Claire Benedict

Claire Benedict (born 6 September 1951) is a British actress known for her work in classical productions on the British stage, but best known for portraying the principal character Mma Ramotswe in the continuing radio adaptations of The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. She won a Time Out Award for Best Performance for her portrayal of Sophia Adams in Errol John's Moon on a Rainbow Shawl, directed by Maya Angelou.[1] She lives in Todmorden in the Pennines.[2]

Claire Benedict
Born	(1951-09-06) 6 September 1951 Antigua
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1978 – Present

Early life

Benedict was born in Antigua, began to act at Norwood Secondary School for Girls then Kingsway Further Education College on Gray's Inn Road, London. After two years at Kingways College, she gained entrance to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). After leaving LAMDA, Benedict worked with Theatre in Education (TIE) in London then trained with the Black Theatre Workshop of Montréal.[3]

Career

In her first ten years after completing her training, Benedict worked on the British stage in leading roles for smaller theatre companies and supporting roles for larger theatre companies until in 1988, when she received a Time Out award for Best Performance for her portrayal of Sophia Adams in Errol John's Moon on a Rainbow Shawl, directed by Maya Angelou.[1]

In 1992, Benedict joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) to do three plays, Odyssey, Cleopatra and Tamburlaine. On Cleopatra, Benedict was taken on as an understudy for Clare Higgins when not many people of colour were playing Cleopatra. In November 1992, Benedict was needed to step in at short notice and had not had time to fully rehearse the role. Carol Chillington-Rutter's book "Enter the Body" explores this subject with reference to Benedict's performance, where she explores why women of colour have traditionally played Charmain and white women Cleopatra.[4]

By 1994, The Independent included Benedict in a short list of "seasoned thoroughbred Shakespearians, gutsy actors who are assured verse speakers".[5] She is now an associate artist at the RSC.[6]

Benedict has for many years worked in radio drama, where she is known for portraying the principal character Mma Ramotswe in the radio adaptations of Alexander McCall Smith's The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels.[7] On television, she played a series regular in Call Red, and numerous supporting roles.

Benedict has played the part of Iyaloja in four separate productions of Wole Soyinka's play Death and the King's Horseman: Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester directed by Phyllida Lloyd in 1990; Royal National Theatre directed by Rufus Norris in 2009; and two productions for BBC Radio 3 directed by Alby James in 1995 and directed by Pauline Harris in 2014.

Benedict has worked with Lenny Henry on many occasions: supporting roles in his television series; playing his character's father's girlfriend then wife in all four series of Rudy's Rare Records on BBC Radio 4; playing the lead role in the first radio play he wrote Corrinne Come Back and Gone; and in two of the series of Bad Faith radio plays in which he played the lead role. In February 1994, during rehearsals for the Young Vic's Omma, the entire cast (Toby Jones, Robert Bowman, Des McAleer and Benedict) quit the production when they thought director Tim Supple was failing to give them appropriate direction.[8]

