Michael Billington reflects on almost 50 years and some 10,000 reviews as he steps down as the Guardian's chief theatre critic. Michael is introduced by Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre. A number of guests including actors Penelope Wilton, Simon Russell Beale, Aisling Loftus and Oliver Ford Davies read from some of Michael's favourite plays.
Katy Rudd (The Almighty, Royal Exchange; Associate Artist, Elliott & Harper Productions) and Joel Horwood (I Want My Hat Back, National Theatre; The Little Mermaid, Bristol Old Vic) discuss their new production of Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Chaired by playwright and academic, Dan Rebellato.
Writer Inua Ellams and Director Nadia Fall discuss their new production of Three Sisters. Chaired by Louisa Uchum Egbunike, Lecturer in English at City, University of London, Curator of the Legacies of Biafra touring exhibition and Co-Convenor of the Annual Igbo Conference.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane is the bestselling magical novel from the brilliant imagination of Neil Gaiman. Join Gaiman as he chats to Lenny Henry about writing this modern myth, where his inspiration came from, and what it's like to have his novel adapted for the stage.
Lindsay Duncan and Alex Jennings reflect on the challenges and rewards of performing in Hansard. Chaired by David Benedict.
Director Rufus Norris and Adapter Helen Edmundson reflect on their production of Small Island. Chaired by Brenda Emmanus.
Join legendary theatre-maker Peter Brook (‘our greatest living director’, Independent) as he speaks to Mark Lawson to discuss his new book Playing by Ear: Reflections on Music and Sound, which explores the role of music in the theatre and revisits some of the best-known productions from his long and distinguished career.
Director Simon Godwin (Antony & Cleopatra, Man + Superman) and writer Simon Woods reflect on their new production of Hansard
David Hare and Jonathan Kent (the partnership behind Young Chekhov) speak about the processes of making their new production. Hosted by Georgina Godwin
James McArdle (Platonov, Angels in America) reflects on the challenges and rewards of creating and playing Peter Gynt. Hosted by Georgina Godwin.
Director Polly Findlay (Beginning, As You Like It, Treasure Island) discusses her new production of Rutherford and Son with Fiona Mountford.
Director Polly Findlay (Beginning, As You Like It, Treasure Island) discusses her new production of Rutherford and Son with Fiona Mountford.
Actor Roger Allam (Les Miserables, The Thick of It) reflects on the challenges and rewards of playing John Rutherford in the new production of Rutherford and Son.
Join the director and writer as they reflect on their production of Downstate, with Rana Mitter.
Writer David Hare reflects on his new play I’m Not Running, chaired by Helen Lewis. David Hare is a playwright and film-maker. Hare first worked at the National Theatre in 1971. Seventeen of his plays have since been presented there including Plenty, Pravda (with Howard Brenton), The Secret Rapture, Racing Demon, Murmuring Judges, Skylight, Amy’s View, Stuff Happens, The Absence of War, Behind the Beautiful Forevers and The Red Barn. Film and TV includes Collateral, Licking Hitler, Dreams of Lea...
Join the director and writer as they reflect on their production of Hadestown. Rachel Chavkin is a director, dramaturg and sometime writer, and the founding Artistic Director of the TEAM (teamplays.org). Anaïs Mitchell is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Mitchell has released six albums including Hadestown (2010), Young Man in America (2012) and Child Ballads (2013).
Join renowned playwrights Alecky Blythe (London Road, Little Revolution), Howard Brenton (Pravda, Never So Good), Natasha Gordon (Nine Night), and Conor McPherson (The Weir, Girl from the North Country) and publisher Nick Hern, to explore how playwriting has – and hasn’t – changed over the past 30 years. Chaired by Emily McLaughlin (Head of New Work, National Theatre). What new trends and themes have emerged in the last three decades? What changes have occurred in the way plays reach the stage? ...
Jacques Lecoq was one of the major figures of Western theatre in the second half of the 20th century, known especially for his teaching of movement, play, improvisation, masks, language, comedy, and tragedy. This event explores this legacy with an overview and analysis of Lecoq's life, work and philosophy of theatre, and looks at Lecoq’s influence on prominent performers and directors currently working in contemporary theatre in the UK. With contributions from Mark Evans, author and co-editor of...
