A panel event to launch Oberon’s new book Reasons to be Graeae, celebrating the first 38 years of the UK’s first disabled-led theatre company. Several of the books contributors including Jenny Sealey, Jack Thorne, Alison Halstead, Nicola Miles-Wildin, Rufus Norris and Daryl Beeton* will be talking about their involvement with Graeae over the last four decades, as well as taking questions. To read the transcript of this event visit: http://graeae.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Graeae-Launch-26041...
May 09, 2018•33 min
Number 1 bestselling crime-writer Jo Nesbo (The Snowman, The Thirst) discusses his gripping new thriller, Macbeth, on the eve of its publication. Chaired by Rosie Goldsmith.
Apr 19, 2018•30 min
The actors reflect on the challenges and rewards of performing the roles of Mozart and Salieri in Amadeus.
Mar 29, 2018•39 min
To mark the publication of his new book, Year of the Mad King: The Lear Diaries, Antony Sher will be discussing his experiences of returning to Shakespeare’s King Lear after more than 30 years to perform the title role. Sher kept a diary, capturing every step of his personal and creative journey to opening night. Year of the Mad King: The Lear Diaries is Sher’s account of researching, rehearsing and performing one of Shakespeare's greatest roles. His honest, illuminating and witty commentary pro...
Mar 27, 2018•30 min
Studies show that mainstream and social media influence our daily decisions; what to buy, how to vote and even how to treat people or view society. We're increasingly relying on social networks as our source of news – is this trend reducing the power and influence of owners of the major news outlets? A panel discusses what can be done to reduce the impact of fake news, and ensure reporting is unbiased; leaving consumers, voters and viewers to form their own opinions. Panellists include Claire Fo...
Mar 26, 2018•34 min
A conversation exploring recent influences and shifts in writing for musical theatre, and looking forward to the future of the genre. Speakers include Anthony Drewe, Victoria Saxton and Sevan Tavoukdijan, chaired by Adam Lenson.
Mar 07, 2018•44 min
1606, while a very good year for Shakespeare (he wrote Macbeth, King Lear and Antony and Cleopatra), was a fraught one for England. The plague had returned. There was resistance to the new king's desire to turn England and Scotland into a united Britain. Fear and uncertainty across the land exposed deep divisions in the aftermath of a failed terrorist attack that came to be known as the Gunpowder Plot. Join James Shapiro to explore how Shakespeare’s plays responded to the tumultuous events of 16...
Mar 07, 2018•32 min
Writer Dennis Kelly reflects on his role in the National Theatre's production of Pinocchio. Chaired by Rosie Goldsmith.
Mar 01, 2018•30 min
Join the director and designer as they reflect on their new production of John. Chaired by Dan Rebellato. Chloe Lamford’s work spans theatre, installation, music and opera nationally and internationally. She is associate designer at the Royal Court, and regularly designs for the National Theatre and the Young Vic, amongst others. Recent designs for NT include Amadeus and Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour. James Macdonald was associate and deputy director of the Royal Court (1992 – 2006), and has d...
Feb 12, 2018•27 min
Set and Costume Designer and Puppet Co-designer Bob Crowley (The History Boys), Puppetry Director and Puppet Co-designer Toby Olié (War Horse) and Director John Tiffany (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) reflect on their new production of Pinocchio. Chaired by Kate Bassett.
Jan 12, 2018•27 min
The actors reflect on the challenges and rewards of performing in Follies, chaired by Clemency Burton-Hill. Josephine Barstow has performed in opera houses across the world alongside artists such as Domingo and Pavarotti, and under the baton of Solti and Karajan. Tracie Bennett originated the roles of Laura Henderson in Mrs Henderson Presents, Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow and has won Olivier awards for her performances in She Loves Me and Hairspray.
Jan 08, 2018•47 min
Ian Hislop, editor of Private Eye looks back on 2017 with regular guests Craig Brown, Lewis Macleod, Jan Ravens and John Sessions. Private Eye is a British fortnightly satirical and current affairs news magazine, founded in 1961. It is published in London and has been edited by Ian Hislop since 1986.
Dec 19, 2017•1 hr 3 min
Matt Lucas, one of Britain's best-loved comedians and actors, speaks about his memoir. Chaired by comedy historian Robert Ross.
Dec 14, 2017•37 min
Following the success of A Poem for Every Night of the Year (Independent Bookshop Week Award 2017) Allie Esiri’s new anthology, A Poem for Every Day of the Year is a journey through a calendar year, highlighting key moments and dates with a poem for every day, by writers such as Keats, W H Auden, Maya Angelou and Kate Tempest. An inspiring evening of readings of some of the magical and humorous poems in this journey through history and human experience. Read by actors including Adjoa Andoh, Joan...