Credits

Theatre

Date	Title	Role	Director	Company Theatre	Notes
12 April 1978 – 16 April 1978	Hey You, Light Man	Mabel Le Grain	Terry Donald	Black Theatre Workshop, Montréal, Québec	[9] [10]
11 November 1978 – 14 November 1978	The Gingerbread Lady	Evy Meara	Terry Donald	Black Theatre Workshop, Montréal, Québec	[11] [10]
1979 –	Dreadful Tales		Frank Whitten	Common Stock Theatre Company	[12]
August 1979 –	Away From It	Teenager	Frank Whitten	Common Stock Theatre Company	[12]
1982 –	Mama Decemba	The Best Friend		Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company	[13]
29 August 1983 – 1 February 1984	Don Juan	Donna Elvira	John Retallack	Actors Touring Company	[14]
26 March 1984 – 26 June 1984	Twelfth Night	Maria, Curio	John Retallack	Actors Touring Company	[15] [1]
1986 –	So Long on Lonely Street	Annabel Lee	Lou Stein	Palace Theatre, Watford	[12]
16 December 1986 – 24 January 1987	Flash Trash	Mama Queenie	Yvonne Brewster	Half Moon Theatre	[12] [16]
6 January 1987 –	The Nine Night		Gloria Hamilton	Umoja Theatre Company	[12] [17]
30 March 1987 – 13 June 1987	11 Josephine House	Gloria	Gloria Hamilton	Umoja Theatre Company and Black Theatre Co-operative	[12] [18] [19] [20]
7 October 1987 – 19 December 1987	The Cape Orchard	Dianne Cupido	Roland Rees	Foco Novo	[21] [22] [23]
28 January 1988 – 27 February 1988	King of England	Susan	Philip Hedley	Theatre Royal, Stratford East	[1] [24]
May 1988 –	Moon on a Rainbow Shawl	Sophia Adams	Maya Angelou	Almeida Theatre	[1][25]
1988 –	The Bacchae	Agave	Nancy Meckler	Shared Experience	[26]
22 February 1989 – 15 May 1989	The Doctor of Honour	Doña Leonar	Lindsay Posner	Cheek by Jowl	[27] [12]
September 1989 – January 1990	Macbeth	Lady Macbeth	Nigel Jamieson	Odyssey Theatre Company	[1]
May 1990 – September 1990	Romeo and Juliet	Nurse	Bill Homewood	Hull Truck	[1] [28]
22 November 1990 – 15 December 1990	Death and the King's Horseman	Yaloja	Phyllida Lloyd	Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester	[13]
8 June 1991 –	The White Devil	Cornelia	Philip Prowse	Olivier, National, London	[29]
31 October 1991 – 30 November 1991	Medea	Medea	Phyllida Lloyd	Royal Exchange, Manchester	[30] [1]
2 July 1992 –	The Odyssey	Eurycleia	Greg Doran	Royal Shakespeare Company The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon	[13] [31]
1 September 1992 – 1993	Tamburlaine the Great	Zenocrate	Terry Hands	Royal Shakespeare Company Swan, Stratford Barbican Theatre, London	[13] [32] [33]
29 October 1992 –	Antony and Cleopatra	Charmian	John Caird	Royal Shakespeare Company	[1]
2 March 1993 – 9 March 1993	Antony and Cleopatra	Charmian	John Caird	Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre Royal, Newcastle-upon-Tyne	[34]
22 June 1993 –	The Odyssey	Eurycleia	Greg Doran	Royal Shakespeare Company The Pit, Barbican Arts Centre, London	[13] [35]
–	The Odyssey	Helen of Troy	Greg Doran	Royal Shakespeare Company	[13]
1997 –	A Midsummer Night's Dream	Titania, Hippolyta	Phelim McDermott Julian Crouch	English Shakespeare Company	[1]
1997 – 1998	To Kill A Mockingbird			Theatre Royal, Bath	[36]
3 December 1998 – 19 December 1998	So Special	The Mother, Nurse	Matthew Lloyd	Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
28 January 1999 – 27 February 1999	The Tempest	Antonio	Jude Kelly	West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds	[1] [37] [38]
25 May 2000 – 19 August 2000	The Gift	Bernice	Annie Castledine	Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company Tricycle Theatre Kilburn, London	[13] [39] [40]
11 October 2000 – 11 November 2000	The Critic / The Dispute	Mrs. Dangle	Matthew Lloyd	Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester	[41]
25 April 2002 – 14 September 2002	Eastward Ho!	Mistress Touchstone	Lucy Pitman-Wallace	Royal Shakespeare Company Swan, Stratford	[42] [43]
2 July 2002 – 14 September 2002	The Island Princess	Quisana	Gregory Doran	Royal Shakespeare Company Swan, Stratford	[44] [45]
20 August 2002 – 13 September 2002	The Malcontent	Maquerelle	Dominic Cooke	Royal Shakespeare Company Swan, Stratford	[46] [47] [48]
25 September 2002 – 11 October 2002	The Malcontent	Maquerelle	Dominic Cooke	Royal Shakespeare Company Newcastle Playhouse, Newcastle-upon-Tyne	[49]
30 September 2002 – 10 October 2002	Eastward Ho!	Mistress Touchstone	Lucy Pitman-Wallace	Royal Shakespeare Company Newcastle Playhouse, Newcastle-upon-Tyne	[42]
9 October 2002 – 12 October 2002	The Island Princess	Quisana	Gregory Doran	Royal Shakespeare Company Newcastle Playhouse, Newcastle-upon-Tyne	[50]
7 December 2002 – 22 March 2003	The Malcontent	Maquerelle	Dominic Cooke	Royal Shakespeare Company Gielgud Theatre, London	[51] [52]
21 December 2002 – 19 March 2003	Eastward Ho!	Mistress Touchstone	Lucy Pitman-Wallace	Royal Shakespeare Company Gielgud Theatre, London	[53] [54]
28 December 2002 – 17 March 2003	The Island Princess	Quisana	Gregory Doran	Royal Shakespeare Company Gielgud Theatre, London	[55] [56]
16 December 2004 – 23 March 2005	Fix Up	Norma	Angus Jackson	National Theatre Cottesloe Theatre, London	[57] [58] [59] [60]
6 December 2005 – 30 September 2006	The Canterbury Tales	The Wife of Bath	Gregory Doran, Rebecca Gatwood, Jonathan Munby	Royal Shakespeare Company	[61] [62] [63] [64] [65]
4 February 2008 – 5 April 2008	Angel House	Jean	Paulette Randal	New Wolsey Theatre	[66] [67] [68]
9 June 2008 – 2 August 2008	Romeo and Juliet	Nurse	Timothy Sheader	New Shakespeare Company Regent's Park Open Air Theatre	[1] [69] [70] [71] [72]
13 June 2008 – 30 July 2008	Twelfth Night	Maria	Edward Dick	New Shakespeare Company Regent's Park Open Air Theatre	[1] [73] [74]
8 April 2009 – 17 June 2009	Death and the King’s Horseman	Iyaloja	Rufus Norris	Olivier, National, London	[75] [76] [77] [78]
11 September 2014 – 25 October 2014	Hamlet	Player King, Marcella	Sarah Frankcom	Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester	[1] [79] [80] [81] [82] [83]

