Directors in Conversation

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Directors take to the stage to share their experiences of working at the National Theatre, featuring Danny Boyle, Sam Mendes and Richard Eyre who discuss productions including Frankenstein and King Lear.

National Theatre


    • Apr 6, 2016 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 28m AVG DURATION
    • 49 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Directors in Conversation

    Les Blancs

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2016 27:13


    Lorraine Hansberry's Literary Executor and Director of her Literary Trust, Joi Gresham, joins director Yaƫl Farber and dramaturg Drew Lichtenberg to discuss the playwright's work and legacy, and this new production of her play, Les Blancs. http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/les-blancs #LesBlancs This is a recording of a live platform event.

    Dominic Cooke on Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2016 20:46


    The director discusses his new production of August Wilson's play, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, with Ola Animshawun. This is a recording of a live platform event. #MaRaineysBlackBottom

    Roger Michell on Waste

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2016 27:42


    Roger Michell discusses his new production of Harley Granville Barker's play with Michael Billington. #ntWaste

    Marianne Elliott and Ben Power on Husbands & Sons

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2015 26:01


    Ben Power discusses his adaptation of DH Lawrence's trilogy with the director Marianne Elliott. This is a recording of a live platform event. #ntHusbandsandSons www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/husbands-sons

    Dominic Cooke on Here We Go

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2015 28:47


    Director Dominic Cooke talks to Fiona Mountford about Caryl Churchill's new play. #ntHereWeGo http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/here-we-go

    Wallace Shawn and Ian Rickson on Evening at the Talk House

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2015 23:59


    Director Ian Rickson and writer/actor Wallace Shawn discuss the play, Evening at the Talk House. #EveningattheTalkHouse http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/evening-at-the-talk-house

    Timberlake Wertenbaker and Nadia Fall on Our Country's Good

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2015 26:37


    Director Nadia Fall and playwright Timberlake Wertenbaker discuss the new production of Our Country's Good. This is a recording of a live platform event. http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/our-countrys-good #OurCountrysGood

    Ned Bennett and Alistair McDowall on Pomona

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2015 23:27


    Director Ned Bennett and playwright Alistair McDowall talk to Dan Rebellato about the production, Pomona. This is a recording of a live platform event. http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/pomona #ntPomona

    pomona dan rebellato alistair mcdowall
    Jeremy Herrin & Duncan Macmillan on People, Places and Things

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2015 27:44


    The director and writer discuss their new production, People, Places and Things. This is a recording of a live platform event. http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/people-places-and-things #PeoplePlacesThings

    Patrick Marber on Three Days in the Country

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2015 26:05


    The director talks about his new version of Turgenev's play, Three Days in the Country. Chaired by Rachel Cooke. #ThreeDaysintheCountry http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/three-days-in-the-country

    The Red Lion: Patrick Marber and Ian Rickson in conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2015 21:49


    The writer and director discuss The Red Lion, Patrick Marber's haunting and humorous new play about the dying romance of the great English game. Find out more about The Red Lion and book tickets: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/the-red-lion #TheRedLion

    Simon Godwin on The Beaux' Stratagem

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2015 27:36


    The director talks to Fiona Mountford about his new production of Farquhar's comedy, The Beaux' Stratagem.

    Guirgis and Rubasingham on The Motherf**ker with the Hat

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2015 23:23


    Playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis and director Indhu Rubasingham discuss this new production of The Motherf**ker with the Hat with Paul Gambaccini.

    motherf paul gambaccini indhu rubasingham
    Javier de Frutos and Rufus Norris on Everyman

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2015 23:27


    The choreographer and director discuss their new production of Everyman with Bonnie Greer.

    Marianne Elliott and Sam Holcroft on Rules for Living

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2015 25:18


    The director and writer discuss the new production, Rules for Living, with Rachel Cooke.

    And finally...Nicholas Hytner

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2015 51:12


    Nicholas Hytner looks back on his time as the National's Director.

    Nadia Fall and Tanya Ronder on Dara

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2015 21:34


    The director and adapter talk about their production of Dara. Find out more about Dara: http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/dara

    Tom Stoppard and Nicholas Hytner on The Hard Problem

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2015 39:39


    The director and writer discuss the new play, The Hard Problem. Find out more about The Hard Problem: http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/the-hard-problem

    Simon Godwin on Man and Superman

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2015 29:11


    The director talks about his new production of Man and Superman and the challenges of staging Bernard Shaw's witty, provocative classic.

    Polly Findlay and Bryony Lavery on Treasure Island

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2015 27:23


    Director Polly Findlay and playwright Bryony Lavery discuss their new version of R L Stevenson's adventure story with Fiona Mountford. Find out more and book tickets: http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/treasure-island

    Rufus Norris & Meera Syal on Behind The Beautiful Forevers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2015 21:54


    Director Rufus Norris and actress Meera Syal discuss Behind the Beautiful Forevers, a new play by David Hare based on the book by Katherine Boo. Find out more and book tickets here: http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/behind-the-beautiful-forevers

    Richard Eyre in conversation - audio

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2014 31:39


    Richard Eyre talks to Mark Lawson about his new book, What Do I Know?, where he writes about people has worked with, ideas he has struggled with and things that have moved him in his directing career. This is a recording of a live Platform event from October 2014.

