At 75 Alan Bennett is probably one of Britain’s best loved playwrights, as much an institution as the BBC,and the National Theatre with which he has had many of his greatest hits.  His comic writing has many of the same qualities: comfortable and warm as a hot cup of cocoa, but often with a surprising edge of pathos and a dark underbelly.

He is also the author of a string of hit plays that have moved from stage to screen, including The Madness of King George and The History Boys.

On Thursday 22 April audiences in Malta can enjoy the experience of watching his latest triumph, live on stage and on the big screen, when the NTLive season continues at the St James Cavalier cinema with The Habit of Art.

Constructed as a play within a play, Bennett has imagined a chance encounter between one of Britain’s finest 20th century W H Auden (His poem ‘Funeral Blues’ was to be made famous in the film Four Weddings and a Funeral) and the composer Benjamin Britten who almost helped revolutionise British contemporary music with his cantatas, orchestrations and operas.  The result is a play which has been described as “a gloriously sustained, constantly shifting piece” (The Guardian), “(a) hilariously provocative new play” (The Independent), and “sometimes filthily funny (this is not a show for the prudish), but also deeply and unexpectedly moving. (The Daily Telegraph)

It also boasts two exemplary performances by Richard Griffiths and Alan Jennings in the main roles with Francis de La Tour and Stephen Wright amongst others.

Although not a sequel to The History Boys, St James Cavalier is taking the opportunity to present The Habit of Art in conjunction with The Madness of King George and The History Boys creating an exciting and unique Alan Bennett season spread over two weeks.

You can catch the live performance of The Habit of Art on Thursday 22 April at 7 pm with repeat screening the following Friday 30 April . (Tickets €15/€10)

The History Boys and The Madness of King George will be running concurrently throughout the two weeks (Tickets €5). Email: [email protected]