[Issue 1]

Film

Year	Title	Role	Director	Notes
1996	Merisairas aka Seasick	Cook Saba	Veikko Aaltonen
1997	The Fifth Province		Frank Stapleton	[13]
1999	Felicia's Journey	Miss Calligary	Atom Egoyan
2015	Jupiter Ascending	Bureaucrat	The Wachowskis
2015	Hamlet	Marcella / Player King	Sarah Frankcom, Margaret Williams

Television

Date	Title	Role	Director	Notes
	Dream Team			Channel 5[13] [Issue 2]
	Text In Time			BBC tv [13] [Issue 3]
16 August 1988	The Bill: Country Cousin (S 4: Ep 9)	Mrs Williams	Sharon Miller	Thames Television [84]
15 December 1992 – 16 December 1992	Prime Suspect 2	Esme Allen	John Strickland	Granada Television [84]
25 October 1994	The Bill: Land of the Blind (S 10: Ep 127)	Miranda Kerr	John Bruce	Thames Television [84]
8 January 1996 – 19 February 1996	Call Red	Jude Patton		Thames Television
6 February 1997 – 11 March 1997	Grange Hill	Mrs Phillips		BBC tv
10 August 1998	Still Here: Just So Much A Body Can Take	Ethel	Avril Russell	BBC tv [13] [85]
2 September 2003	Doctors: Docwatch (S 5: Ep 156)	Christine Babbage	Ian Barber	BBC tv [84]
21 February 2004	Casualty: Taking Care	Lesley Chambers	Michael Buffong	BBC tv [86]
16 March 2004 – 1 April 2004	Feather Boy	Matron	Dermot Boyd	Childsplay for BBC tv
6 May 2005 – 24 June 2005	The Lenny Henry Show	Nurse	Michael Cumming	BBC tv [84]
19 January 2006	Eleventh Hour: Resurrection	Amanda Ross	Terry McDonough	Granada Television [87]
6 November 2007	Holby City: The Apprentice	Elizabeth McFarlane	Edward Bennett	BBC tv [88]
31 March 2008	Poppy Shakespeare	Rosetta	Benjamin Ross	Cowboy Films for Channel 4 [89] [90]
19 January 2009	Unforgiven	Elaine (psychotherapist)	David Evans	Red Productions for ITV [91]
4 January 2010	Above Suspicion: The Red Dahlia (S 2: Ep 1)	Mrs Jenkins	Gillies MacKinnon	La Plante Productions for ITV [84]
31 October 2010	Thorne: Scaredy Cat, Episode 1	Maeve Reynolds	Benjamin Ross	Cité-Amérique for Sky Television [84] [92]
14 November 2010	Thorne: Scaredy Cat, Episode 3	Maeve Reynolds	Benjamin Ross	Cité-Amérique for Sky Television [84] [93]
4 April 2011 – 3 April 2011	Waking the Dead: Conviction (S 9: Ep 7–8)	Lisbetta Barclay	Tim Fywell	BBC tv [94] [95]
6 January 2012	The One Lenny Henry	Esther	Geoff Posner	BBC tv [96]
28 March 2012	Secrets and Words: A Study in Time	Connie	Pauline Harris	BBC tv [97]
28 August 2012	Holby City: Taxi for Spence	Margaret O'Sullivan	Matt Carter	BBC tv [98]
29 August 2015	Casualty: A Child's Heart: Part One	Olivia Costelloe	Paul Unwin	BBC tv [99]
30 August 2015	Casualty: A Child's Heart: Part Two	Olivia Costelloe	Paul Unwin	BBC tv [100]
17 May 2016 – 24 May 2016	In the Club (2 episodes)	Myleene Browning	Jane Prowse	BBC tv [101] [102]

