Theatrevoice - Let's talk about theatre

The Archive

Recordings under the letter R

Total Number of Recordings under this letter: 50

RAISING THE BAR: LEADERSHIP Michael Attenborough, artistic director of the Almeida, shares his thoughts on leadership for the Theatre 2005 Conference.
“The point about leadership is to begin to imagine what could be, and then where we might go.”
Recording Date: 20-May-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
RAISING THE BAR: RELEVANCE Nicholas Hytner, artistic director of the National Theatre, asks whether theatre's ever-evolving relevance could be better communicated. Kirsty Wark chairs.
“Every element of the experience has to be as well looked after as what we do to entertain on stage.”
Recording Date: 19-May-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
RAISING THE BAR: RELEVANCE Opening the Theatre 2005 Conference sessions, Lyn Gardner, Guardian critic, challenges the notion that theatre is a dying art form.
“The assumptions that theatre could once make about its audiences have broken down.”
Recording Date: 19-May-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
RAISING THE BAR: RENEWAL Charles Leadbetter, Senior Research Associate with the independent think-tank Demos, floats some provocative ideas about the future.
“More partners, more audiences, more competition, more opportunity - how do you navigate that?”
Recording Date: 19-May-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
RAISING THE BAR: RENEWAL Vicky Featherstone, new artistic director of the National Theatre of Scotland, asks whether it is possible to measure success.
“As a director, I perfectly understand that the agents of renewal in the theatre are artists.”
Recording Date: 19-May-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REGIONAL THEATRE SPECIAL On the eve of the election, Patrick Sandford (artistic director of the Nuffield, Southampton), Simon Stokes (artistic director of the Theatre Royal, Plymouth) and Rachel Tackley (director of English Touring Theatre) join Dominic Cavendish to discuss the state of play in theatre outside London. Recorded at the Young Vic, London.
“I don't think there is a fortress mentality, a competitiveness, but there is a lot more swapping of creative ideas and impulses and personnel.”
Recording Date: 30-Apr-2010
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REGIONAL THEATRE: BASINGSTOKE John Adams, the artistic director of the Haymarket, Basingstoke, tells Dominic Cavendish about the campaign against the theatre's imminent closure.
“I'm sure there is an antagonism by the Arts Council towards the smaller regional producing theatres.”
Recording Date: 11-Oct-2006
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REGIONAL THEATRE: BIRMINGHAM Jonathan Church, artistic director of the revitalised Birmingham Rep, outlines the theatre's strategy for success to Dominic Cavendish.
“For the first time we're going 'What can we do that is more?' and that's visible up and down the country.”
Recording Date: 14-Dec-2003
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REGIONAL THEATRE: BRISTOL David Farr and Simon Reade, new joint artistic directors of the Bristol Old Vic, look back on an acclaimed first year with Dominic Cavendish.
“We can redefine the whole idea of theatres outside London - as national state theatres.”
Recording Date: 19-Dec-2003
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REGIONAL THEATRE: COLCHESTER Dee Evans, the artistic director of the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, talks briefly about an all-male Coriolanus and an all-female Julius Caesar, running in rep there this autumn. Dominic Cavendish quizzes.
“There has to be this type of theatre alongside the lighter, more jolly stuff - otherwise I don't want to do it.”
Recording Date: 19-Oct-2007
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REGIONAL THEATRE: COVENTRY Hamish Glen, the artistic director of the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, talks to Dominic Cavendish about the multi-million pound renovation project and opening season programme. First in an occasional series of theatrevoice phone interviews.
3 recommendations
“I think it was a building that had lost its confidence and lost its way... I thought there was a thirst for the most interesting drama we could find.”
Recording Date: 11-Sep-2007
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REGIONAL THEATRE: LEEDS Ian Brown, artistic director of the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, assesses the highs and lows of 2003 with Dominic Cavendish.
“Some things have gone fantastically well, and some things have been positively precipitous.”
Recording Date: 18-Dec-2003
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REGIONAL THEATRE: LIVERPOOL Gemma Bodinetz (Artistic Director) and Deborah Aydon (Executive Director) of the Liverpool Playhouse and Everyman have big plans for the future. Dominic Cavendish reports.
“I was worried us southerners would be resented, but nothing could be further from the truth.”
Recording Date: 20-Jan-2004
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REGIONAL THEATRE: SALISBURY Joanna Read, the artistic director of the Salisbury Playhouse, talks to Dominic Cavendish about running a regional rep and the musical Two Cities.
