After bennetts a cream cracker under the settee 1987, in which she played an elderly woman who does not want to be made to go into a. Dame thora hirds acting career lasted almost a century, yet she enjoyed her most successful period in her eighties. Her character faced a lonely death after a fall in the. Thora hird was a superb actress, and the sad look on her face broke my heart. Oct 21, 2009 thora wasnt only like a favourite relative or good friend visiting us via the telly screen she was an absolutely topnotch actress. A cream cracker under the settee, alan bennett essay. Whether youve taken your first steps in the industry or are just starting out, youll find plenty here to motivate and help you along the way. Her performance in a cream cracker under the settee. 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. Oct 19, 2015 talking heads monologue by alan bennett. Thora hird was a superb actress, and the sad look on her face broke. Apr 7, 2016 a cream cracker under the settee thora hird talking heads youtube. A cream cracker under the settee, bbc two england, 21.
Mention set direction of the scene and thora hird s performance. Like the previous hird bennett monologue, a cream cracker under the settee bbc, tx. It was written by alan bennett who wrote the play in 1940s, doris is the main character played by thora hird, who is an old lonely lady whos in her seventies and thinks of. Thora wasnt only like a favourite relative or good friend visiting us via the telly screen she was an absolutely topnotch actress. Her big chance originally performed by julie walters is full of pathos as the reader sees so clearly what the main character, lesley, apparently does not, and a cream cracker under the settee performed by thora hird explores old age and the choices many of us may have to make. Doris is an elderly, but independent woman who suffers a fall while. Soldiering on stephanie cole talking heads by ken doh. Mar 17, 2003 thora hird was born on may 28 1911 at morecambe, lancashire, the youngest of three children, though her sister was not to survive childhood. 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.
Thora hird was more than just a national treasure she was one of the british crown jewels, a walloping great diamond on a firmly knotted headscarf. She reminisces about her life, family, husband and child whilst eschewing the home helps suggestions of moving to an old people. Mar 09, 2012 originally written for thora hird as one of allan bennetts talking heads monologues. Mar 16, 2003 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. Doris is an elderly widow who suffered a fall at home. Mar 17, 2003 hird could perform comedy and tragedy with equal strength. Doris, aged seventy five, is a tidy woman and when she suffers a fall after trying to clear up after her. Enter challenges, watch videos, and take part in our annual vote to decide the best film, tv show and game of the year. Last programme in the series with thora hird in a cream cracker under the settee. Thora hird stars as an independent old lady who has a fall that decides her future. Talking heads a cream cracker under the settee tv episode.
Had thora hird retired at sixty, she would have had a solid career behind her as a versatile stage and screen actress equally at home in comedy. Starring thora hird an independent old lady has a fall that decides her future. 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. Here read by bryan melton in the style of the author. A cream cracker under the settee by alan bennett essay.
A cream cracker under the settee 29 years on 24 may 2017. 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. It was written by alan bennett who wrote the play in 1940s, doris is the main character played by thora hird, who is an old lonely lady whos in her seventies and thinks of her present life and reminisces about her past. Mention set direction of the scene and thora hirds performance. 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.
Funny character a funny lost inspirational actresses couple photos couples words people. Originally written for thora hird as one of allan bennetts talking heads monologues. She could be blunt, but for every less than charitable remark, there was a kind word for somebody else. A cream cracker under the settee thora hird talking heads. Cream cracker under the settee, bed among the lentils and. Dame thora said she liked being ordinary and having people come up and chat to her. A cream cracker under the settee is a monologue piece written by alan bennett in 1988. May 24, 2017 a cream cracker under the settee doris thora hird finds herself in a predicament in alan bennetts classic talking heads monologue. Talking heads bbc one london 24 may 1988 bbc genome.
Hird could perform comedy and tragedy with equal strength. 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. She rose from coop cashier to become the tv star everyone. Thora hird was born on may 28 1911 at morecambe, lancashire, the youngest of three children, though her sister was not to survive childhood. Dame thora was an absolute darling and my family and myself will miss her dreadfully. A cream cracker under the settee is a humorous play in the form of monologue.
Alan bennetts a cream cracker under the settee doris, the 75 year old houseproud woman is the main character, the only character in fact in alan bennetts dramatic monologue a cream cracker under the. Mar 15, 2003 dame thora retained her sense of workingclass values to the end. Two were for a cream cracker under the settee bbc, tx. Recorded in 2002, thora hird s last ever performance, in a part written especially for her, is moving and memorable.
