Photo credit: Cast of Barnes’ People (Photo courtesy of Amanda Malpass PR)

Barnes’ People monologues to receive star-studded online revival

Jon Culshaw and Jemma Redgrave will take part in the production.

Sophie Thomas
Sophie Thomas

Peter Barnes' series of monologues will be presented as a virtual production from next month, it has been announced. Titled Barnes' People, Jon Culshaw, Matthew Kelly, Jemma Redgrave and Adrian Scarborough will take part, with the show available to stream for five months from 18 February.

Filmed at Theatre Royal Windsor, all four monologues focus on the intimacies of human life. Originally presented by BBC Radio 3 in 1981, the upcoming production will mark the first revival in 40 years.

The four monologues are as follows:

Billy & Me: Jon Culshaw will play Michael Jennings, a ventriloquist whose right-hand-man Billy seemingly takes centre stage. The English impressionist and comedian is perhaps best known for starring in ITV series including Spitting Image and The Impressions Show.

Losing Myself: Matthew Kelly will play Adam, an old man who takes stock of his life choices while sitting in a graveyard. Kelly's recent theatre credits include Big at the Dominion Theatre and Waiting for Godot at Theatre Royal Haymarket opposite Ian McKellen.

Rosa: Jemma Redgrave plays the title character, a long-serving doctor who is angry with the care home system. Last on a West End stage 20 years ago as Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream, she's also starred in Mood Music at the Old Vic.

True Born Englishman: Adrian Scarborough stars in this monologue world premiere, centering around a Buckingham Palace footman who holds a lifetime of secrets. Currently starring in Leopoldstadt at Wyndham's Theatre, he's also been in Exit the King and Don Juan in Soho.

Barnes' People is online from 18 February - 31 July. More information can be found here.

Photo credit: Cast of Barnes' People (Photo courtesy of Amanda Malpass PR)

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