“My intention was always to work in regional theatre, it's where the best work is done.”
Recording Date: 11-Sep-2006
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REGIONAL THEATRE: SHEFFIELD Actor manager Daniel Evans, new artistic director of Sheffield Theatres, talks to Heather Neill about his upcoming first season at the venue, which opens with his own production of Ibsen's An Enemy of the People, plus plays about Muslims, football and Alice, as well as revivals.
“Ibsen's play gives us the tension between the need for public accountability, and how public money is spent, versus a dark, mercenary, profit-seeking drive.”
Recording Date: 28-Sep-2009
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REGIONAL THEATRE: SHEFFIELD While theatres outside London look back on 2003 and towards 2004, Michael Grandage talks to David Benedict about his artistic directorship of the Sheffield Crucible.
“London has started to look out to the regions for inspiration and occasionally for leadership.”
Recording Date: 19-Dec-2003
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REPUTATIONS: CARYL CHURCHILL (1/2) Linda Bassett, Graham Cowley, Deborah Findlay and Rick Fisher begin to pool some thoughts on Churchill plays and productions past. David Benedict chairs. Recorded live.
“When we did Far Away in New York, the audiences were pretty baffled...”
Recording Date: 08-Apr-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REPUTATIONS: CARYL CHURCHILL (2/2) Linda Bassett, Graham Cowley, Deborah Findlay and Rick Fisher continue to pool their thoughts on Churchill plays and productions past. David Benedict chairs. Recorded live.
“When we were in rehearsal I really don't remember her imposing her presence on what we did.”
Recording Date: 08-Apr-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REPUTATIONS: DAVID HARE (1/3) Michael Billington, Richard Boon, Sir Richard Eyre and Charles Spencer consider Hare's status. Dominic Cavendish hosts. Recorded live.
“Hare has the most extraordinary antennae for what is going on in the country at any one time.”
Recording Date: 10-Jun-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REPUTATIONS: DAVID HARE (2/3) Michael Billington, Richard Boon, Sir Richard Eyre and Charles Spencer continue to consider Hare's contribution to British theatre. Dominic Cavendish hosts. Recorded live.
“There's a very distinct music and syntax to his writing - and he's an absolute master of dialectic.”
Recording Date: 10-Jun-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REPUTATIONS: DAVID HARE (3/3) Q&A: Michael Billington, Richard Boon, Sir Richard Eyre and Charles Spencer conclude the session. Dominic Cavendish chairs. Recorded live.
“He puts a lot of people's backs up... and he's extremely successful... so there's a lot to hate.”
Recording Date: 10-Jun-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REPUTATIONS: EDWARD BOND (1/4) Academics Peter Billingham & Kate Katafiasz, director Chris Cooper and playwright Mark Ravenhill start assessing Bond's work. Aleks Sierz chairs.
“He is the greatest British dramatist since the war...”
Recording Date: 11-Mar-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REPUTATIONS: EDWARD BOND (2/4) The panel - Peter Billingham, Chris Cooper, Kate Katafiasz, Mark Ravenhill - look at Bond's stage violence. Aleks Sierz hosts.
“Whether the person who writes the essays is the person who writes the plays is up for discussion.”
Recording Date: 11-Mar-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REPUTATIONS: EDWARD BOND (3/4) Why is Bond so ignored in Britain? Peter Billingham, Chris Cooper, Kate Katafiaz and Mark Ravenhill discuss. Aleks Sierz hosts.
“It's awful isn't it? Here is one of the foremost writers of the last 50 years and his work isn't being staged.”
Recording Date: 11-Mar-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REPUTATIONS: EDWARD BOND (4/4) Bond's influence, plus Q&A time, with Peter Billingham, Chris Cooper, Kate Katafiasz and Mark Ravenhill. Aleks Sierz chairs.
“I don't think he'd see himself as withdrawing from the world - but needing to be on the margin.”
Recording Date: 11-Mar-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REPUTATIONS: HAROLD PINTER (1/3) At the end of his birthday week, a day after he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, Pinter's work is critically assessed by Michael Billington, Dan Rebellato, Charles Spencer and Ian Smith. Aleks Sierz hosts. Recorded live.
“Pinter's later work tends to get one metropolitan performance, then fall into a limbo, a no-man's land.”
