Off Book - a podcast by the Young Vic

How does Hamlet inspire and intrigue audiences and artists? Designer Anna Fleischle unpacks how to bring the world of Hamlet to life, and Dr Louise Owen tackles the questions of the play for our times. We also introduce an original audio piece: “The Man and his Soul” by Nana-Kofi Kufuor

The Young Vic podcast investigates the power of a 4000-year-old story about exile and home: how the tale of Sinuhe inspired Ben Okri to write Changing Destiny. And Kwame Kwei-Armah speaks to Egyptologist Allison Hedges about mummies, myths and the origins of theatre.

Director of stage and film Nadia Latif chats to Off Book presenter Dan de la Motte about growing up between Sudan and London, her early experiences of London theatre, drama school, and why what’s on your bookshelf is so important. Nadia also discusses working with Jackie Sibblies Drury and her experiences of directing the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Fairview at the Young Vic. Nadia Latif was the 2018-2020 Young Vic Genesis Fellow and Associate Director, a position which supports someone to develop their craft as a theatre director whilst working closely with the Young Vic’s Artistic Director. Opportunities whilst in post include supporting the theatre’s programming and artistic planning, contributing to the work of the Young Vic’s Directors Program and mentoring Genesis Future Directors Award recipients. The Young Vic presents Off Book, a podcast where we shine a light on the creatives who inspire us, offering a candid insight into their life and careers.

Director Dadiow Lin chats to Off Book presenter Dan de la Motte about growing up in Taiwan, the influence of classic texts and how she combines a range of skills to collaborate on her plays. in a word written by Lauren Yee was the play Dadiow chose direct as part of the Genesis Future Directors Award, a Directors Program and Genesis Foundation initiative which offers emerging directors the opportunity to stage a production fully supported by our creative, administrative and production teams. The Young Vic presents Off Book, a podcast where we shine a light on the creatives who inspire us, offering a candid insight into their life and careers.

Playwright Luke Barnes chats to Off Book presenter Dan de la Motte about developing authentic stories shaped by real experiences. Luke opens up about his process, through which he has created work with prisoners and people affected by the criminal justice system (The Jumper Factory), asylum seekers (Fable), and NHS service users (Men in Blue), and how tackling politics, society and stories that make an impact are the responsibilities of the writers of today. The Young Vic presents Off Book, a podcast where we shine a light on the creatives who inspire us, offering a candid insight into their life and careers. Please note: this podcast episode contains swearing and the political views held are of the guest.

Theatre Director Josh Parr grew up in the mining town of Rugeley and never saw arts as a viable career. Fast forward a few years, he's directing The Jumper Factory at HOME Manchester. Speaking to Off Book about how he entered the arts, what he's faced along the way to get to this point and why his ambition is to inspire people with the same background as him. Off Book is a podcast from Young Vic where we shine a light on the creatives that are inspiring us and a candid discussion about their career so far.

Stage royalty, Sharon D. Clarke speaks to Off Book about her role as Linda Loman, her journey into Theatre and what it meant to her to win the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Sharon also shares an insight into what it's like rehearsing Blues In the Night and performing Death of a Salesman and the importance of having a family of good people around you. Off Book is a podcast from Young Vic where we shine a light on the creatives that are inspiring us and a candid discussion about their career so far.

Wendell Pierce first visited London over 40 years ago, what does it mean to make his London debut and join the select group who have played Willy Loman in 'the American Hamlet' Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. Wendell talks about his first steps into Theatre, navigating through the industry and how political activism is a part of his identity as an artist. Off Book is a podcast from Young Vic where we shine a light on the creatives that are inspiring us and a candid discussion about their career so far.

Multi award winning Writer, Actor and Performer Emma Dennis-Edwards talks to Off Book about her new play The American Dream 2.0, a politically charged dystopian play about hope, idealism and humanity. Off Book is a podcast from Young Vic where we shine a light on the creatives that are inspiring us and a candid discussion about their career so far.

Director of Danai Gurira's The Convert, Ola Ince joins us as the first director to return to our tiny recording studio. We caught up on the very busy two and a half years Ola has had since she was last on Off Book where she spoke about her Genesis show, The Dutchman by Amiri Baraka. Naturally, Dan and Ola talk about the current YV main house show, The Convert based in what is now Zimbabwe in the late 1800s. Ola talks about how Gurira's text explores what it means to indoctrinate and colonise people and discusses how the creative team and cast work with the audience's big reactions to the show. We cover Ola's time spent as Associate Director for Tina the Musical and the development of 2017's Start Swimming with James Fritz and the YV's Taking Part team. Ola also talked to Dan about her recent Royal Court production Poet in Da Corner, a grime musical featuring Debris Stevenson and how they wanted to ensure they represented Grime as an art form, as well as broadly how power is addressed and feeds into to lots of Ola's recent work and the age old saying "the show must go on".

