Alan Bennett's PEOPLE to Open 22 Oct at Marlowe Theatre

Following a sell-out run at The National Theatre and a record-breaking National Theatre Live cinema broadcast, the acclaimed comedy stars Siân Phillips as Lady Dorothy Stacpoole. Set in her decaying stately home, she has to decide what to do with the property: should she hand it over to the National Trust, as her overbearing sister wishes, or find a more creative way of making it pay? But people spoil things and Lady Stacpoole does not want them traipsing through her house.

The cast also includes Brigit Forsyth, Selina Cadell and Michael Thomas. Siân Phillips's extensive television and film appearances include Livia in I Claudius (BAFTA Award for Best Actress), Shoulder To Shoulder (BAFTA nomination), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Smiley's People, How Green Was My Valley (BAFTA Best Actress Award), Lewis, New Tricks, Alice Through The Looking Glass, The Borrowers, Beckett, Clash Of The Titans, The Age Of Innocence, Goodbye Mr Chips, and David Lynch's Dune.

Her many distinguished theatre credits in the West End, on UK and international tour and on Broadway, include her tribute to Marlene Dietrich, Marlene (which on Broadway earned her Tony Award and Drama Desk nominations), Pal Joey, A Little Light Music (Olivier nomination), Lovesong, Cabaret (Olivier nomination), Calendar Girls, and Les Liaisons Dangereuses. She was awarded a CBE for Services to Drama in 2000.

Brigit Forsyth trained at RADA. Her work in theatre includes Dusa, Stas, Fish and Vi at the Hampstead and at the Mayfair; The Norman Conquests at the Globe and in the West End, and The Calendar Girls on tour and in the West End. Her TV appearances include Hollyoaks, EastEnders, Mount Pleasant, Doctors, Midsomer Murders, Waterloo Road, Jinx, Heartbeat, Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads (two series), and Poirot. Films include Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads, Stanley's Vision, and Fanny and Elvis.

Selina Cadell's work in theatre includes The Habit Of Art at the National and one tour; New England for the Royal Shakespeare Company; The Cherry Orchard in London and New York, and The Clean House at Sheffield Crucible Studio. Television appearances include the title role in The Lady Vanishes, Father Brown, and Upstairs, Downstairs. Films include Mrs Dalloway, The Madness Of King George, and Not Quite Jerusalem.

People reunites Bennett with director Nicholas Hytner, following their collaborations on the celebrated The History Boys and The Habit Of Art. People is Bennett's sixth play for The National Theatre; the others are The Madness Of George III; The Wind In The Willows, and Single Spies. Since People opened last year, his Untold Stories: Hym & Cocktail Sticks has also transferred from the National to the West End.

People is at The Marlowe Theatre from Tuesday 22 to Saturday 26 October, with evening performances at 7.30pm, and Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets, priced from £15 to £33, are from the Box Office on 01227 787787 or at marlowetheatre.com. There are signed, audio-described and captioned performances.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz

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