bbc radio, international theatre, becoming one of the bestselling audio book releases of all time and included as part of both the alevel and. See more ideas about last of summer wine, comedy actors and pete postlethwaite. Oct 21, 2009 a cream cracker under the settee, hallelujah. Thora hird biography dame thora hird was a highly respected british actress and comedian. Jun 14, 2018 dame thora hird, dbe, 91, 28th may 1911 15th march 2003 was an english actress and comedian of stage and screen, presenter and writer.
Dame thora hird, dbe 28 may 1911 15 march 2003 was an english actress and comedian of stage and screen, presenter and writer. Jodie comer, martin freeman, and lesley manville to star in. Also featured is a specially written introduction and postscript, in which alan recalls the experience of knowing and working with thora. A monologue by alan bennett, starring thora hird as an independent old lady who has a fall that decides her future. Thora hird plays doris in a cream cracker under the settee doris, aged seventyfive, is a tidy woman and when she suffers a fall after trying to clear up after her considerably less thorough home help, zulema, it becomes apparent that her constant nagging may have been responsible for her husbands early death. Talking heads and new show called searching for the. In a career spanning over 70 years, she appeared in more. Her film credits included the love match 1955, the entertainer 1960, a kind of loving 1962 and the nightcomers 1971. The play covers not only her struggle to get help, but also her reflections on her life. Doris is an elderly widow who suffered a fall at home. Thora, who was born in morecambe in 1911 and died in 2003, was also a threetimes best actress bafta award winner for her roles in talking heads. Doris, aged seventy five, is a tidy woman and when she suffers a fall after trying to clear up after her.
What was the name of the alan bennet talking heads one she also did, about the cream cracker under the sofa. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family life, achievements, etc. Mar 17, 2003 hird could perform comedy and tragedy with equal strength. It wasnt alternative, but it was realistic and optimistic it was never too late, a 19801981 bbc radio 4 comedy by terry gregson, starring the brilliant english character actors thora hird, megs jenkins, avis bunnage and joe gladwin. Ive seen her in last of the summer wine, where she played a great part. In 1987 thora hird filled several roles in alan bennetts talking heads series. This performance, thora s last, is very moving and memorable.
A threetime winner of the bafta tv award for best actress, she won for talking heads. A cream cracker under the settee bbc two england, 20 august 1992 21. Watch talking heads season 1, episode 6 a cream cracker under the settee. The classic bbc radio 4 monologues plus a woman of no importance audiobook written by alan bennett. In a career spanning over 70 years, she appeared in more than 100 film and television roles, becoming a household name and a british institution. Her disapproval of homehelper zulemas cleaning leads her to attempt to clean a picture of her and wilfred, her late husband. Talking heads series wikimili, the free encyclopedia.
A cream cracker under the settee is played out as a monologue by doris thora hird, a seventyfiveyearold woman who is a widow, following her slip off a pouffe pronounced buffet in the play. Doris, in a cream cracker under the settee, has suffered a fall, and gradually realises that noone will come to her aid. In a career spanning over 70 years, 2 she appeared in more than 100 film and television roles, becoming a household name and a british institution. Accompanying the last of the sun are two bestselling talking head monologues, a cream cracker under the settee and waiting for the telegram. A cream cracker under the settee 29 years on 24 may 2017. A cream cracker under the settee thora hird talking heads. Famously portrayed by thora hird, this monologue reveals the life of doris who has fallen over in her home and spends the day alone and unable to get up. Doris, aged seventyfive, is a tidy woman and when she suffers a fall after trying to clear up after her considerably less thorough home help, zulema, it becomes apparent that her. She reminisces about her life, family, husband and child whilst eschewing the home helps suggestions of moving to an old people. The late dame thora hird won bafta tv awards for her performances in 1988s a cream cracker under the settee and 1998s. Talking heads a cream cracker under the settee tv episode.
Marlene sidaway as doris in a cream cracker under the settee. In talking heads 2, the characters from patricia routledges miss fozzard, whose new chiropodist turns out to be rather peculiar, to eileen atkins portrayal of an antiques dealer, who lets a masterpiece slip through her fingers come alive through. Alan bennetts talking heads monologues are coming back with alist stars. A cream cracker under the settee is a monologue piece written by alan bennett in 1988. Talking heads the complete collection region 2 pal non. They also shared a certain humour dear thora, just come up to change the lavatory seat. Feb 19, 2020 hird, who won a bafta in 1989 for performing alan bennetts solo piece a cream cracker under the settee in the original talking heads series on the bbc, was proud of being a morecambe lass. Her reminiscences about happier days, when the neighbours greeted each other and there was no need to lock the door, will bring a lump to the most cynical of throats. Dame thora hird, dbe was an english actress and comedienne of stage and screen, presenter and writer. Doris, aged seventyfive, is a tidy woman and when she suffers a fall after trying to clear up after her considerably less thorough home help, zulema, it becomes apparent that her constant nagging may have been responsible for her husbands early death.
Bennett explores various themes in the play which skilfully use devices to maintain. I was privileged last week to see a performance of one of alan bennetts talking heads plays last week in a living room in middleton. A cream cracker under the settee thora hird in the performance of her life, imho. The first six talking heads monologues originally aired on the bbc in 1988, followed by six more in 1998.
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