Writer, director, actor, musician and YV’s artistic director - Kwame Kwame Kwei-Armah joins Dan in the studio to talk about his return to London after 7 years in the US, and his most recent musical foray into Shakespeare with Twelfth Night. They chat about upcoming production of The Convert written by Danai Gurira and starring her Black Panther co-star Letitia Wright, alongside Kwame’s ongoing digital projects including My England, a response to his perceived changes in living in England since his childhood in Southall. We also talk about the upcoming 2019 Season, with shows including creatives Idris Elba, Marianne Elliot, and Yael Faber, and the incredible acting talents of Sharon D. Clarke, Arinzé Kene and Wendell Pierce.

This month, Dan de la Motte was joined in the old YV stationary cupboard by stage icon, Jenna Russell. We hear how Sylvia Young was integral to giving teenage Jenna a start in theatre and a way out of 'normal' schooling, as well as talking about her successes later in life in productions such as Grey Gardens, Into The Woods and of course, Sam Gold's production of Fun Home at the Young Vic.

Debbie Hannan, Genesis Future Director Award Winner and recent director of Naomi Wallace's Things of Dry Hours joined us for a chat this month. We discuss what initially got her interested in theatre whilst "being an incredibly bossy child with large imagination" and the early influences of the Fringe Festival, as well as her journey from the suburbs of Edinburgh to the Young Vic Stage via the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the Royal Court. Debbie also discusses what self identifying as a working class director means in today's industry, as well as her approach to Things of Dry Hours; acknowledging and interrogating "who has the right to tell what story and how" and being a white director directing a story set in 1930s Alabama in which race is so integral.

Guest host, comedian and podcaster Sofie Hagen is joined by Alison Bechdel, the cartoonist who wrote the graphic novel Fun Home for a special Off Book episode. Alison and Sofie discuss Alison's the graphic novel, the autobiographical coming of age and coming out story that delves into her childhood memories and her relationship with her father. They also talk about the musical's role for queer audiences to be seen and represented on stage as well as why Alison chose drawing cartoons as a means of artistic expression as well as storing and processing memories.

The Brothers Size writer and Oscar winner Tarell Alvin McCraney joined us in Feb 2018 during the revival of the Young Vic's production of his play, The Brothers Size, directed by Bijan Sheibani. Tarell discusses his Brother/Sister trilogy of plays and how he came to write these incredibly powerful shows after originally starting out as an actor and later collaborating with Peter Brook and David Lan and working at the RSC. He also explores what it meant to train as an 'artist' and how you learn to express yourself and find your voice. And of course we also discuss Moonlight and *that* suit at the Oscars and if fame has changed who he works with or how he works. Tarell also discusses why teaching has always been an important part of what he does, starting aged 12 supporting his peers at school to his classes and programs of high school and college students.

Having worked back to back on The Jungle and The Inheritance at the Young Vic, Justin Martin, long-time collaborator with Stephen Daldry, spoke to us about his "14 year conversation" with the Oscar nominated director and his career to date making "theatre that's necessary" and getting his work "off the arts pages...and finding yourself part of the national conversation". An Australian native, Justin talks through his first experiences with theatre between his early musicals and trying to break down his family's comic timing. Justin also discusses taking Billy Elliot to the US, developing The Jungle with Stephen Daldry and Joe Robinson and Joe Murphy and the differences between directing for theatre and his work as associate director on Netflix's The Crown and The Inheritance at the Young Vic.

Writer of The Inheritance, Matthew Lopez joins us to discuss his hilarious and profound heart-breaking play in two parts, directed by Stephen Daldry. Matthew discusses everything from his upbringing in the Florida panhandle and seeing Peter Pan on broadway to his aunt's Tony award and writing about a community and safe spaces in The Whipping Man. We also deep dive into the issues from The Inheritance, writing from personal experience and casting straight men as gay characters.

“We should be thinking about the totality of people’s experience” The Young Vic’s Artistic Director, David Lan spoke to us about well, everything. And in a beautiful twist of fate we happened to chat on the 18th anniversary of him starting the role. We cover his politicised upbringing growing up in Cape Town as a second generation Eastern European migrant, his first forays into theatre and the arts, his move to the UK in the 70s and how the London theatre scene has changed for the better. David names a few of his favourite productions from his tenure and how he’s balanced his time producing shows, leading a team of over 50 people and ensuring the artistic and financial success of the Young Vic.

Olivier Award-winner Juliet Stevenson joins us this week following her recent production of Wings at the Young Vic. Juliet discusses her recent performances in Wings, Happy Days and Hamlet, the limitations still faced by women in theatre, and her activism and response to the refugee crisis.

