Audiobooks narrated by Alan Bennett

The Plays of J. B. Priestley: A BBC Radio Collection of 13 Full-Cast Productions

13 plays and dramatisations of the works of the influential playwright, novelist and essayist J. B. Priestley - plus bonus programmes J. B. Priestley was one of Britain's most significant writers. His output was prodigious: in his lifetime, he penned 26 novels, 39 plays and hundreds of essays. He enjoyed great success on stage, notably with Dangerous Corner, Time and the Conways and An Inspector Calls, which experimented with narrative structure and unorthodox theories of time. Included here are some of his most esteemed works, adapted for radio and brought together in one statement collection. We begin with Priestley's most famous play, An Inspector Calls, which sees Inspector Goole arriving unexpectedly at the prosperous Birling family home. Their celebratory dinner is shattered by his startling revelations about the death of a young woman. Next is Time and The Conways, telling the story of one family in several scenes set over 19 years, and When We Are Married, in which three couples receive a rude shock during their joint silver wedding party. In I Have Been Here Before, a group of strangers who meet at a remote Yorkshire inn discover that they are all interdependent - have they met before? A happy gathering of friends discover that their relationships aren't what they seem in Dangerous Corner and, in Eden End, an elderly Yorkshire GP finds himself coming to the end of an era. The Linden Tree is set in England 1947, where rationing and austerity have fostered opportunism, escapism - and confrontation - within the Linden family. The Good Companions, J. B. Priestley's classic story of a 1929 concert party tour, is followed by The Demon King, in which a Boxing Day panto is set to be a flop - until the Demon King comes on. In Lost Empires, Richard Hemcastle leaves his dead-end job to join his Uncle Nick in the glamour of the music halls, while in Bright Day, a chance encounter prompts a disillusioned scriptwriter to rediscover his past. Extraordinary and magical things happen on one elusive day in The Thirty-First of June, and in The Grey Ones, a patient fears evil is at work in the shape of a sinister conspiracy. Will his psychiatrist be able to help? Among the array of stars in these stunning dramas are Toby Jones, Frances Barber, Harriet Walter, Alan Bennett, Brenda Blethyn, Lesley Nicol, Morvern Christie, Alun Armstrong, Roy Hudd, Tom Baker, Jack Shepherd, Geoffrey Palmer, Amaka Okafor, Martin Jarvis and Joan Plowright. Also included are two fascinating documentaries: Postscripts: J. B. Priestley, a five-part series of wartime observations originally broadcast in 1940 and read by Patrick Stewart, and Great Lives: J. B. Priestley, which sees Barry Cryer discussing his friend and fellow Yorkshireman with Martin Wainwright and Matthew Parris. First published 1929 (The Good Companions), 1932 (Dangerous Corner), 1934 (Eden End), 1937 (Time and the Conways, I Have Been Here Before), 1938 (When We Are Married), 1945 (An Inspector Calls), 1946 (Bright Day), 1947 (The Linden Tree), 1953 (The Grey Ones), 1961 (The Thirty-First of June), 1962 (The Demon King), 1965 (Lost Empires) Production credits Written by J. B. Priestley Contents List An Inspector Calls Time and The Conways When We Are Married I Have Been Here Before Dangerous Corner Eden End The Linden Tree The Good Companions The Demon King Lost Empires Bright Day The Thirty First of June The Grey Ones Postscripts: J. B. Priestley Great Lives: J. B. Priestley © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

J. B. Priestley (Author), Alan Bennett, Brenda Blethyn, Full Cast, Harriet Walters, Henry Goodman, Jack May, Lesley Nicol, Martin Jarvis, Toby Jones, Tony Britton (Narrator)

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Alan Bennett: Untold Stories: Read by Alan Bennett

The complete collected edition of the award-winning writer's unforgettable Untold Stories Over the course of his distinguished entertainment career, Alan Bennett has received multiple awards and honours, including two BAFTAs, four Laurence Olivier Awards, two Tony Awards, an Academy Award nomination for his film The Madness of King George, and a British Book Award for Author of the Year in 2006. In this four-part collection of his remarkable Untold Stories, the acclaimed writer considers his childhood, career, and the current state of the world with his customary blend of wit and poignancy. Part 1: Stories is a moving family memoir recalling his parents' marriage, the lives and deaths of his aunts, and the revelation of a long-held family secret. Part 2: The Diaries covers Alan Bennett's celebrated diaries for 1997-2004, in which he celebrates the joys of nature and comments on the state of the arts and politics with humour and sharp observation. Part 3: Written on the Body is a reflection on youth and a meditation on writing itself, with a look at Alan's schooling in Leeds, the growing pains of puberty, and a window into his creative process. Part 4: A Common Assault harks back to a mugging incident in Italy, a glimpse into his own schooldays that became the inspiration for The History Boys, and a light note on his thoughts on the Honours System. Funny, thoughtful, and fascinating, this wonderful series of essays and stories read by the author offers an extraordinary journey into an exceptional career. For those who want to hear Alan Bennett narrate more of his memoirs, Alan Bennett: Diaries is also available from BBC Audio. Extracts originally broadcast on Radio 4: 10 October - 14 October 2005 20 November - 24 November 2006 Production credits Read by Alan Bennett Produced by Gordon House © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Alan Bennett (Author), Alan Bennett (Narrator)