Radio

Date	Title	Role	Director	Station
12 December 1994 – 16 December 1994	Invisible Cities [13]		Tessa Watt	BBC Radio 3
6 April 1995	Charley Tango [103]	Bettina & Sister Euphonia	Jeremy Mortimer	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
17 September 1995	Death and the King's Horseman [104]	Iyaloja	Alby James	BBC Radio 3 The Sunday Play
2 October 1995	Rainmaker [105]		Hamish Wilson	BBC Radio 4 Monday Play
3 March 1996	A Raisin in the Sun [106]		Claire Grove	BBC Radio 3 The Sunday Play
9 May 1996	Out of the Woods [107]	Bonnie	Gordon House	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
17 June 1996	United States [108]		Andy Jordan	BBC Radio 4 The Monday Play
12 August 1996	Spell Number 7 [109]	Bettina	Pam Fraser Solomon	BBC Radio 4 The Monday Play
26 August 1996	Song of a Bluefoot Man [110]	Mother Africa	Alby James	BBC Radio 4 The Monday Play
5 November 1996	Short Story: Dilemma [111]	Read By	Pam Fraser Solomon	BBC Radio 4 Short Story
1 November 1998	The Late Story: A Living Legend [112] [13]	Read By	Gaynor Macfarlane	BBC Radio 4 The Late Story
8 June 1999	Those Old Metal Things [113] [13]	Bertha	Pauline Harris	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
11 July 1999	Document of Identity [114] [115] [13][116]	Kiisu	Pauline Harris	BBC Radio 3 The Sunday Play
13 August 2000 (R)	The Late Story: Miss Joyce and Bobcat [117]	Read By	Melanie Harris	BBC Radio 4 The Late Story
1 January 2001 – 5 January 2001	The Book of the City of Ladies [118]	Reason	Polly Thomas	BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Drama
28 November 2001	Always the Bridesmaid [119]	Sarah	Pauline Harris	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
21 February 2002	When [120]	Sahara	Vanessa Whitburn	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
22 April 2003	The Other Side of Truth [121]	Aunt Gracie / Mrs Bankole	Pauline Harris	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
1 February 2004	Measure for Measure [122] [1]	Mistress Overdone	Claire Grove	BBC Radio 3 Drama on 3
8 February 2004	The Winter's Tale [123] [1]	Paulina	Nadia Molinari	BBC Radio 3 Drama on 3
17 May 2004	I Was a Stranger [124]	Lakiyaye & Queen Victoria	Pauline Harris	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
29 May 2004	Amen Corner [125]	Sister Margaret Alexander	Rishi Sankar	BBC World Service
10 September 2004	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Daddy [126] [127]	Mma Ramotswe	Gaynor Macfarlane	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
17 September 2004	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Bone [128]	Mma Ramotswe	Gaynor Macfarlane	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
24 September 2004	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Maid [129]	Mma Ramotswe	Gaynor Macfarlane	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
1 October 2004	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: Tears of the Giraffe [130]	Mma Ramotswe	Gaynor Macfarlane	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
30 August 2005	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Chief Justice of Beauty [131]	Mma Ramotswe	Gaynor Macfarlane	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
6 September 2005	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Confession [132]	Mma Ramotswe	Gaynor Macfarlane	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
13 September 2005	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Kalahari Typing School for Men [133]	Mma Ramotswe	Gaynor Macfarlane	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
20 September 2005	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Admirer [134]	Mma Ramotswe	Gaynor Macfarlane	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
18 January 2007	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: How to Handle Men through the Application of Psychology [135]	Mma Ramotswe	Kirsty Williams	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
25 January 2007	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: House of Hope [136]	Mma Ramotswe	Kirsty Williams	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
1 February 2007	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Return of Note [137]	Mma Ramotswe	Kirsty Williams	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
8 February 2007	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Ceremony [138]	Mma Ramotswe	Kirsty Williams	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
25 November 2007	Blood Wedding [139] [140]	Moon	Pauline Harris	BBC Radio 3 Drama on 3
1 January 2008	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: There Is No Such Thing as Free Food [141]	Mma Ramotswe	Gaynor Macfarlane	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
2 January 2008	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Best Profession for a Blackmailer [142]	Mma Ramotswe	Gaynor Macfarlane	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
3 January 2008	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: A Very Rude Woman [143]	Mma Ramotswe	Gaynor Macfarlane	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
