I Remember It Well: Judi Dench and Gyles Brandreth – Review – York Grand Opera House
By Roger Crow, October 2024
It’s all in the looks with Judi Dench. Even from Row D in the stalls, every reaction is a gem. While host Gyles Brandreth does most of the heavy lifting during their two-person show at York’s Grand Opera House (remarkably a first appearance for both of them), Dame Judi reacts – beautifully. The running gag is that the show is called ‘I Remember It Well’, and yet arguably the world’s greatest living actress has a little trouble recalling some names and places. Including the name of the show. Thankfully Gyles does recall a lot, and as he knows absolutely everybody, he does make a great MC.
It’s been an emotional day for Ms Dench as she’s been back to her old haunts for the first time in decades, and has a lovely time recalling memories of her childhood during the war and life in and around York.
When tickets came up for this much anticipated show, there was a nanosecond of thought before attempting to snap them up, and the price was worth every penny.
This year she celebrates her 90th birthday, and though some names and memories may be a little hazy, when asked to recall a sonnet, she’s word-perfect. Those moments when Gyles, bless him, lets her get a word in, are priceless.
“Beloved”
There’s some drama just before the interval when one theatregoer is rushed to hospital after falling ill, so there’s some concern for their well being, and naturally whether we’ll get to see the second half at all, but act two is also a joy.
There are memories of working in TV and film, on beloved sitcom A Fine Romance, with Judi’s much-missed husband Michael Williams, and with the equally brilliant Geoffrey Palmer on As Time Goes By. As a Bond fan, I’m naturally on tenterhooks for the juicy gossip about those 007 epics, but Judi is surprisingly low key about her work as M. And she draws a blank when asked by Gyles about working with Vin Diesel. She can’t remember the movie, nor can Gyles or most of the audience, so I yell out “THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK”, and it’s just the prompt she needs to recall the story about how he left countless flowers for her in a London theatre when he came to see her. Judi still hasn’t seen the movie 20 years on.
Before the show ends, there are great stories about working with Billy Connolly and Johnny Depp (a major crush based in her reaction), and best of all, anecdotes about her insulting parrot which brings the house down. Again, those looks are everything.
York’s greatest actress may have come home for one night only, but it’s a night most of us will never forget.