A CELEBRATION of playwright Alan Bennett, is due to take place at Settle Victoria Hall next month with National Theatre Live cinema broadcasts of two of his plays.

Allelujah! - Bennett’s new play which received its world premiere at the Bridge Theatre, London, last month - will be screened on Sunday, November 18, in the afternoon and in the evening, while The Madness of George III will be shown on Tuesday, November 20.

Allelujah! tells the story of The Beth, an old fashioned cradle-to-grave hospital serving a town on the edge of the Pennines, threatened with closure as part of an NHS efficiency drive. One wonders if Bennett, who has a home in the Dales,, may well have drawn on the real-life battle to save Castleberg Hospital, Giggleswick from closure in the play.

In Allelujah! a documentary crew, eager to capture the fight for survival, follows the daily struggle to find beds on the Dusty Springfield Geriatric Ward, and the triumphs of the old people’s choir - but will it, like Castleberg, be saved from closure?

Bennett’s celebrated plays include The History Boys, The Lady in the Van and The Madness of George III, all of which were also seen on film. Allelujah! is his tenth collaboration with award-winning director Nicholas Hytner.

The ensemble cast includes Sam Bond, of Coronation Street; Jacqueline Chan, of Sherlock; Patricia England, of Last of the Summer Wine; Simon Williams, of Upstairs, Downstairs, and Sacha Dhawan, of The History Boys.

Theatre goers are also in for a treat as Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, Game of Thrones) stars as King George III in Bennett’s The Madness of George III,. The Nottingham Playhouse production will be screened live to audiences at Settle Victoria Hall on Tuesday, November 20.

It’s 1786 and King George III is the most powerful man in the world. However his behaviour is becoming increasingly erratic with his mind unravelling at a dramatic pace.

As the Queen and Prime Minister attempt to hide the king’s illness from his subjects, royal doctors (Dr Willis played by Adrian Scarborough, Gavin and Stacey, A Very English Scandal) hopelessly squabble over the correct cure subjecting him to torturous medical treatments and ambitious politicians and the scheming prince begin a power struggle, endangering the stability of the crown.

Bennett’s epic multi award winning drama was first performed at the National Theatre in 1991 before being turned into an Oscar and BAFTA winning film in 1994.

Allelujah! on Sunday, November 18 will be screened at 2pm to 5pm, and at 7.30pm to 10.30pm. The Madness of George III will be screened on November 20 at 7pm to 10pm. Tickets £14.50 for the stalls, and £15.50 for the balcony. To book tickets, go to settlevictoriahall.org.uk