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Alan Bennett: Diaries: Read by Alan Bennett

Classic memoirs from the acclaimed English actor, author, playwright, and screenwriter Alan Bennett is one of the country's most celebrated and best-loved authors. This unmissable collection of diaries and memoirs brings together for the first time Telling Tales, Diaries: 1980-1990, the autobiographical section of Untold Stories, which covers the period 1997-2004, and Keeping On Keeping On: The Diaries 2005-2014. In his earliest collection of diaries, Alan Bennett offers a fascinating insight into his life in the eighties, working on location for his early films and enjoying life at home in Camden. In the diaries of Untold Stories, he enjoys the simple pleasures of nature and wonders about the state of religion and politics at the end of the twentieth century. In Keeping On Keeping On, he looks back at a busy decade that saw him write four highly acclaimed plays, reflects on his life with his partner, Rupert Thomas, and considers his lately found status as 'kindly, cosy and essentially harmless'. Telling Tales, meanwhile, provides ten childhood snapshots and reminiscences about his early years-charting his development from a schoolboy in Leeds to a doubtful agnostic teen, as well as his undergraduate life at the University of Oxford. With wit, wisdom, sharp social commentary and perceptive impressions, Alan Bennett's memoirs and diaries are a joy to discover, and a delight to hear again. For those who want to listen to Alan Bennett read Untold Stories in its complete form, Alan Bennett: Untold Stories is also available from BBC Audio. Originally broadcast on Radio 4: 4 June - 15 June 2001 (Telling Tales) 10 October - 14 October 1994 (Diaries 1980-1990) 10 October - 14 October 2005 (Untold Stories) 24 October - 4 November 2016 (Keeping On Keeping On: The Diaries, 2005-2014) Production credits Read by Alan Bennett Music by George Fenton Produced by Liz Allard (Telling Tales) Abridged by Pat McLoughlin Produced by Gillian Hush (Diaries 1980-1990) Abridged and produced by Gordon House (Untold Stories) Abridged and produced by Gordon House (Keeping On Keeping On: The Diaries, 2005-2014) © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Alan Bennett (Author), Alan Bennett (Narrator)

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Alan Bennett: Doctor Dolittle Stories: Classic readings from the BBC archive

Alan Bennett reads three enchanting Doctor Dolittle stories Doctor Dolittle has an extraordinary talent he can talk to the animals! Taught by his parrot, Polynesia, he is soon able to chat to every kind of creature and his skill leads him into all sorts of adventures. In The Story of Doctor Dolittle, the Doctor and his pets set sail for Africa to save the monkeys but they face great danger and challenges, including a sinking ship and Barbary pirates... The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle finds Doctor Dolittle on the high seas once again, this time with his young friend Tommy Stubbins. The pair head for Spider Monkey Island, a mysterious place of magic and secrets... Doctor Dolittle's Circus sees the Doctor in need of money, so he and his Pushmi-Pullyu join the circus. They're such a hit with the other animals that Doctor Dolittle soon finds himself running the show! Brilliantly read by Alan Bennett, whose delightfully whimsical rendition brings Doctor Dolittle and all his animal friends magically to life, this charming collection of stories will delight listeners young and old.

Hugh Lofting (Author), Alan Bennett (Narrator)

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The Wind in the Willows

One Spring morning, Mole abandons his spring cleaning and surfaces into the sunlight and warm grass of a great meadow. Rambling busily along the hedgerows he comes all at once to the edge of a river. Mole is entranced. Here on the river bank he meets the Water Rat. Mole stays with the Water Rat in his snug waterside home where the river laps at the sill of the window and here he meets Ratty's friends: Badger who lives in the Wild Wood and the incorrigible Toad of Toad Hall.A timeless tale of waterside Britain that has been loved by generations of children and acclaimed as a classic. The story of Mole, Ratty, Badger, and Toad and their escapades, whether messing about on the river or puttering about in Toad's shiny new car, cannot fail to enchant every listener.Many of the original cast from Alan Bennett's acclaimed National Theatre production appear in this dramatization for BBC Radio 4, including Richard Briers as Rat, Adrian Scarborough as Mole, and Terence Rigby as Albert, with Alan Bennett as the narrator.