Nancy Medina, Genesis Future Director Award winner and director of Yellowman joins us this week. Nancy discusses directing Dael Orlandersmith's Pulitzer nominated play and their conversations ahead of it coming to the Young Vic, how growing up in Brooklyn influenced Nancy's work and what being a director of colour is like in 2017. We'd also recommend you stick around 'til the very end to catch a little surprise from a special guest.

Natalie Abrahami got her theatre break as the Royal Court Graduate Trainee, before winning the JMK Award at Battersea Arts Centre in 2005. A spell at the Gate theatre followed, and then associate director at the Young Vic. Natalie spoke to us about these experiences, the difference between directing for stage and screen, embedding sustainability into theatre making, as well as her friendship with Juliet Stevenson, and their current production of Wings at the Young Vic.

"The goal is to get to the age of 80 and not be bruised by the experience" JMK Award Winner 2017, former Fat Git and My Name is Rachel Corrie director Josh Roche chatted to us about his first forays into theatre from Tunbridge Wells and Warwick and beyond. Josh also discussed his optimism about millennials, why it's so important to be persistent as a director as well as the importance of political theatre. Enjoy the podcast? Let us know on Twitter, @youngvictheatre and leave us a review on Souncloud, iTunes or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Theatre maker and Dramaturg Zoë Svendsen joined us earlier in 2017 to discuss the important role dramaturgy plays in theatre and how she discovered dramaturgy was part of what she wanted to do. Zoë discusses the Berlin theatre scene and recent productions at the YV with Joe Hill-Gibbins; Measure for Measure and A Midsummer Night's Dream. We also hear about the development of Shakespearonomics with journalist an economist Paul Mason. Let us know what you think of Off Book by sending us a tweet (twitter.com/youngvictheatre) and leave a review on iTunes or some love on Soundcloud.

Performer and Artistic Director of Riksteatern in Sweden, Josette Bushell-Mingo OBE joins us to discuss her journey from London's East End to Stockholm. We talk about how whether the arts is in a better and more diverse place than when Josette launched PUSH festival in 2000 which promoted black theatre, how Nina Simone became her "GPS" and how important the education and delivery of her production, Nina: A story about me and Nina Simone in particular is so important to its staging. Let us know what you think of our quick fire round by sending us a tweet (twitter.com/youngvictheatre) and leave us a review on iTunes or some love on Soundcloud.

Taio Lawson's relationship with the Young Vic started when he visited as a school kid and watched someone fry an egg on stage in The Three Musketeers. Nearly 17 years later he's worked on Matthew Xia's production of Sizwe Banzi is Dead and is currently the Jerwood Assistant Director to Joe Wright on his production of Bertolt Brecht's Life of Galileo. From his first theatre company, Metal Mouth to The Brit School and studying Anthropology at university, Taio talks about why Prince and Ultz are some of the most influential people on his career to date, how he approaches working as a director and how that differs to when he's assisting others as well as why he always takes a tooth brush into every rehearsal room. This episode features a short snippet of Joss Ryan's Digital Love for a new feature and if you've got a pretty sweet sound set up you might even catch the bass line from Tom Rowland's music from Life of Galileo going on in the Main House during the recording. Let us know what you think of our quick fire round by sending us a tweet (twitter.com/youngvictheatre) and leave us a review on iTunes or some love on Soundcloud.

British film and theatre director Joe Wright came in this month to discuss his return to the Young Vic with Brecht's Life of Galileo following his 2013 production of Season in the Congo. We discuss Joe's early life spent working at the family's Little Angel Theatre and how that's shaped both his film and theatre work to date, as well as how he accidentally fell into directing period dramas after planning to do gritty social realistic films. We also cover Life of Galileo's exciting creative collaborations and the differences between directing for film and theatre.

Journalist Paul Mason pops in to the Young Vic to talk about his play about revolution and the networked generation, Why It's All Kicking Off Everywhere, based on his acclaimed book. We discuss how his upbringing in Greater Manchester, Northern Soul and a degree in music and politics influenced has his career. We also chat about his multidisciplinary work life, previously a journalist at the BBC and later Channel 4 to becoming freelance and working on productions and writing for theatre. Why It's All Kicking Off Everywhere will soon be broadcast on BBC Two as part of Performance Live. Find out more info about the production: https://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/kicking-off-live

Genesis Future Directors Award winner, Lucy J Skilbeck talks to us about their journey from the first cabaret show they enjoyed as a child in Yorkshire, up to 2017's production of The Bear The Proposal at the Young Vic. Lucy also discusses the work of their Derbyshire based theatre company Milk Presents, its celebrated production of JOAN and how the gender fierce company of "mischievous collaborators" have brought something new to Chekhov's classic texts.