4 January 2008	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: Talking Shoes [144] [145]	Mma Ramotswe	Gaynor Macfarlane	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
26 February 2008	Rudy's Rare Records: Take Me Home, Country Roads [146] [147]	Doreen	Lucy Armitage	BBC Radio 4
4 March 2008	Rudy's Rare Records: Roots Manoeuvres [148] [149]	Doreen	Lucy Armitage	BBC Radio 4
25 December 2008	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Miracle at Speedy Motors [150]	Mma Ramotswe	Gaynor Macfarlane	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
21 September 2009 – 22 September 2009	Blame the Parents [151] [152]	Linda Swann	Steven Canny and Peter Leslie Wild	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
14 October 2009	Rudy's Rare Records: Ill Communication [153] [154]	Doreen / Ms Rogers	Lucy Armitage	BBC Radio 4
21 October 2009	Rudy's Rare Records: Oh Carolina [155] [156]	Carolina	Lucy Armitage	BBC Radio 4
28 October 2009	Rudy's Rare Records: Daddy Cool [157] [158]	Doreen	Lucy Armitage	BBC Radio 4
25 December 2009	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: Tea Time for the Traditionally Built [159]	Mma Ramotswe	Eilidh McCreadie	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
25 December 2009	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Seller of Beds [160]	Mma Ramotswe	Eilidh McCreadie	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
26 September 2010	Lorca's Rural Trilogy: Yerma [161]	Dolores	Pauline Harris	BBC Radio 3 Drama on 3
18 January 2011	Rudy's Rare Records: No Richie, No Cry [162]	Doreen	Lucy Armitage	BBC Radio 4
25 January 2011	Rudy's Rare Records: It's a Family Affair [163]	Doreen	Lucy Armitage	BBC Radio 4
1 February 2011	Rudy's Rare Records: Redemption Song [164]	Doreen	Lucy Armitage	BBC Radio 4
8 February 2011	Rudy's Rare Records: Rudy's Rare Record [165]	Doreen	Lucy Armitage	BBC Radio 4
15 February 2011	Rudy's Rare Records: Lights Out [166]	Doreen	Lucy Armitage	BBC Radio 4
22 February 2011	Rudy's Rare Records: Girls and Boys [167]	Doreen	Lucy Armitage	BBC Radio 4
30 May 2011	Corrinne Come Back and Gone [168]	Corrinne	Claire Grove	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
7 October 2011	Bad Faith: Insha'Allah [169]	Marianne Brown	Mary Peate	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
14 October 2011	Bad Faith: Opiate of the Masses [170]	Marianne Brown	Mary Peate	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
3 November 2011	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: A Late Van Just Glimpsed [171]	Mma Ramotswe	Gaynor Macfarlane	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
4 November 2011	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Saturday Big Tent Wedding [172]	Mma Ramotswe	Gaynor Macfarlane	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
9 October 2012	Rudy's Rare Records: Three's a Crowd [173]	Doreen	Katie Tyrrell	BBC Radio 4
16 October 2012	Rudy's Rare Records: Best Local Business [174]	Doreen	Katie Tyrrell	BBC Radio 4
23 October 2012	Rudy's Rare Records: Let It Grow [175]	Doreen	Katie Tyrrell	BBC Radio 4
30 October 2012	Rudy's Rare Records: It's Grim up North [176]	Doreen	Katie Tyrrell	BBC Radio 4
6 November 2012	Rudy's Rare Records: Miss Reenie Comes to Stay [177]	Doreen	Katie Tyrrell	BBC Radio 4
13 November 2012	Rudy's Rare Records: Sound of da Police [178]	Doreen	Katie Tyrrell	BBC Radio 4
20 March 2013	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: A Man from a Far Place [179]	Mma Ramotswe	Gaynor Macfarlane	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
21 March 2013	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection [180]	Mma Ramotswe	Gaynor Macfarlane	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
5 February 2014	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Modern Husband Course [181]	Mma Ramotswe	Eilidh McCreadie	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
6 February 2014	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon [182]	Mma Ramotswe	Eilidh McCreadie	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
13 July 2014	Death and the King's Horseman [183] [184]	Iyaloja	Pauline Harris	BBC Radio 3 Drama on 3
12 March 2015	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Handsome Man's Deluxe Cafe [185]	Mma Ramotswe	Eilidh McCreadie	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
13 March 2015	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Dish of Yesterday [186]	Mma Ramotswe	Eilidh McCreadie	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
4 August 2016	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: This Is Not a Rubbish Boy [187]	Mma Ramotswe	Gaynor Macfarlane	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
5 August 2016	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine [188]	Mma Ramotswe	Gaynor Macfarlane	BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
23 June 2019	The Invisible [189]	Gertrude	Nadia Molinari	BBC Radio 3 Drama on 3