Kenneth Grahame (Author), A Full Cast, Adrian Scarborough, Alan Bennett, Full Cast, Richard Briers, Terence Rigby (Narrator)

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Winnie-The-Pooh: The complete BBC collection

Alan Bennett reads A.A. Milne's much-loved stories about a small bear and his friends. The collection includes; Winnie the Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner and A Party for Pooh. What is the connection between a bear of very little brain and a honey pot? Usually it's the very sticky paw of Winnie the Pooh, as he takes a break between adventures for a little something. In these stories, taken from the book 'Winnie-the-Pooh', Pooh goes visiting and gets into a tight place, Eeyore loses a tail, Piglet meets a Heffalump, Eeyore has a birthday and gets two presents, and an expedition is mounted to the North Pole! As usual they are accompanied by Kanga, Roo, Rabbit and Owl - to say nothing of Pooh's very clever young human friend, Christopher Robin. Now with a musical introduction, Alan Bennett gives A.A. Milne's characters the voices you felt they were always meant to have in this collection of stories about Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore and Owl.The stories are: Winnie-the-Pooh Goes Visiting and Gets into a Tight PlacePooh and Piglet Nearly Catch a Woozle and Eeyore Loses a TailPiglet Meets a HeffalumpEeyore has a birthday and Gets Two PresentsChristopher Robin Leads an Exposition to the North PoleA House is Built at Pooh Corner for EeyoreTigger Comes to the Forest and has BreakfastA Search is Organdized and Piglet Nearly Meets the Heffalump AgainPooh Invents a New Game and Eeyore Joins InPiglet Does a Very Grand Thing and Owl Moves HouseKanga and Baby Roo Come to the ForestPiglet is Entirely Surrounded by WaterChristoper Robin Gives Pooh a PartyTiggers Don't Climb TreesRabbit has a Busy DayTigger is Unbounced

A. A. Milne, A.A. Milne (Author), Alan Bennett (Narrator)

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Alan Bennett Reads Childhood Classics: The Wind in the Willows; Alice in Wonderland; Through the Loo

Alan Bennett reads five much-loved stories by Kenneth Grahame, Lewis Carroll and AA Milne. Alan Bennett’s distinctive readings of these cherished children’s stories have become classics in their own right. Portraying each character in his own inimitable fashion, his delightfully expressive voice perfectly conveys the sparkling humour, charm and magic of these timeless tales. The Wind in the Willows tells the classic story of Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad (of Toad Hall) and their waterside adventures. Alice in Wonderland sees Alice following a white rabbit down a hole and embarking on a series of adventures with some of the most weird and wonderful characters ever encountered. Through the Looking Glass continues Alice’s adventures, as she sees another world in the looking glass and wishes she could go there. In a selection of stories from Winnie-the-Pooh, Pooh goes visiting and gets into a tight place, Eeyore loses a tail, Piglet meets a Heffalump, Eeyore has a birthday, and an ‘expotition’ to the North Pole is mounted. The House at Pooh Corner finds Pooh and Piglet building a house for Eeyore, whilst Tigger comes to the forest and has breakfast. Piglet nearly meets the Heffalump again, Pooh invents a new game, and Owl moves house. Duration: 7 hours 50 mins approx.

A. A. Milne, A.A. Milne, Lewis Carroll (Author), Alan Bennett (Narrator)

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Alan Bennett: Keeping On Keeping On: Diaries 2005-2014

Alan Bennett reads the latest instalment of his diaries, as heard on BBC Radio 4’s Book of the Week. Following on from Alan Bennett's bestselling, award-winning prose collections Writing Home and Untold Stories, Keeping On Keeping On is a third anthology featuring his unique observations, recollections and reminiscences. At its heart is his latest published collection of diaries. In these entries, covering the years 2005 to 2014, Bennett looks back on a packed decade that included writing four highly-acclaimed plays – The Habit of Art, People, Hymn and Cocktail Sticks, all of which premiered at the National Theatre – as well as the screenplays for the hit films of The History Boys and The Lady in the Van. In addition, he reflects on his 25 years of friendship and collaboration with director Nicholas Hytner, life with his partner Rupert Thomas and, radical views notwithstanding, his status as ‘kindly, cosy and essentially harmless’. Packed with perceptive impressions of people and places, sharp social commentary, expressive description and delightful jokes, this irresistible record of life according to Alan Bennett is a treasury of wisdom and insight. Duration: 2 hours 20 mins approx.