Peter Brook's Battlefield visited the Young Vic in February 2016 before continuing its world tour. We spoke to Belgian actress, choreographer, director and saxophonist Carole Karemera. We discussed how the arts are being used in Rwanda as a healing tool within communities, her role in creating Kigali's cultural hub Ishyo Arts Centre in 2007 and how different audiences in different countries have reacted to Battlefield on tour. We also dissect that "magical" silence at the end of Battlefield.

Artistic Director of Corn Exchange and A Girl is a Half-formed Thing director, Annie Ryan joined us in March 2016 to discuss the incredibly powerful production of Eimear McBride's unflinching book. Annie also discusses how she ended up directing via acting courses at NYU and Trinity College, Dublin as well as how working in commedia has influenced the work she continues to produce.

We caught up with Genesis Future Directors Award winner 2016, Bryony Shanahan whilst she was at the YV with debbie tucker green's trade. Bryony talks about what it means to be an 'emerging director', training at National Theatre Studio Directors Course and East 15 as well as her love of Stoke City(FC) and her role as co-artistic director of award-winning theatre company, Snuffbox.

Ramin Gray, Artistic Director of ATC (Actors Touring Company) and director of upcoming YV production Living With the Lights On joins us in the booth to discuss his career as a director. Ramin chats about how his multi-city upbringing may have influenced the work he creates, working in Liverpool as an emerging director as well as discussing how good UK theatre is at being inclusive, for both audience members and performers.

Director of the upcoming A Midsummer Night's Dream and 2015's Measure for Measure at the Young Vic, Joe Hill-Gibbins came in for a chat at the YV about his career to date. From interviewing Rufus Norris for his dissertation, to running shows on day 3 of rehearsals and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith apparently roaming the streets with a broad sword as part of an improvisation gone awry. We also discuss Measure for Measure's design, iconography and those inflatable sex-dolls.

Isango Ensemble's Musical Directors, Pauline Malefane and Mandisi Dyantyis joined us in the studio to talk about A Man of Good Hope and how the 'extraordinary magic piece of theatre' came to be. Pauline and Mandisi also discuss how they first became interested in music, when they joined Isango and how Asad's story is not unique to Asad, but is every refugee's story.

JMK 2016 Award winner and The Mountaintop director Roy Alexander Weise joined us to talk about how he went from wanting to be a celebrity chef to becoming a celebrated director of Katori Hall's Olivier award-winner. Roy also discusses how he cut his teeth at Oval House, Rose Bruford and the Royal Court as well as the timeliness of sharing The Mountaintop with audiences in 2016.

Walter Meierjohann, Artistic Director of HOME in Manchester and director of The Emperor, joined us for this episode of Off Book. We discussed Walter's formative years as "Eurotrash", born in Amsterdam and growing up in Holland, America and Germany, as well as some of his biggest artistic influences. Walter also talks us through his career, training as an actor and later as a director followed by his first steps to making his own work and his relationship with the Young Vic.

Marie-Hélène Estienne is Peter Brook's long time collaborator, described by The Guardian as the 'powerhouse' behind the celebrated 90 year British director. Speaking to the YV's Imogen Brodie, Marie-Hélène discusses growing up in Paris and building a career with longevity, her astounding 40-year collaboration with Peter Brook and how she has developed her incredible knack for casting. This episode was recorded in February 2016 when Battlefield was at the Young Vic.

Gbolahan Obisesan, director of Cuttin' It and current Genesis Fellow at the Young Vic joined us on Episode 4 of Off Book. Gbolahan discusses his formative years in both Ibadan, Nigeria and Bermondsey, south London, his first steps in performing, writing, and directing and how he's approached the projects and texts he has worked on to date. We also reflected on representation and diversity in the arts and how the current political wranglings will impact on new writing over the coming years. Youn can find more from Gbolahan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/greatobisesan

We're joined by Blue/Orange director and Associate Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange Manchester, Matthew Xia in Episode 3 of Off Book. Matthew discusses his eclectic beginnings of his career in the arts which spans DJing, broadcasting, directing and being on the board of directors at Theatre Royal Stratford East aged 18. We also break down Matthew's production of Joe Penhall's state of the nation classic, Blue/Orange starring Daniel Kaluuya, Luke Norris and David Haig as well as discuss the biggest influences.

'My stamp is making things bolder and unapologetic... it's about clarity'. In episode two of Off Book Dutchman director and 2016 Genesis Future Directors Award winner, Ola Ince talks about how she got in to directing, her biggest influences on her work and why the themes explored in Dutchman still have something to say about our world today. Ola Ince is supported by the Genesis Foundation.

We sat down with Peter Brook at the Young Vic whilst he was in London for his production of Battlefield to talk about his life, his introduction to the arts and his career in theatre which spans over 70 years. Recorded in Feb 2016. (Warning: PB drops an F-bomb around 22:30)