The curtain is set to rise on the stage version of playwright Alan Bennett’s best known work as Tip Top Productions presents Talking Heads and A Woman of No Importance at The Forum Studio Theatre in Chester .

Director Andy Jordan said: “Talking Heads was a series of 30 minute monologues commissioned by the BBC in the late 1980s, and featured actors such as Patricia Routledge, Thora Hird and Bennett himself as the hapless Yorkshire characters who lack self-awareness and tell their stories artlessly; un-knowingly betraying their fatal flaws to the audience. The language is rich and exquisite with many laughs among the pathos. We are delighted to be bringing Bennett’s characters to life on stage in Chester.”

Bennett has enjoyed recent success with his feature film The Lady in the Van starring Maggie Smith with Alex Jennings playing Bennett himself, often admitting that the characters he creates are based on his own mother.

Talking Heads and A Women of No Importance features three of Bennett’s best known monologues.

Sally Dillon, Mike Deakin and Janice Fryett who will perform three of Alan Bennett's iconic "Talking Heads" at The Forum Studio Theatre in Chester

First up is A Lady of Letters about Irene Ruddock, a lonely woman who passes judgement on everything around her, played by Tip Top regular Sally DillonThe second piece A Chip in the Sugar is performed by Mike Deakin as mother’s boy, Graham, who has secrets of his own.

Theatregoers will also be treated to what is perhaps Bennett’s most famous monologue A Woman of No Importance which was the prototype for the Talking Heads series.

Related story: Chester Tip Top Productions to stage Talking Heads by Alan Bennett

Janice Fryett plays Peggy Schofield who thinks she is the centre of the universe, but we begin to see how very lonely she really is.

Talking Heads and A Woman of No Importance is at The Forum Studio Theatre in Chester from May 12-15 and May 19-21, with matinee performances on Sunday, May 15 and Saturday, May 21.

Tickets are £7 from www.chestertheatre.co.uk or from the Box Office on 01244 341296.