A Month Of - A Month Of Maureen

Dead Rellies by Gary Brown

Fay & Alan have come to visit their parents' grave.
But other parts of their past come back to haunt them.

Fay.... Maureen Lipman
Alan.... George Layton
Cynthia.... Julie Teal

Produced and directed by Marion Nancarrow

Maureen Lipman's hugely successful career as actress, writer, artist and, most recently, director, has spanned 50 years and, in her honour, 4 new comedy dramas have been especially commissioned for Radio 4, with the writers creating roles specifically for her. The results are 4 very different plays. This week, a second play by Gary Brown reunites Maureen with the actor George Layton (probably still best known for the Doctor in the House series and as a writer, including "Don't Wait Up").

And next week you can hear the final play in the series, "Theodora Potts: Victorian Psychic" by Tracy-Ann Oberman and Ivor Baddiel, in which Tracy-Ann Oberman also co-stars.

Five Lessons by Marcy Kahan

Nigella Smith is no ordinary piano student. Can her piano tutor win her trust in just five lessons?
A comedy about retreating, advancing and the joys of humming.

Pianist Peter Ringrose

Produced and directed by Marion Nancarrow

Maureen Lipman's hugely successful career as actress, writer, artist and, most recently, director, has spanned 50 years and, in her honour, 4 new comedy dramas have been especially commissioned for Radio 4, with the writers creating roles specifically for her. The results are 4 very different plays. This is the second of the four. In it, she stars with Julian Rhind-Tutt (Green Wing, The Bastard Executioner).
Next week, she & George Layton play husband & wife Alan and Fay, on a trip to a Jewish cemetery to honour their dead. But the line between life and death seems to be more blurred than it used. The final play, "Theodora Potts: Victorian Psychic" has been co-written by Tracy-Ann Oberman, who also co-stars in it with her friend.

Theodora Potts: Victorian Psychic by Tracy-Ann Oberman and Ivor Baddiel
from an idea by Tracy-Ann Oberman

Theodora Potts is fast-becoming the go-to psychic of the Victorian age.
That is until a seance is interrupted by a real spirit.
Tracy-Ann Oberman co-wrote and co-stars

Theodora Potts.. Maureen Lipman
Sioux Sioux.. Tracy-Ann Oberman
Adolphus/Dr von Ubermench.. Neil McCaul
Countess.. Ellie Darvill
The Earl.. Clive Hayward
Mr Brown.. Rupert Holliday Evans
Clemmie.. Abbie Andrews
Mr Soames.. Gary Duncan
Woman with birthmark.. Isabella Inchbald

Produced and directed by Marion Nancarrow

This is the last of four plays especially written for Maureen Lipman which form this month's "A Month of Maureen". Maureen Lipman's hugely successful career as actress, writer, artist and, most recently, director, has spanned 50 years and, in her honour, these 4 new comedy dramas have been especially commissioned for Radio 4, with the writers creating roles specifically for her. The results are 4 very different plays. In this final play, Maureen is Theodora Potts, a Victorian psychic with a secret, who's about to meet her match. Tracy-Ann Oberman co-stars in a surprising reincarnation - and also co-wrote the play for Maureen.
Tracy-Ann says she wanted the write the play because "I've always been been fascinated with the Theosophical Society and the Victorian craze for female psychics who could apparently contact the dead. Given credibility by the likes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the Spirit World was just one seance away. If a woman ( and women were seen as more "sensitive" ) could master the sleight of hand and trickery needed to carry a theatrical and shock-filled seance, a good income and an introduction to Smart Society could be in store. One of the most famous fake psychics, Leah Fox, married a hugely wealthy man in America. A working class poor unmarried woman like Theodora Potts, who had little or no prospects, like many other 'mediums' of the time, hoped that a similar fate could be in store for them. The great thing about Maureen is that her nuance and ability to inhabit a range of characters with ease meant she could find all the layers to Theodora - who plays a variety of characters in one day to get what she needs!".

Three Journeys by Gary Brown

In the first of 4 plays written especially for Maureen Lipman, she & Jasper Britton play a mother and son who've always had
a special relationship. Now she needs to persuade him it's time to strike out on his own. She has three journeys to do it in.

Produced and directed by Marion Nancarrow

The first of four plays written especially for the actress, writer, director and author, Maureen Lipman, under the banner "A Month of Maureen".
This is the first of two plays Gary Brown has written. Next week, Marcy Kahan's "Five Lessons" stars Julian Rhind-Tutt and is a comedy about retreating, advancing and the joys of humming. That's followed by Gary Brown's "Dead Rellies", in which Maureen stars with George Layton (of "Doctor in the House" fame) and the series ends with "Theodora Potts: Victorian Psychic" by Tracy-Ann Oberman and Ivor Baddiel, with Tracy-Ann co-starring alongside Maureen.