Alan Bennett (Author), Alan Bennett (Narrator)

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Alan Bennett: Stories: Read by Alan Bennett

A unique collection of eight Alan Bennett stories, read by the author. Alan Bennett is one of Britain's best-loved authors and an acclaimed storyteller. This exclusive compilation includes eight of his best tales, collected together for the first time. Here is his celebrated, iconic memoir The Lady in the Van; as well as two fascinating autobiographical accounts of his family and childhood. Uncle Clarence sees Bennett visiting the grave of a relative who died in Flanders in 1917; while in Hymn he joins forces with composer George Fenton and the Medici String Quartet to explore his musical memories. Bennett's incisive, acute observations shine through in his fiction too, with wry, moving and darkly humorous meditations on death (Father! Father! Burning Bright and The Laying On of Hands), sex (The Shielding of Mrs Forbes) and middle-age ennui (The Clothes They Stood Up In). His gift for affectionate satire reaches its pinnacle in The Uncommon Reader, a delightful tale in which the Queen discovers the pleasures of literature. Poignant, compassionate, wise and witty, the stories included are The Lady in the Van, Uncle Clarence, The Clothes They Stood Up In, Father! Father! Burning Bright, Hymn, The Laying On of Hands, The Uncommon Reader and The Shielding of Mrs Forbes. Duration: 13 hours approx.

Alan Bennett (Author), Alan Bennett (Narrator)

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The Lady in the Van: A BBC Radio 4 adaptation

Maggie Smith stars in this BBC radio adaptation of Alan Bennett's highly acclaimed autobiographical stage playAn eccentric old lady moves into a quiet street in Camden Town. There she remains, installed in her van in glorious self-sufficiency, until the council instructs her to move on. Then a kind homeowner invites her to move her van into his garden where she stays for the next fifteen years. This is the fascinating story of the genteel vagrant who found a unique place in Alan Bennett's life and writing.But the drama is as much about the author himself as Miss Shepherd. Why did Alan Bennett let her commandeer his driveway? Was he acting out of kindness, weakness, or hidden guilt over not spending enough time with his own mother? Did he always subconsciously plan to exploit Miss Shepherd for literary profit? Thought-provoking and moving, The Lady in the Van tackles profound questions about social responsibility, homelessness and mental illness with a lightness of touch characteristic of Bennett the master storyteller.With a full cast including Adrian Scarborough, Marcia Warren and Alan Bennett, this bitter-sweet comic tale stars Maggie Smith as Miss Shepherd.Now a major BBC feature film, starring Maggie Smith and Alex Jennings.

Alan Bennett (Author), , Alan Bennett, Full Cast, Maggie Smith (Narrator)

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The Complete Talking Heads: The classic BBC Radio 4 monologues plus A Woman of No Importance

The complete audio collection of Alan Bennett's celebrated monologues, published together for the first time and performed by some of Britain's best actorsThe Talking Heads monologues are widely regarded as one of Alan Bennett's finest dramatic achievements. 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.This collection includes all twelve Talking Heads, plus the precursor of that series, A Woman of No Importance. Beautifully crafted and full of compassion and wry observation, each tale is ripe with the quirky, insightful detail that has become Bennett's trademark. The monologues are:A Woman of No Importance (Patricia Routledge); A Chip in the Sugar (Alan Bennett); A Lady of Letters (Patricia Routledge); Bed Among the Lentils (Anna Massey); Soldiering On (Stephanie Cole); Her Big Chance (Julie Walters); A Cream Cracker Under the Settee (ThoraHird); Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet (Patricia Routledge); The Hand of God (Eileen Atkins); Playing Sandwiches (David Haig); The Outside Dog (Julie Walters); Nights in the Gardens of Spain (Penelope Wilton) and Waiting for the Telegram (Thora Hird).Intensely moving, deeply engrossing and highly entertaining, these spellbinding soliloquies are essential listening.

Alan Bennett (Author), Alan Bennett, Patricia Routledge (Narrator)

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Cocktail Sticks

A radio adaptation of Alan Bennett's short autobiographical play, originally directed by Nicholas Hytner for the National Theatre. Alan looks back on his early life with affection and sadness, revisiting some of the themes and conversations of his memoir 'A Life Like other People's'. Both he and his mother are seduced by the idea that other people's lives are much richer and fulfilling than their own. But when they do, finally, have cocktail parties, they are not at all what his mother would have envisaged.... Alan is played by Alex Jennings and Alan Bennett, supported by the original National theatre cast of Gabrielle Lloyd, Jeff Rawle, Sue Wallace and Derek Hutchinson.

Alan Bennett (Author), , Alan Bennett, Alex Jennings, Full Cast (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Alan Bennett