An event to celebrate the publication of Dramatic Exchanges: The Lives and Letters of the National Theatre selected and edited by Daniel Rosenthal. With contributions from the author and readings from actors with the NT company including Tim McMullan, Gloria Obianyo, Nadia Williams and Owen Findlay.
Dying and death is something we will all experience in our lifetime: the loss of a loved one, fear of dying or perhaps trying to extend our lives. Malika Booker, Rachel Clarke and Tony Walter explore different perspectives on dying. Malika Booker is a British Caribbean writer, Her collection Pepper Seed was published by Peepal Tree Press in 2013 and The Penguin Modern Poets Series 3 in 2017. She is currently a LHRI Fellow at Leeds University where she is conducting a creative research project ga...
Patrick Marber talks about his new production, Exit the King, with Rachel Cooke. Patrick Marber’s plays for the National Theatre include Dealer’s Choice, Closer, The Red Lion, Three Days in the Country, The Beaux’ Stratagem, and Hedda Gabler.
The director and writer reflect on their production of An Octoroon. Ned Bennett directed Pomona at the Orange Tree Theatre, National Theatre and Royal Exchange; The Crocodile at the Manchester International Festival and Yen at the Royal Court and the Royal Exchange. He won the UK Theatre Award for Best Director for Pomona and Yen Branden Jacobs-Jenkins won the 2014 Obie Award for Best New American Play for Appropriate and An Octoroon. He was a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for G...
To mark the 50th anniversary of the end of stage censorship in Britain, theatre historians and NT actors explore the NT plays which would have been banned by the Lord Chamberlain's Office if state control of plays had not been abolished by the Theatres Act in September 1968.
Join the director as he reflects on his production of Antony & Cleopatra, with Fiona Mountford.
Join the director as he reflects on his production of Translations, chaired by Tanya Seghatchian. Ian Rickson was artistic director of the Royal Court Theatre from 1998 to 2007. Recent West End work includes Jerusalem, Betrayal, Mojo, The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? and The Birthday Party.
Kate Fleetwood reflects on the challenges and rewards of performing the roles of Christine Foskett in Absolute Hell. Kate Fleetwood was in King Lear, Ugly Lies the Bone, 50 Years on Stage, London Road and Love’s Labour’s Lost at the NT, and Macbeth and Medea in the West End.
A panel discussion with contributions from artist Larry Achiampong, writer and academic Margaret Byron, Matthew Ryder (Deputy Mayor for Social Integration, Social Mobility, Community Engagement), Sharon Watson (Artistic Director, Phoenix Dance Theatre) and chaired by presenter Brenda Emannus which explores issues of race, immigration and culture: exploring immigration in and before the 1940's with SS Empire Windrush and the continuing impact in contemporary arts and culture in the UK. An event i...
The Arden Shakespeare has released a new series, Arden Performance Editions, specially annotated to help actors, directors and students in the rehearsal and classroom. Join series editors Abigail Rokison-Woodall and Simon Russell Beale to discuss the perks, pitfalls and practicalities of bringing Shakespeare’s plays off the page and on to the stage.
Anne-Marie Duff and Rory Kinnear reflect on the challenges and rewards of playing Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, chaired by Tazeen Ahmad. Anne-Marie Duff’s work at the NT includes King Lear, Saint Joan, Husbands and Sons, and War and Peace. Rory Kinnear’s work at the NT includes Othello (Olivier Award for Best Actor), The Threepenny Opera, Last of the Haussmans and Hamlet.
The writer and director discuss their production of Nine Night. Natasha Gordon is a London-born actress and writer of Jamaican descent. She has performed at Tricycle Theatre, Royal Court, Young Vic and RSC. Nine Night is her first play. Roy Alexander Weise won the James Menzies-Kitchen Young Director award in 2016 and his credits include The Mountaintop at the Young Vic, Dead Don’t Floss at the NT, The Ugly One at Park Theatre and Primetime at the Royal Court.
