Nt Talks

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 news magazine, founded in 1961. It is published in London and has been edited by Ian Hislop since 1986.

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, highlighting key moments and dates with a poem for every day, by writers such as Keats, W H Auden, Maya Angelou and Kate Tempest. An inspiring evening of readings of some of the magical and humorous poems in this journey through history and human experience. Read by actors including Adjoa Andoh, Joanna Lumley, Stephen Mangan, Helen McCrory, Simon Russell Beale and Samuel West.

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 presents a debate inspired by the production of Saint George and the Dragon. Speakers include Dawn Foster (author of Lean Out), Abid Hussain (Director of Diversity, Arts Council England), David Lammy MP, Mike Savage (Martin White Professor of Sociology, LSE), and chaired by Guardian joint Political Editor Anushka Asthana.

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 theatre, the range and quality is unsurpassed. Critic Michael Coveney and photographer Peter Dazeley will be joined by Mark Rylance and Rosemary Squire as they discuss some of the 46 theatres profiled in their new book London Theatres published by Frances Lincoln, with stories of the architecture, productions and personalities that have defined these buildings. Chaired by Rachel Tackley.

One of the world's best-known theatre directors discusses his new book Tip of the Tongue and his work in the arts, chaired by Richard Eyre. In Tip of the Tongue, Peter Brook takes a charming, playful and wise look at topics such as the subtle, telling differences between French and English and the many levels on which we can appreciate the works for Shakespeare. Brook also revisits his seminal concept of the 'empty space', considering how theatre - and the world - have changed over the span of his long and distinguished career.

The actors reflect on the challenges and rewards of performing in Follies, chaired by Matt Wolf. Philip Quast originated the role of Javert in Les Misérables (Australia), and played Georges Seurat in the National Theatre’s production of Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George. Quast has won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical three times – the most of any actor to date. Janie Dee originated the role of Jacie Triplethree in Ayckbourn’s Comic Potential, a role written ‘with Janie in mind’, and won multiple awards for it. At the NT, Dee has played Julie in Johnny on a Spot, Helen of Troy in The Women of Troy, and won an Olivier Award for her performance in Carousel.

Norwegian Ambassador H E Mona Juul and her husband Terje Rød-Larsen played key roles in the Oslo Accords, which are featured in J.T. Rogers' Oslo, which runs in the Lyttelton Theatre in September. H E Mona Juul has been Norway's ambassador to the UK since August 2014.

The writer and director talk about their new production, Mosquitoes. Chaired by Dan Rebellato. Following her success with Chimerica, the world premiere of Kirkwood’s newest play is directed by Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre.

The actors reflect on the challenges and rewards of performing in Mosquitoes, chaired by Miranda Sawyer. Colman is perhaps best known for her on-screen appearances, including That Mitchell and Webb Look, Peep Show, Broadchurch, Twenty Twelve, The Night Manager, and films including Hot Fuzz, The Iron Lady, and The Lobster. Williams' previous NT appearances include Waste, Happy Now?, Love's Labour's Lost, and Richard III, and films include Emma, The Sixth Sense, An Education, and The Ghost Writer.

The actors reflect on the challenges and rewards of performing in Angels in America. Chaired by Matt Wolf.

The actor Anne-Marie Duff reflects on the challenges and rewards of playing Mary in Common. Chaired by Clemency Burton-Hill.

George Monbiot is a bestselling UK-based author and columnist known for his writing on environmental and political issues and activism. Here he will focus on the issue of common land as a starting point for a wide-ranging discussion, as DC Moore's new play, Common, plays at the National. Monbiot co-founded The Land is Ours a landrights campaign for Britain in 1995 and his latest book is How Did We Get into This Mess? Politics, Equality, Nature.

The Director talks about her production of Angels in America, chaired by Susannah Clapp.

The writer discusses his play, Angels in America. Chaired by Ola Animashawun.

The director and writer talk about their latest production, Common, chaired by Fiona Mountford.

The actors Andrew Garfield and Denise Gough discuss their experience of performing in Angels in America. Chaired by Kate Bassett.