Alan Bennett as good as ever

Alan Bennett, the celebrated playwright here brings a new play, People, to the National. The style which earned him his reputation as one of the most important playwrights of the modern era is on display here, as fresh and relevant as ever. Bennett stalwart Frances de la Tour plays a captivating Dorothy, the ex-model inhabitant of a country estate, in this darkly comic play which takes a swipe at the National Trust.

Much like his 1980 play Enjoy, Bennett's characters are living in a kind of purgatory ? their lives are being turned into museum exhibits as their lifestyles become outdated. This is a classic piece of Bennett satire: gleefully witty in some places, yet satisfyingly critical in others. He is still clearly at the top of his game, and this gem adds to the long list of unmissable works under his name.

What is People about?

Dorothy, ex-model and peer, lives in a lavish stately home, with her companion, Iris. Their mansion has fallen into disrepair over the years however, and a means must be found the restore the estate to its former glory, and preserve it for years to come.

Dorothy's sister June approaches her with an offer from the National Trust, who want to turn the estate into an attraction open to the public. Disgusted by the idea of the general public perusing her haven, Dorothy accepts a lucrative offer from a film- maker, who plans for the house to be the set of his new porno...