Playwriting Then and Now

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, Aisli ...  Show more

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 playwri ...  Show more

What is the future for regional theatre in the UK? How will regional theatres have to work to ensure their survival? Jim Beirne (Chief Executive of Live Theatre), Giles Croft (Artistic Director of The Gate Theatre, Nottingham Playhouse), Emma Rice (Joint Artistic Director of Knee ...  Show more

The new tax rules on making high end drama may mean new opportunities for writers. But what does this actually mean on the ground? Will this impact on how writers deliver content? Will commissioners need to change how they work? And will the showrunner play a bigger role in how d ...  Show more

Poet Fiona Sampson, conductor Alice Farnham, and broadcaster Tom Service join Ian McMillan to explore the maths, metaphors and musical terms that make up the language of conducting. Plus comedy writer Jack Bernhardt takes a sideways look at Hollywood's take on the tortured genius ...  Show more

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 liv ...  Show more