References

1. British Black and Asian Shakespeare Database – University of Warwick, 2016
2. Claire Benedict talks acting to Todmorden University of the Third Age – John Bouttell, Hebden Bridge Web News, 29 April 2012
3. "Claire Benedict - Is Lenny Henry Right? – Paul Rose, British Afro Caribbean Society, 1 January 2016". Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
4. Enter the Body: Women and representation on Shakespeare's stage, Carol Chillington Rutter, Routledge, 2001
5. THEATRE / 25 under 35: It's the role for actresses of that uncertain age. Today, Imogen Stubbs. Tomorrow . . ? Georgina Brown plays casting director – Georgina Brown, The Independent, 26 July 1994
6. Royal Shakespeare Company – Associate Artists
7. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01r9sl1#play
8. Butler, Robert (20 February 1994). "All together: exit, stage left. Why did a whole cast walk out on the Young Vic?". The Independent. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
9. Black Theatre Workshop, Montréal, Québec 1977-1978 Season
10. Black Theatre Workshop Promotional Material and Reviews
11. Black Theatre Workshop, Montréal, Québec 1978-1979 Season
12. The Doctor of Honour – Programme – Cheek by Jowl
13. The Gift – Roy Williams, Methuen Drama
14. Don Juan, Actors Touring Company
15. Twelfth Night, Actors Touring Company
16. Flash Trash – Stages of Half Moon
17. The Nine Night poster, V&A Museum
18. Ratcliffe, Michael. Review of 11 Josephine House by Alfred Fagon. Umoja Theatre Company and Black Theatre Cooperative. The Observer 24 May 1987
19. 11 Josephine Houseprogramme front page
20. 11 Josephine Houseprogramme back page
21. Foco Novo – Unfinished Histories
22. Theatre Week – The Stage London, 3 Dec 1987
23. "Towards a Philosophy of Theatre Inspired by Aristotle's Poetics and Post-Structuralist Aesthetics in Relation to Three South African Plays – Michael Picardie, Ph.D. thesis, University of South Wales, April 2014" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
24. Poor Tom – Michael Billington, The Guardian, 3 February 1988
25. Review of Moon on a Rainbow Shawl – Irving Wardle, The Times, 6 May 1988
26. The Bacchae – Theatricalia
27. The Doctor of Honour – Cheek by Jowl
28. Review/Theater; Pop Star as a Nontraditional Romeo – Stephen Holden, The New York Times, 14 July 1990
29. The White Devil – Theatricalia
30. Medea – Theatricalia
31. The Odyssey – RSC Performances
32. THEATRE / Sher's seizing power: Paul Taylor applauds Terry Hands' magnificent production of Marlowe's Tamburlaine the Great – Paul Taylor, The Independent, 2 September 1992
33. THEATRE / Marlowe's Rambo triumphant: Tamburlaine - Swan – Irving Wardle, The Independent, 5 September 1992
34. Antony and Cleopatra – RSC Performances
35. The Odyssey – RSC Performances
36. To Kill A Mockingbird – Theatricalia
37. Losing the magic – John Peter, Sunday Times, 14 February 1999
38. Small storm in teacup, not many dead – John Gross, Sunday Telegraph, 14 February 1999
39. The Gift, Tricycle, London – Michael Billington, The Guardian, 29 July 2000
40. Light treatment for tangled tale of family allegiances – Zoe Green, The Independent, 24 July 2000
41. Misappliance of science – Rhoda Koenig, The Independent, 23 October 2000
42. Eastward Ho! – RSC Performances
43. Eastward Ho! – Theatricalia
44. The Island Princess – RSC Performances
45. The Island Princess – Theatricalia
46. The Malcontent, Swan, Stratford – Susannah Clap, The Observer, 25 August 2002
47. The Malcontent, RSC Swan, Statford-upon-Avon – Paul Taylor, The Independent, 27 August 2002
48. The Malcontent – Theatricalia
49. The Malcontent – RSC Performances
50. The Island Princess – RSC Performances
51. The Malcontent, Gielgud, London – Michael Billington, The Guardian, 9 December 2002
52. The Malcontent – Theatricalia
53. Eastward Ho! – RSC Performances
54. Eastward Ho! – Theatricalia
55. The Island Princess – RSC Performances
56. The Island Princess – Theatricalia
57. Fix Up review at Cottesloe London – Peter Hepple, The Stage, 17 December 2004
58. Fix Up, National, London – Michael Billington, The Guardian, 17 December 2004
59. Fix Up, Cottesloe, National Theatre, London – Paul Taylor, The Independent, 21 December 2004
60. Fix Up, NT Cottesloe, London – Kate Bassett, The Independent, 26 December 2004
61. The Canterbury Tales review at Royal Shakespeare Theatre Stratford-upon-Avon – Peta David, The Stage, 14 December 2005
62. The Canterbury Tales, The Swan, Stratford-upon-Avon – Michael Billington, The Guardian, 10 December 2005
63. The Canterbury Tales, Swan Theatre, Stratford Upon Avon – Paul Taylor, The Independent, 14 December 2005
64. The Canterbury Tales, Swan, Stratford: What do you mean, we're only having a laugh? – Kate Bassett, The Independent, 18 December 2005
