NT Talks

As someone who has a slightly addictive character, collecting pretty much anything comes quite easy to me. "You never know when you might need it again," is what I tend to say. The same is true for bo...

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....

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 ...

Writer Inua Ellams and Director Nadia Fall discuss their new production of Three Sisters. Chaired by Louisa Uchum Egbunike, Lecturer in English at City, University of London, Curator of the Legacies o...

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is the bestselling magical novel from the brilliant imagination of Neil Gaiman. Join Gaiman as he chats to Lenny Henry about writing this modern myth, where his inspir...

Lindsay Duncan and Alex Jennings reflect on the challenges and rewards of performing in Hansard. Chaired by David Benedict....

Director Rufus Norris and Adapter Helen Edmundson reflect on their production of Small Island. Chaired by Brenda Emmanus....

Join legendary theatre-maker Peter Brook (‘our greatest living director’, Independent) as he speaks to Mark Lawson to discuss his new book Playing by Ear: Reflections on Music and Sound, which explore...

Director Simon Godwin (Antony & Cleopatra, Man + Superman) and writer Simon Woods reflect on their new production of Hansard...

David Hare and Jonathan Kent (the partnership behind Young Chekhov) speak about the processes of making their new production. Hosted by Georgina Godwin...

James McArdle (Platonov, Angels in America) reflects on the challenges and rewards of creating and playing Peter Gynt. Hosted by Georgina Godwin....

Director Polly Findlay (Beginning, As You Like It, Treasure Island) discusses her new production of Rutherford and Son with Fiona Mountford....

Director Polly Findlay (Beginning, As You Like It, Treasure Island) discusses her new production of Rutherford and Son with Fiona Mountford....

Actor Roger Allam (Les Miserables, The Thick of It) reflects on the challenges and rewards of playing John Rutherford in the new production of Rutherford and Son....

Join the director and writer as they reflect on their production of Downstate, with Rana Mitter....

Writer David Hare reflects on his new play I’m Not Running, chaired by Helen Lewis. David Hare is a playwright and film-maker. Hare first worked at the National Theatre in 1971. Seventeen of his pla...

Join the director and writer as they reflect on their production of Hadestown. Rachel Chavkin is a director, dramaturg and sometime writer, and the founding Artistic Director of the TEAM (teamplays....

Join renowned playwrights Alecky Blythe (London Road, Little Revolution), Howard Brenton (Pravda, Never So Good), Natasha Gordon (Nine Night), and Conor McPherson (The Weir, Girl from the North Countr...

Jacques Lecoq was one of the major figures of Western theatre in the second half of the 20th century, known especially for his teaching of movement, play, improvisation, masks, language, comedy, and t...

An event to celebrate the publication of Dramatic Exchanges: The Lives and Letters of the National Theatre selected and edited by Daniel Rosenthal. With contributions from the author and readings from...

Dying and death is something we will all experience in our lifetime: the loss of a loved one, fear of dying or perhaps trying to extend our lives. Malika Booker, Rachel Clarke and Tony Walter explore ...

Patrick Marber talks about his new production, Exit the King, with Rachel Cooke. Patrick Marber’s plays for the National Theatre include Dealer’s Choice, Closer, The Red Lion, Three Days in the Coun...

The director and writer reflect on their production of An Octoroon. Ned Bennett directed Pomona at the Orange Tree Theatre, National Theatre and Royal Exchange; The Crocodile at the Manchester Intern...

To mark the 50th anniversary of the end of stage censorship in Britain, theatre historians and NT actors explore the NT plays which would have been banned by the Lord Chamberlain's Office if state con...

Join the director as he reflects on his production of Antony & Cleopatra, with Fiona Mountford....

Join the director as he reflects on his production of Translations, chaired by Tanya Seghatchian. Ian Rickson was artistic director of the Royal Court Theatre from 1998 to 2007. Recent West End work i...

Kate Fleetwood reflects on the challenges and rewards of performing the roles of Christine Foskett in Absolute Hell. Kate Fleetwood was in King Lear, Ugly Lies the Bone, 50 Years on Stage, London Roa...

A panel discussion with contributions from artist Larry Achiampong, writer and academic Margaret Byron, Matthew Ryder (Deputy Mayor for Social Integration, Social Mobility, Community Engagement), Shar...

The Arden Shakespeare has released a new series, Arden Performance Editions, specially annotated to help actors, directors and students in the rehearsal and classroom. Join series editors Abigail Roki...

Anne-Marie Duff and Rory Kinnear reflect on the challenges and rewards of playing Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, chaired by Tazeen Ahmad. Anne-Marie Duff’s work at the NT includes King Lear, Saint Joan, Hu...

The writer and director discuss their production of Nine Night. Natasha Gordon is a London-born actress and writer of Jamaican descent. She has performed at Tricycle Theatre, Royal Court, Young Vic a...

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,...

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....

The actors reflect on the challenges and rewards of performing the roles of Mozart and Salieri in Amadeus....

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 perf...

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...

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 Tavoukdi...

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 desi...

Writer Dennis Kelly reflects on his role in the National Theatre's production of Pinocchio. Chaired by Rosie Goldsmith....

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 internationa...

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 Ch...

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 D...

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 n...

Matt Lucas, one of Britain's best-loved comedians and actors, speaks about his memoir. Chaired by comedy historian Robert Ross....

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, h...

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 pr...

Join writer David Eldridge and director Polly Findlay as they reflect on their production of Beginning. Chaired by Dan Rebellato....

Dominic Cooke discusses his work as director on Stephen Sondheim’s Follies for the Olivier stage in 2017....

Actors Nadia Clifford and Tim Delap discuss the challenges and rewards of playing Jane Eyre and Rochester in Jane Eyre. Chaired by Sarfraz Manzoor....

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 th...