By Gillian Ellison

Last updated 17:22, Wednesday, 18 June 2008

PICTURE the scene – there are two women in your life, one is your depressed mother and the other an elderly tramp who has a “nasty dishcloth smell”.

BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE: Pamela Buchner as Miss Shepherd

It doesn’t sound great but then again it did give playwright Alan Bennett plenty of material for a new piece of work.

He titled it The Lady in the Van and it is currently being performed superbly by the professional cast at Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake.

Pamela Buchner gives an exceptional performance as the cantankerous Miss Shepherd.

She is a larger-than-life eccentric elderly lady who parked her van and what worldly possessions she had in Alan Bennett’s garden.

She wouldn’t be there for long, she would say, but in fact stayed for 15 years – until the day she died.

Buchner brought a real passion and energy to the role, making her a joy to watch.

Despite the obvious odour of Miss Shepherd and her less than clean habits, she is a canny woman with an active mind – but perhaps a little too active!

Alan Bennett splits himself in two for the play ensuring all his emotions and thoughts are shared with the audience.

Playing the double-act role of two Bennetts are David Ericsson and Peter Rylands. They brought humour and sarcasm – allowing a lot of fun to be had – as well as a lot of emotion including guilt, frustration and anger.

The play runs at the theatre’s Main House until November in repertoire with the theatre’s other shows.

Telephone the box office on 017687 74411.