‘People spoil things’ says ‘Lady Dorothy’ but they will love the new Alan Bennett

There is no denying the credentials of People which arrives at Milton Keynes Theatre at the end of this month.

Starring Phillips as Lady Dorothy, the play tackles a very English subject of heritage, stately homes and the National Trust. Dorothy and her sister (Selina Cadwell) live in a rapidly decaying stately home and are arguing over what they should do to save it.

“People spoil things,” Dorothy says, but as she and her sister live huddled over an electric fire in the corner of one of the house’s huge rooms, she has to do something.

Phillips said: “Dorothy is a lady of a certain age who has very white hair, wears no make-up and very decrepit clothes. She was a famous international model and peeress but something terrible happened to her and 46 years ago she inherited the house and became a recluse. Now she is watching the house fall down because she can’t afford to do anything to it. She really doesn’t want to give it to the National Trust because ‘people spoil things’. People trailing through the house all the time will change it.”

Dressed in “as many clothes as possible because she is always so cold”, including a fur coat which was the epitome of glamour 50 years ago but is now more of a wreck than the house, Dorothy sounds almost tragic, but it is a comedy

Phillips said: “It’s Alan Bennett so it’s very funny. Dorothy is pretty cool. She really tries to outwit her sensible sister. Both the house and Dorothy undergo a transformation and then Dorothy gets to wear all her beautiful clothes from her modelling days.”

Recreating a stately home on stage is no mean feat, but Phillips says the set is incredible. She said: “There’s a wonderful transformation scene which is magical and I am astonished every night I see it.”