The Habit Of Art Tickets

With a vast body of work under his belt that has included plays and television productions that have wowed the world, it is always an interesting time when a new Alan Bennett production opens in the capital.

In 2009 and 2010, this new play takes the form of “The Habit of Art”, with Richard Griffiths making an appearance in the production as it takes to the stage of the Lyttelton National Theatre. Griffiths took over from Michael Gambon when the veteran actor was forced to pull out of the production due to ill health in October.

“The Habit of Art” looks at the journey of a group of actors as they attempt to fight their way through a new play about W H Auden and Benjamin Britten. Griffiths portrays Fritz, one of the actors in the production, who is taking on the role of the poet Auden, as they inhabit their rehearsal space and try to get through the script whilst obstacles and interruptions stand in their way.

Their play is similar, focusing on a meeting between Britten and his trusted collaborator W H Auden. The pair must get through the meeting whilst putting up with the interruptions from complete strangers from the bus station, biographers and more.

As a result, “The Habit of Art” demonstrates the artistic process; the way in which the creativity and imagination of music, art and literature are shaped by the onset of age.

Richard Griffiths OBE is a well known actor who has won numerous awards and appeared in various cult movies. He won a Laurence Olivier Award for his appearance in Alan Bennett’s “The History Boys” at the National Theatre in 2004 whilst his other credits include “Equus” at the Gielgud Theatre in 2007, “Heroes” at the Wyndham’s Theatre in 2005 and “Luther” at the Olivier National Theatre in 2001.

His cult film roles include appearances in “Withnail and I”, “Ghandi” and “Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear”, with further parts in the likes of “Gandhi”, “King Ralf”, “Gorky Park”, “Guarding Tess”, “Sleepy Hollow”, the “Harry Potter” series and the television show “Pie in the Sky”.

“The Habit of Art” appears at the Lyttelton National Theatre, with and original booking period of Tuesday 17th November 2009 (previews from Thursday 5th November 2009) to Tuesday 6th April 2010. Further dates are set to be announced.