The Habit of Art
Alan Bennett
The play centers on an imaginary meeting between the poet W.H. Auden and the composer Benjamin Britten in 1972. It is framed as a rehearsal of a play-within-a-play titled 'Caliban’s Day', where actors discuss the process of creating art and the difficulties of aging. The drama explores the complex relationship between these two giants of 20th-century culture, focusing on their creative collaboration and personal tensions. It is a witty, intellectual, and deeply moving meditation on the habit of creation and the compromises required by a life dedicated to art.
W.H. Auden: The aging, disheveled, and brilliantly articulate poet whose sharp wit and unconventional lifestyle provide a stark contrast to his former collaborator’s more reserved nature. Benjamin Britten: The meticulous and emotionally guarded composer who seeks Auden’s advice on a new opera while grappling with the personal and creative ghosts of their past. Kay: The stage manager of the play-within-a-play, who acts as a grounded mediator between the actors' egos and the technical demands of the theatrical production.
First Performance: 2009, at Lyttelton Theatre (National Theatre), London
Highly praised for its clever structure and the brilliant performances of its leads, exploring the intersections of biography and performance.
Original Actors: Richard Griffiths, Alex Jennings, Frances de la Tour