One question hung above this production of Alan Bennett's monologues: How would it transfer from television to live theatre?

Could three 30-minute solo performances hold an audience's attention without the aid of televisual trickery?"

Such fears proved unfounded.

The quality of the writing together with the high standard of acting from Derek Watts, Sheelagh Baker and Patricia Lynne had the audience gripped throughout the evening.

A Chip In The Sugar explored the strained relationship between Graham and his elderly mother after the arrival of her old flame.

The mother and son theme was continued in Soldiering On, in which Muriel had to come to terms with the loss of her husband.

While all the characters were sad people, the writing provided much comedy. None more so in Bed Among The Lentils, the tale of an alcoholic vicar's wife who found sexual solace from her drab life in the back room of an Indian shop.

Review by Barrie Jerram, features@theargus.co.uk