Talkin Heads

by Alan Bennett

Bed Among the Lentils

directed by Neil Arbon

Susan  is the wife of a vicar, living in a small village near Leeds. Her husband is a popular local figure, well respected and he also seems to collect adoring middle aged and elderly women because of his status as the vicar.. Susan is bored with her husband and unhappy with her life.

Susan starts buying her sherry from a grocer in Leeds who is young, attractive and talks to her about his culture and life. Susan begins an affair with the grocer and finally discovers some happiness and enjoyment in life until he asks her if the reason she drinks because of him or because she has a problem with alcohol. This pushes Susan towards recovery and she begins to attend AA meetings & attempts to be more honest with her husband.

Lady of Letters

directed by Helen Arbon

Irene Ruddock is a single, middle-aged woman living near Bradford and is not afraid to speak, or rather write, her mind. She frequently writes to her MP, the police,  everyone she can, to remedy the social ills she sees around her.

Irene becomes suspicious of a neighboring couple whom she suspects of neglecting their child, and tries to raise these suspicions to her doctor, who instead offers her a prescription (presumably some kind of anti-depressant or anti-psychotic medication) to help her forget her worries. Irene is eventually questioned by police after having written many abusive letters to the family. For her latest misconduct Irene receives a suspended sentence and is issued with social workers who try to help her find other interests; she is eventually gaoled after starting a new letter-writing campaign.