    Rona Munro and Laurie Samson on The James Plays

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2014 31:56


    The writer and director discuss the new trilogy, the epic scale of the production and audience reactions to the play. This event was chaired by Al Senter. This is a recording of a live Platform event from September 2014.

    Enda Walsh on Ballyturk

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2014 22:49


    Enda Walsh talks to Dan Rebellato about writing and directing Ballyturk. This is a recording of a live Platform event from September 2014.

    Carrie Cracknell and Tom Scutt on Medea

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2014 23:07


    Director Carrie Cracknell and designer Tom Scutt talk to Kate Mosse about their collaboration on Medea in the Olivier Theatre. This is a recording of a live Platform event from August 2014.

    Neil Bartlett in conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2014 25:25


    Director and writer Neil Bartlett talks to Michael Coveney about his new novel, The Disappearance Boy, set in the world of 1950s theatre - what attracted him to this period, the research and how it reflects his own interest in theatre. This is a recording of a live Platform event from August 2014.

    Sam Mendes in conversation - audio

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2014 36:50


    The film and stage director talks talks to Mark Leipacher about his acclaimed production of King Lear, working with Simon Russell Beale and his career. This is a recording of a live Platform event from May 2014.

    Adam Penford on directing A Small Family Business

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2014 26:02


    Adam Penford talks to Mark Shenton about his revival of Alan Ayckbourn's A Small Family Business, working with Nicholas Hytner on One Man, Two Guvnors and his ambitions for the future. This is a recording of a live Platform event from April 2014.

    Marianne Elliott and Rae Smith in conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2014 28:28


    The director and designer of The Light Princess discuss working on this new musical by Tori Amos and Samuel Adamson, which features a main character who floats on stage, a troupe of puppeteers and ambitious staging. The chair for this event is Rachel Cooke. This is a recording of a live Platform event from January 2014.

    Carl Miller and Bijan Sheibani on Emil and the Detectives

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2013 26:47


    The writer and director talk about this new version of Erich KƤstner's story, adapting it for the Olivier Theatre and working with three casts of child actors. This is a recording of a live Platform event from December 2013.

    Joe Hill-Gibbins on Edward II

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2013 31:57


    Joe Hill-Gibbins talks about directing Edward II, Christopher Marlowe and working in the National Theatre Studio. This is a recording of a live Platform event from September 2013.

    Complicite at 30

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2013 28:32


    The artistic director and producer look back on 30 years of the company's ground-breaking work, including The Master and Margarita and A Disappearing Number, and reflect on the impact that the company have had on theatre in the UK and internationally. This is a recording of a live Platform event, which was chaired by Louise Jeffreys Director of Arts at the Barbican.

    Complicite at 30 - for iPad/iMac/PC

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2013 28:44


    The artistic director and producer look back on 30 years of the company's ground-breaking work, including The Master and Margarita and A Disappearing Number, and reflect on the impact that the company have had on theatre in the UK and internationally. This is a recording of a live Platform event, which was chaired by Louise Jeffreys Director of Arts at the Barbican.

    Simon Godwin on Strange Interlude

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2013 28:21


    Simon Godwin talks about directing Strange Interlude, Eugene O'Neill and making his National Theatre debut.

    Nicholas Hytner on Othello

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2013 30:53


    Nicholas Hytner talks about directing Othello, the play's performance history and staging Shakespeare productions at the National Theatre in this podcast. This is a recording of a live Platform event from April 2013.

    Peter Brook in conversation - for iPad/Mac/PC

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2013 26:48


    Peter Brook talks to Mark Lawson about his career and his new book, The Quality of Mercy, a collection of essays reflecting his lifelong interest in interpreting Shakespeare's works for contemporary audiences. This is a recording of a live Platform event from April 2013.

    Peter Brook in conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2013 26:31


    Peter Brook talks to Mark Lawson about his career and his new book, The Quality of Mercy, a collection of essays reflecting his lifelong interest in interpreting Shakespeare's works for contemporary audiences. This is a recording of a live Platform event from April 2013.

    James Graham and Jeremy Herrin on This House

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2013 20:15


    The writer and director talk to Christopher Campbell (Literary Manager, Royal Court Theatre) about the National Theatre's production of This House, its transfer from the Cottesloe Theatre to the Olivier Theatre and portraying real events on stage. This is a recording of a live Platform event from March 2013.

    Jonathan Miller in conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2013 35:36


    Jonathan Miller reflects on his career as a theatre director, working with Laurence Olivier and his art with Kate Bassett, author of Two Minds: A Biography of Jonathan Miller. This is a recording of a live Platform event from January 2013.

    Marianne Elliott and Simon Stephens on Port

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2013 24:57


    The director, Marianne Elliott, and playwright, Simon Stephens, discuss the 2013 production of Port and reflect on the original production in 2002 with interviewer Rachel Cooke.

    Timothy Sheader in conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2013 37:16


    The director of The Magistrate, Timothy Sheader, talks to Fiona Mountford about the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, directing and making his production National Theatre debut with Pinero's farce. This is a recording of a live Platform event from January 2013.

    Marianne Elliott in conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2012 26:38


    Director Marianne Elliott talks about this new stage adaptation of Mark Haddon's award-winning novel. This is a live recording from a Platform event from August 2012.

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