IT’S the sort of story that can’t fail to capture your imagination.

A well spoken tramp so unkempt she makes Steptoe look like Prince Charles, takes up residence in the garden of one of the world’s leading playwrights.

The dotty old woman lives in a van and does her business in carrier bags.

Alan Bennett doesn’t spare our feelings when it comes to describing Miss Shepherd’s non-existent personal hygoene in The Lady In The Van.

In fact he seems fixated by it and this fixation prompted audible gasps of disgust from The Lowry audience on Monday night.

Miss Shepherd is an enigmatic character with her own unique view of the world.

Her philosophy ranges from being downright silly to vaguely sensible and Bennett draws a brilliant comic paralell between her political aspirations and the political career of a certain grocer’s daughter from Lincolnshire.

Nichola McAuliffe is haunting and sympathetic as the elderly squatter and Paul Kemp and James Holmes provide an engaging running commentary, trying to make sense of the very strange stranger in their midst.

Both actors play different aspects of Bennett’s own character in this collaboration between the ever watchable Hull Truck and Richard Jordan Productions.

Unfortunately, this play is far too long and the references to Miss Shepherd’s toileting habits far too graphic.

That said, some of the lines are absolute gems.

* Until May 21. The box office is on 0843 208 6010.