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. A cream cracker under the settee thora hird talking heads youtube more information find this pin and more on alan bennett and dennis potter by marilyn simmondscole. Alan bennetts a cream cracker under the settee essay. A cream cracker under the settee doris thora hird finds herself in a predicament in alan bennetts classic talking heads monologue.
Doris, aged seventyfive, is a tidy woman and when she suffers a fall after trying to clear up after her. A cream cracker under the settee thora hird series two 7. Recorded in 2002, thora hirds last ever performance, in a part written especially for her, is moving and memorable. Total report in alan bennetts a cream cracker under the settee. Such was the success and popularity, the plays moved on to the bbc radio, international theatre. Morecambe campaign seeks to honour dame thora hird with. A threetime winner of the bafta tv award for best actress, she won for talking heads. In one of alan bennetts six talking heads monologues, a cream cracker under the settee, she memorably portrayed a bitter widow, doris. This 2001 collection of both books also includes a detailed chorological of her life and career up to 1998. 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. Doris, in a cream cracker under the settee, has suffered a fall, and gradually realises that noone will come to her aid. A cream cracker under the settee thora hird in the performance of her life, imho addeddate 20180822 06. The role of doris was brilliantly brought to life by marlene sidaway and the intimacy of. Last programme in the series with thora hird in a cream cracker under the settee an independent old lady has a fall that decides her future.
Thora hird had been around since the thirties and was a fine character actress always good, sometimes excellent in many. Bennett explores various themes in the play which skilfully use devices to maintain. Feb 11, 2009 cream cracker under the settee as dramatic. Nothing like a dame is a combined volume of thora hirds two volumes of memoir.
Marlene sidaway as doris in a cream cracker under the settee. Classic corrie thora hird presents hilda ogden, part 2 duration. Reviews, interviews and features from the international film magazine. Scene and hird and is it thora, published in 1976 and 1996 respectfully. A cream cracker under the settee thora hird talking heads by ken doh. In a cream cracker under the settee, doris has taken a fall at home, and until someone comes to rescue her shes left immobile and in reflective mood. Talking heads broke new dramatic ground as previous monologues tended to be musical and it has become a modern classic.
Dame thora hird, dbe 28 may 1911 15 march 2003 was an english actress and comedienne of stage and screen, presenter and writer. A cream cracker under the settee doris, voiced by thora hird, 75 widow, lives alone. The rest of the northern flavour is taken care of by thora hird. The wonderful thora hird rip a cream cracker under the settee written by alan bennett. This monologue features one of thora s bestremembered performances. This monologue features one of thoras bestremembered performances. 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. Bafta guru is baftas content hub for career starters packed full of inspirational videos, podcasts and interviews.
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. Watch talking heads season 1, episode 6 a cream cracker under the settee. Cream crackers television program monologues settee thought provoking i movie writers bbc theatre. Doriss monologue in a cream cracker under the settee is analysed here as an example of.
Baftas destination for youngsters to come and discover the magical worlds of film, television and games. How effective is this form of drama the impact it has on the audience can anyone help. 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. Mar 18, 2003 how sad i am that thora has passed away. Discuss the production methods used in the bbc video of a cream cracker under the settee. Her disapproval of homehelper zulemas cleaning leads her to attempt to clean a picture of her and wilfred, her late husband.
Like the previous hirdbennett monologue, a cream cracker under the settee bbc, tx. They included return performances by patricia routledge, julie walters and thora hird, as well as roles for eileen atkins, david haig and. Doris is an elderly, but independent woman who suffers a fall while tidying 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. 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. Your thoughts on bennetts message in this monologue about society. A cream cracker under the settee thora hird talking. 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. Ill always remember her powerful and moving performance in alan bennetts cream cracker under the settee. 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. Cream cracker under the settee, bed among the lentils and chip in the sugar essay sample. But her ability to get under the skin of her characters was an extraordinary one.
A chip in the sugar with alan bennetta lady of letters with patricia routledgebed 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 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. Read about ch 6 a cream cracker under the settee by thora hird and see the artwork, lyrics and similar artists. Music by george fenton costume designer hazel pethig lighting director clive thomas designer tony burrough producer innes lloyd director stuart burge 0 feature. The last of the sun 18 january 2004 a cream cracker under the settee 24 may 1988 waiting for the telegram 11 november 1998. A cream cracker under the settee bbc two england, 20 august 1992 21.