Alan Bennett Talking Heads monologues performed in aid ofcharity

A series of charity performances of Alan Bennett’s famous Talking Heads monologues is being organised by Len Jackson OBE as a tribute to the blind mum and dad who raised him.

Charity President organises show as tribute to blind parents

Len Jackson, OBE, business leader, charity president and former Chair of The Independent Police Complaints Commission has come a long way since his early years growing up in a poor part of Manchester with his mum and dad who were both visually impaired. He’s never forgotten his roots and the struggles his parents must have gone through raising a sighted child back in the 1950s, which inspired him to get involved with local sight loss charity, My Sight Notts, formerly the Nottinghamshire Royal Society for the Blind.

Fundraising phenomenon!

Since being the charity’s President seven years ago, Len and his wife Di have organised and participated in a whole range of fundraising activities from quiz nights to firewalks, bridge nights to birthday party fundraisers, which have raised over £15,000 for the charity. Len believes the Alan Bennett Talking Heads performances he’s about to undertake with his amateur dramatics group is his most ambitious fundraiser yet!

Show dates

Tickets for the Alan Bennett Talking Heads performance cost £10 and shows take place across Notts next week as follows:

  • September 11 The Grange Radcliffe on Trent
  • September 12 Elston Village Hall
  • September 13 East Bridgford Village Hall
  • September 14 The Duchess Theatre Long Eaton

Everyone welcome!

“Everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy one of our performances of this much-loved Alan Bennett classic in aid of My Sight Notts, which is an absolutely brilliant local charity offering emotional support, advice and leisure opportunities to blind and partially sighted people right here in Nottinghamshire. My visually impaired parents would certainly have enjoyed the show, which focuses on great story telling without the need for too much visually action. It’s a great play, being performed for a great local cause and I hope lots of people will come along and support us.”

How to get your tickets

You can get tickets by phone on 0115 7529371, by email from dwyer.diana@yahoo.co.uk  and from a range of community outlets including Elston Village Shop, East Bridgford News, The Post Office on Main Street East Bridgford and from Pen to Paper on Main Street East Bridgford. Ticked for the performance at Long Eaton’s Duchess Theatre can be purchased from the Theatre Box Office on West Gate Long Easton or purchased online from Ticketsource (booking fee applies).

Big thank you to Len, Di and their friends!

Lydia Fenton, Fundraising Manager at My Sight Notts, said: “Len and Di Jackson are massive supporters of our charity and have been fundraising for us for many years. They have raised a significant amount of money for local blind and partially sighted people and we are extremely grateful to them. The Alan Bennett performances have taken a huge amount of effort from Len and his am dram group supporters and we are extremely grateful to everyone involved.”