Dec 01, 2017•51 min
A panel explores how class affects our chosen path in life, and how easy is it to break out of the social hierarchy. Is the class system still relevant in 21st-century Britain? The National Theatre presents a debate inspired by the production of Saint George and the Dragon. Speakers include Dawn Foster (author of Lean Out), Abid Hussain (Director of Diversity, Arts Council England), David Lammy MP, Mike Savage (Martin White Professor of Sociology, LSE), and chaired by Guardian joint Political Ed...
Nov 20, 2017•36 min
Join writer David Eldridge and director Polly Findlay as they reflect on their production of Beginning. Chaired by Dan Rebellato.
Nov 06, 2017•31 min
Dominic Cooke discusses his work as director on Stephen Sondheim’s Follies for the Olivier stage in 2017.
Oct 26, 2017•24 min
Actors Nadia Clifford and Tim Delap discuss the challenges and rewards of playing Jane Eyre and Rochester in Jane Eyre. Chaired by Sarfraz Manzoor.
Oct 25, 2017•44 min
London is the theatre capital of the world. From world-famous musicals to West End shows, from cutting-edge plays to Shakespeare in its original staging, from outdoor performance to intimate fringe theatre, the range and quality is unsurpassed. Critic Michael Coveney and photographer Peter Dazeley will be joined by Mark Rylance and Rosemary Squire as they discuss some of the 46 theatres profiled in their new book London Theatres published by Frances Lincoln, with stories of the architecture, pro...
Oct 12, 2017•30 min
One of the world's best-known theatre directors discusses his new book Tip of the Tongue and his work in the arts, chaired by Richard Eyre. In Tip of the Tongue, Peter Brook takes a charming, playful and wise look at topics such as the subtle, telling differences between French and English and the many levels on which we can appreciate the works for Shakespeare. Brook also revisits his seminal concept of the 'empty space', considering how theatre - and the world - have changed over the span of h...
Oct 10, 2017•28 min
The actors reflect on the challenges and rewards of performing in Follies, chaired by Matt Wolf. Philip Quast originated the role of Javert in Les Misérables (Australia), and played Georges Seurat in the National Theatre’s production of Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George. Quast has won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical three times – the most of any actor to date. Janie Dee originated the role of Jacie Triplethree in Ayckbourn’s Comic Potential, a role written ‘with Janie in mi...
Oct 04, 2017•45 min
Norwegian Ambassador H E Mona Juul and her husband Terje Rød-Larsen played key roles in the Oslo Accords, which are featured in J.T. Rogers' Oslo, which runs in the Lyttelton Theatre in September. H E Mona Juul has been Norway's ambassador to the UK since August 2014.
Oct 04, 2017•26 min
The writer and director talk about their new production, Mosquitoes. Chaired by Dan Rebellato. Following her success with Chimerica, the world premiere of Kirkwood’s newest play is directed by Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre.
Sep 26, 2017•28 min
The actors reflect on the challenges and rewards of performing in Mosquitoes, chaired by Miranda Sawyer. Colman is perhaps best known for her on-screen appearances, including That Mitchell and Webb Look, Peep Show, Broadchurch, Twenty Twelve, The Night Manager, and films including Hot Fuzz, The Iron Lady, and The Lobster. Williams' previous NT appearances include Waste, Happy Now?, Love's Labour's Lost, and Richard III, and films include Emma, The Sixth Sense, An Education, and The Ghost Writer....
Sep 26, 2017•34 min
The actors reflect on the challenges and rewards of performing in Angels in America. Chaired by Matt Wolf.
Aug 08, 2017•44 min
The actor Anne-Marie Duff reflects on the challenges and rewards of playing Mary in Common. Chaired by Clemency Burton-Hill.
Aug 08, 2017•41 min
George Monbiot is a bestselling UK-based author and columnist known for his writing on environmental and political issues and activism. Here he will focus on the issue of common land as a starting point for a wide-ranging discussion, as DC Moore's new play, Common, plays at the National. Monbiot co-founded The Land is Ours a landrights campaign for Britain in 1995 and his latest book is How Did We Get into This Mess? Politics, Equality, Nature.
Jul 28, 2017•32 min
The Director talks about her production of Angels in America, chaired by Susannah Clapp.
Jul 13, 2017•24 min
The writer discusses his play, Angels in America. Chaired by Ola Animashawun.
Jul 13, 2017•28 min
The director and writer talk about their latest production, Common, chaired by Fiona Mountford.
Jul 07, 2017•26 min
