Allelujah!, Bridge Theatre

If it aint broke, don't fix it... Nicholas Hytner directs a new Alan Bennett play, recreating the winning formula of his National Theatre reign for the Bridge Theatre.

Bennett, writer of The History Boys, The Lady in the Van, The Madness of King George III and many more hit plays, holds a hallowed position in both public and critical affection. With a distinctive astute humour, innumerable awards and an extensive career on stage, screen and radio he is easily one of our best loved living playwrights.

Allelujah! will be the tenth Alan Bennett and Nick Hytner collaboration. Since first working together on the 1990 National Theatre adaptation of The Wind in the Willows the writer/director duo have become the bread and butter of quality contemporary theatre. Their successes span the National Theatre, West End, Broadway and the big screen.

The cast of Allelujah! with Alan Bennett and Arlene Phillips. Photo credit Luke Varley

This new play revolves around Bennett's characteristic themes of northern England, quotidian struggles and unlikely heroes. There's an NHS efficiency drive threatening an old fashioned hospital in a town on the edge of the Pennines. A documentary crew come to cover the fight to stay open and the daily challenge to find enough beds. But they get more than they bargained for in the Dusty Springfield Geriatric Ward, where the old people's choir are hitting all the right notes.

Two of the original History Boys cast members Samuel Barnett and Sacha Dhawan lead a cast of stage and screen regulars.

If Allelujah! is anything like Bennett's best works, it will be as funny and sharp as it is humane. Certainly, the tremendous track record of this playwright and director and the reasonable tickets prices at the Bridge Theatre will make it a fast sell. Book promptly to avoid disappointment.