65. The Canterbury Tales, Gielgud Theatre, London – Paul Taylor, The Independent, 16 July 2006
66. Angel House review at The Playhouse Nottingham – Pat Ashworth, The Stage, 28 February 2008
67. Angel House, New Wolsey, Ipswich – Michael Billington, The Guardian, 6 February 2008
68. Angel House, New Wolsey, Ipswich – Rhoda Koenig, The Independent, 11 February 2008
69. Romeo and Juliet review at Open Air Regents Park – Susan Elkin, The Stage, 10 June 2008
70. Romeo and Juliet, Open Air Theatre Regent's Park, London: These lovers leave a lot to be desired – Rhoda Koenig, The Independent, 10 June 2008
71. Sam Marlowe, The Times, 11 June 2008
72. Caroline McGinn, Time Out London, 19 June 2008
73. Twelfth Night, Regent's Park Open Air, London – Lyn Gardner, The Guardian, 18 June 2008
74. Twelfth Night review at Open Air Theatre – Regents Park London – Lalayn Baluch, The Stage, 16 June 2008
75. Death and the King’s Horseman review at Olivier National London – Susan Elkin, The Stage, 9 April 2009
76. Death and the King's Horseman, National, London – Michael Billington, The Guardian, 9 April 2009
77. Shadow of the king's death: Nobel prize-winner Wole Soyinka's poetic evocation of Yoruba tradition explodes with life – Clare Brennan, The Observer, 12 April 2009
78. Death and the King's, Horseman, National Theatre, London – Michael Coveney, The Independent, 12 April 2009
79. Hamlet – The Stage, 17 September 2014
80. This week’s new theatre: Hamlet, Manchester – Mark Cook & Lyn Gardner, The Guardian, 12 September 2014
81. Hamlet review – Maxine Peake stresses character with a caustic, spry prince – Michael Billington, The Guardian, 17 September 2014
82. Maxine Peake plays Shakespeare's starring part with emotional ferocity – Paul Vallely, The Independent, 17 September 2014
83. Hamlet review – Maxine Peake is a delicately ferocious Prince of Denmark – Susannah Clapp, The Observer, 21 September 2014
84. Claire Benedict at tv.com
85. Still Here: Just So Much A Body Can Take
86. BBC – Casualty: Taking Care
87. Resurrection – BFI
88. BBC – Holby City: The Apprentice
89. Poppy Shakespeare – Channel 4
90. Poppy Shakespeare – BFI
91. Unforgiven – BFI
92. Scaredy Cat – BFI
93. Scaredy Cat – BFI
94. BBC – Waking the Dead – Conviction, Part 1
95. BBC – Waking the Dead – Conviction, Part 2
96. BBC – The One Lenny Henry
97. BBC – Secrets and Words – A Study in Time
98. BBC – Holby City – Taxi for Spence
99. BBC – Casualty – A Child's Heart: Part One
100. BBC – Casualty – A Child's Heart: Part Two
101. BBC – In the Club – Series 2, Episode 3
102. BBC – In the Club – Series 2, Episode 4
103. BBC – Afternoon Play – Charley Tango
104. BBC – The Sunday Play – Death and the King's Horseman
105. BBC – Monday Play – Rainmaker
106. BBC – The Sunday Play – A Raisin in the Sun
107. BBC – Afternoon Play – Out of the Woods
108. BBC – The Monday Play – United States
109. BBC – The Monday Play – Spell Number 7
110. BBC – The Monday Play – Song of a Bluefoot Man
111. BBC – Short Story – Dilemma
112. BBC – The Late Story – A Living Legend
113. BBC – Afternoon Play – Those Old Metal Things
114. BBC – The Sunday Play – Document of Identity
115. BBC – Drama on 3 – Document of Identity
116. BBC World Service: New Schedules – Easy Listening, April 2000
117. BBC – The Late Story – Miss Joyce and Bobcat
118. BBC – Woman's Hour Drama – The Book of the City of Ladies
119. BBC – Afternoon Play – Always the Bridesmaid
120. BBC – Afternoon Play – When
121. BBC – Afternoon Play – The Other Side of Truth
122. BBC – Drama on 3 – Measure for Measure
123. BBC – Drama on 3 – The Winter's Tale
124. BBC – Afternoon Play – I Was a Stranger
125. Radio Review – Drama – The Stage, 7 Jun 2004
126. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Daddy
127. Radio Review – Drama – The Stage, 27 Sep 2004
128. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Bone
129. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Maid
130. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: Tears of the Giraffe
131. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Chief Justice of Beauty
132. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Confession
133. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Kalahari Typing School for Men
134. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Admirer
135. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: How to Handle Men through the Application of Psychology
136. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: House of Hope
137. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Series 3, Part 3: The Return of Note
138. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Series 3, Part 4: The Ceremony
139. BBC – Drama on 3 – Blood Wedding
140. BBC – Drama on 3 – Blood Wedding
141. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: There Is No Such Thing as Free Food
142. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: Best Profession for a Blackmailer
143. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: A Very Rude Woman
144. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: Talking Shoes
145. Radio Review, Stephanie Merritt, The Observer, 6 January 2008
146. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records – Take Me Home, Country Roads
147. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records – Take Me Home, Country Roads
148. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records – Roots Manoeuvres
149. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records – Roots Manoeuvres
150. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Miracle at Speedy Motors
151. BBC – Afternoon Play – Blame the Parents, Episode 1
152. BBC – Afternoon Play – Blame the Parents, Episode 2
153. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records – Ill Communication
154. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records – Ill Communication
155. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records – Oh Carolina
156. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records – Oh Carolina
157. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records Daddy Cool
158. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records Daddy Cool
159. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: Tea Time for the Traditionally Built
160. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Seller of Beds
161. BBC – Drama on 3 – Lorca's Rural Trilogy: Yerma
162. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records – No Richie, No Cry
163. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records – It's a Family Affair
164. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records – Redemption Song
165. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records – Rudy's Rare Record
166. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records – Lights Out
167. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records – Girls and Boys
168. BBC – Afternoon Play – Corrinne Come Back and Gone
169. BBC – Afternoon Play – Bad Faith: Insha'Allah
170. BBC – Afternoon Play – Bad Faith: Opiate of the Masses
171. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: A Late Van Just Glimpsed
172. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Saturday Big Tent Wedding
173. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records – Three's a Crowd
174. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records – Best Local Business
175. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records – Let It Grow
176. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records – It's Grim up North
177. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records – Miss Reenie Comes to Stay
178. BBC – Rudy's Rare Records – Sound of da Police
179. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: A Man from a Far Place
180. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection
181. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Modern Husband Course
182. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon
183. BBC – Drama on 3 – Death and the King's Horseman
184. BBC – Media Centre – Drama On 3: Death And The King’s Horseman
185. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Handsome Man's Deluxe Cafe
186. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Dish of Yesterday
187. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: This Is Not a Rubbish Boy
188. BBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine
189. BBC – Drama on 3 – The Invisible

Notes

1. This list from the original author to be verified and moved into table above:

   1985 The Contact Theatre Co. Manchester. Oedipus Rex; The Messenger; Director: Anthony Clark.

   1994 The Young Vic Theatre, London. Oedipus Rex; Antigone/Jocasta; Director: Tim Supple.
   This suggests Benedict left this production during rehearsals

   1999 Centre Line Productions. Women on the Verge of H.R.T. Get away; Tassa.
   The Independent's review doesn't mention Claire
   The British Theatre Guide's review doesn't mention Claire

   2005 The Royal Shakespeare Co. Canterbury Tales;Wife of Bath/ Miller's Wife/ Pertelote.

   2006 The Royal Shakespeare Co. Canterbury Tales;Wife of Bath;/ Miller's Wife/ Pertelote; Directors' :Greg Doran / Jonathan Munby /and Rebecca Gatward.

   2010 R.S.C. Silly Masque (opening of the new R.S.T); Goddess Juno; Director: Greg Doran.

2. Inconsistency in the referenced theatre programme: this series was Sky not Channel 5.
3. This might be "Texts in Time", but Benedict is not credited for any of those on the BBC web site

External links

• Claire Benedict on IMDb
• Claire Benedict at TV.com