Media Gallery
This play contains strong language
Special Dates
- After Dark : Wed 29 September
- Captioned Performance : Sat 2 October
Audio
- Listen to this page from the audio brochure
Three Course Dinner Available: Find out more
The National Theatre presents
The Habit Of Art
Tue 28 Sep 2010 – Sat 2 Oct 2010
Main House
A new play by Alan Bennett
Tickets £18.50 - £35, concessions available
Now that the car park next door to The REP is closed, roads and car parks around The REP get very busy in the evenings, especially when there are big events at the NIA and Symphony Hall. We advise you to check their websites before your visit, and to allow extra time for your journey.
Please also note that due to the Conservative Party Conference, the ICC Mall will be closed to pedestrians from 29 Sep to 7 Oct. If you park in Brindley Place please leave enough time to walk around the ICC on Broad Street.
Benjamin Britten, sailing uncomfortably close to the wind with his new opera, Death In Venice, seeks advice from his former collaborator and friend, W H Auden. During this imagined meeting, their first for 25 years, they are observed and interrupted by, amongst others, their future biographer and a young man from the local bus station.
After a sell-out success in London, Alan Bennett’s latest play visits Birmingham. It looks at the unsettling desires of two difficult men, and at the ethics of biography. It reflects on growing old, on creativity and inspiration, and on persisting when all passion’s spent: ultimately, on the habit of art.
The last time the National Theatre brought Bennett to Birmingham was with the smash-hit The History Boys – so early booking is recommended!
| Date | Time | Date information |
|---|---|---|
| Tue 28th Sep | 19:00 | |
| Wed 29th Sep | 19:30 | After Dark |
| Thu 30th Sep | 14:00 | |
| Thu 30th Sep | 19:30 | |
| Fri 1st Oct | 19:30 | |
| Sat 2nd Oct | 14:00 | Captioned Performance |
| Sat 2nd Oct | 19:30 |
“Another absolute cracker, often wonderfully and sometimes filthily funny, but also deeply and unexpectedly moving.”
Daily Telegraph *****
“Alan Bennett the maestro returns with a multi-layered masterpiece”
Independent *****
Bookmark with:
Comments
Tim Walton from Birmingham
Hi Very much looking forward to the performance. I've always been interested in Britten. I have his autograph & once sang in a performance with Peter Pears as soloist Only a month to go but no mention of the cast - surely you must know by now!! Tim
Clare from The REP
Hi Tim, W.H. Auden will be played by Desmond Barrit and Benjamin Britten will be played by Malcolm Sinclair.
Susan Dean from Blackwell, Worcestershire
Brilliant! Well done Rep for booking such first class theatre productions. Already booked 12 tickets for 'Habit of Art'. Rep's 'History Boys' was enjoyed more than production I saw at National Theatre in London by the way. Much livlier.