Recording Date: 14-Oct-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REPUTATIONS: HAROLD PINTER (2/3) Michael Billington, Dan Rebellato, Charles Spencer and Ian Smith continue to discuss the playwright's achievements. Aleks Sierz hosts. Recorded live.
“I have to say that most of the literary theoretical stuff written about Harold is rubbish.”
Recording Date: 14-Oct-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REPUTATIONS: HAROLD PINTER (3/3) Michael Billington, Dan Rebellato, Ian Smith and Charles Spencer conclude their discussion. Q&A. Aleks Sierz hosts. Recorded live. Sound quality: variable.
“I do think that to say that Pinter is the greatest playwright since Shakespeare is excessive.”
Recording Date: 14-Oct-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REPUTATIONS: MARTIN CRIMP (1/2) Lindsay Posner, Dan Rebellato, Auriol Smith and Anne Tipton begin their comprehensive survey of Crimp's formidable dramatic output. Aleks Sierz hosts. Recorded live.
“As an actor playing it, it's extremely demanding - Martin's work - there's a rhythm you cannot ignore.”
Recording Date: 13-May-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REPUTATIONS: MARTIN CRIMP (2/2) Lindsay Posner, Dan Rebellato, Auriol Smith and Anne Tipton conclude their reflections on Crimp's varied body of work. Aleks Sierz hosts. Recorded live.
“He's working with an audience's desire to put fragments together so there's a productive tension.”
Recording Date: 13-May-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REPUTATIONS: SARAH KANE Cleansed post-show discussion with directors Dominic Dromgoole and Sean Holmes, brother Simon Kane and academic Graham Saunders. Aleks Sierz hosts at the Arcola Theatre. Recorded live. Excerpt.
“She was very much, and perhaps still is, perceived as this writer who just wrote gratuitous violence...”
Recording Date: 22-Nov-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2003 (1/2) David Benedict, Kate Bassett, James Inverne, Patrick Marmion and Charles Spencer relive the biggest thrills of the theatregoing year.
1 recommendation
“If anyone's going to win awards, it certainly should be Nicholas Hytner over at the National.”
Recording Date: 20-Dec-2003
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2003 (2/2) The worst shows, as decided by David Benedict, Rhoda Koenig and Mark Shenton. Dominic Cavendish hosts.
“It should be called Ben Elton's Tonight's the Night because he wrote and directed this abomination.”
Recording Date: 02-Jan-2004
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2004 (1/2) David Benedict, Jane Edwardes, Alastair Macaulay, Mark Shenton, Charles Spencer and Matt Wolf give their personal verdicts on the theatre year.
“I never really cared for Edward Albee until The Goat... it's that rare thing: a modern tragedy.”
Recording Date: 17-Dec-2004
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2004 (2/2) David Benedict, Jane Edwardes, Alastair Macaulay, Mark Shenton, Charles Spencer and Matt Wolf continue to mull over theatreland's highs and lows.
“We Happy Few was a bumper compendium of every luvvie cliche you've ever heard.”
Recording Date: 17-Dec-2004
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2005 David Benedict gets Jane Edwardes, Alastair Macaulay, Mark Shenton and Matt Wolf to nominate the highs and lows of the theatre year.
“No secret ballots, no horse-trading just the unfettered passions of five of London's finest.”
Recording Date: 17-Dec-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2006 Critics Jane Edwardes, Mark Shenton and Charles Spencer remember the highs and lows of a very remarkable year. David Benedict hosts.
“What a year it's been - with, at one point, no fewer than 25 musicals in 38 West End theatres.”
Recording Date: 15-Dec-2006
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2007 Kate Bassett (Independent on Sunday), David Benedict (Variety) and Jane Edwardes (Time Out) join Mark Shenton (Sunday Express) to talk in-depth about the highs and lows of their reviewing year, from War Horse to Desperately Seeking Susan. Recorded at Dewynters, London.
“Best playwright was a young Asian, Anupama Chandrasekhar, who wrote Free Outgoing at the Royal Court.”
Recording Date: 20-Dec-2007
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2008 Mark Shenton (Sunday Express) joins fellow-critics David Benedict (Variety), Charles Spencer (Daily Telegraph) and Matt Wolf (International Herald Tribune) to assess the highs and lows of the theatregoing year. Recorded at the National Theatre.
“Next year is going to be a testing year - part of the problem is that there aren't a lot of people out there to invest in shows.”
Recording Date: 14-Jan-2009
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2009 Mark Shenton (Sunday Express) and his guests David Benedict (Variety), Charles Spencer (Daily Telegraph), and Matt Wolf (International Herald Tribune) look back over the year in British theatre and select the highs and the lows, the sought-after golden geese and the wringable turkeys. Recorded at the V&A. Expletives not deleted.
“Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem is a play out there on its own. It tackles present-day rural England, a subject more or less entirely forgotten by contemporary dramatists.”
Recording Date: 24-Dec-2009
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REVIEWERS on REVIEWING (1/2) Journalist Uchenna Izundu quizzes Dominic Cavendish (Telegraph), Jane Edwardes (Time Out) and Lyn Gardner (Guardian) about the business, and art, of theatre criticism. Where did they start and how can other people get in on the act?
“You have people who are earning some kind of living from writing about theatre because there are nooks and crannies where you can do that.”
Recording Date: 09-Mar-2007
Listen to this discussion NOW!
REVIEWERS on REVIEWING (2/2) Journalist Uchenna Izundu continues to quiz Dominic Cavendish (Telegraph), Jane Edwardes (Time Out) and Lyn Gardner (Guardian) about the business, and art, of theatre criticism.
“In the same way that a play has to find the right form and structure, a review has to do exactly the same.”
Recording Date: 09-Mar-2007
Listen to this discussion NOW!
RIGHT TO REPLY Director Katie Mitchell answers criticisms of her current multimedia work, ...some trace of her (National) and Waves (National/Broadway), as well as of her 2006 production of Chekhov's The Seagull (National), and explains her working methods to Aleks Sierz. Recorded at the National Theatre.
“I began to wonder whether a neat linear narrative is the best way of communicating the experience of life.”
Recording Date: 12-Aug-2008
Listen to this discussion NOW!
RIGHT TO REPLY Sonia Friedman, producer for the Ambassador Theatre Group, responds to criticisms in a discussion on the current state of the West End. Dominic Cavendish hosts.
“I think the West End is in a very difficult place at the moment.”
Recording Date: 17-Oct-2003
Listen to this discussion NOW!
RIGHT TO REPLY Sudha Bhuchar and Kristine Landon-Smith of Tamasha Theatre Company hit back after mixed reviews greet their latest show Strictly Dandia.
“British theatre is racist... What I find in those harsh criticisms is an unpleasant underlying agenda.”
Play: Strictly Dandia
Theatre: Lyric Hammersmith
Recording Date: 23-Jan-2004
Listen to this discussion NOW!
RIGHT TO REPLY The Soho Theatre's Paul Sirett, co-translator of Dorota Maslowska's A Couple of Poor, Polish-Speaking Romanians, defends the play against critical brick-bats, and asks why British reviewers have a problem with foreign writers. Aleks Sierz quizzes.
1 comment
“Are we still navel-gazing? When theatres do new work reviewers panic and don't take the time to investigate anything outside their comfort zone.”
Recording Date: 20-Mar-2008
Listen to this discussion NOW!
ROYAL COURT SPECIAL (1/4) Aleks Sierz gets artistic directors Bill Gaskill, Max Stafford-Clark and Ian Rickson to look back and ponder the task of running Britain's new writing powerhouse. Recorded live.
“Regime change is always very healthy because you get new energy, and the Court is a narrative.”
Recording Date: 01-Dec-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
ROYAL COURT SPECIAL (2/4) Bill Gaskill, Max Stafford-Clark and Ian Rickson reflect on their experiences as artistic directors and on differing development processes. Aleks Sierz hosts. Recorded live.
“Dramatic changes were happening in women's lives... and Caryl Churchill was a very important model.”
Recording Date: 01-Dec-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
ROYAL COURT SPECIAL (3/4) Bill Gaskill, Max Stafford-Clark and Ian Rickson field questions about the Court's past, present, legacy and future. Aleks Sierz hosts. Recorded live.
“The Court places the writer at the centre in a way that no other theatre does. It's worth fighting for.”
Recording Date: 01-Dec-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!
ROYAL COURT SPECIAL (4/4) Bill Gaskill, Max Stafford-Clark and Ian Rickson conclude their insiders' assessment of the Court's 50-year success story. Aleks Sierz hosts. Recorded live.
“We used to stay up all night and wait for the notices - as if we were on Broadway. ”
Recording Date: 01-Dec-2005
Listen to this discussion NOW!