Roll over image to zoom in
Talking Theatre: Interviews with Theatre People
£10.40
The Sunday Times Theatre Book of the year. Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Miller, Alan Ayckbourn, John Gielgud, Tom Stoppard and many more talk about the stories behind some of the most important and successful theatre productions and performances of recent times. Shortly after he left the directorship of the National Theatre, Richard Eyre embarked on a series of interviews with people who had played a significant part in making and influencing the theatre of the second half of the twentieth century. Forty of these interviews – threaded through with Eyre’s own commentary – are published in this new paperback edition. Talking Theatre is a fascinating and revealing insight into the world and mindset of the artists and creative talent who have shaped – and continue to shape – modern theatre.
Read more
Additional information
| Publisher | Nick Hern Books, Reprint edition (29 Jun. 2011) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 332 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1848421389 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1848421387 |
| Dimensions | 13.46 x 2.54 x 21.34 cm |
by Chris S, LDN
I didn’t know about this book until I bought it last month, missed it somehow. I’ve read his diaries and liked those too but this is the best thing (for theatre lovers) I’ve ever read. It is a series of wide-ranging interviews with theatre workers, from actors like Vanessa Redgrave, John Gielgud and Jason Robards to playwrights including Arthur Miller, David Hare, Tom Stoppard and Tony Kushner, plenty of directors, inc Peter Hall, and designers. Some are more interesting than others and that probably depends on your personal preferences but I found the Irish playwrighting ones incredibly stimulating to read and all are an easy-read.
by Bookworm 2
Always liked Richard Eyre, so reading these interviews is almost as good as seeing the original programmes from which they’re recorded.
by brianpwharton@yahoo.co.uk
Started reading this as soon as I got it and it is very interesting but I wish the print was bigger! I’m 50 and my prescription reading glasses vary. If only it was on Kindle? Still it was a good price and has a lot of content in it. I’ll stick with it cause it’s right up my street.
by B.B.
Didn’t dislike anything but have read many of the interviews elsewhere
by Ms. Fiona Allen
My husband bought me this for Christmas because I made him, after he borrowed the library book for me and I read it through 3 times. Richard Eyre has met pretty much everyone, and in fact in the space of the first reading I got killer quotations for 2 separate essays!
I appreciate the point about Brecht and Beckett but, let’s face it, European theatre would be very different without them, and Kenneth Tynan’s views (in the Chapter, Bert and Sam, are as trenchant as ever.)
It’s actually an extraordinarily good read just as straight journalism, whether you’re terrifically interested in theatre or not. Personally, I’m heading for obsession, and can’t wait for Christmas so i can curl up with Richard Eyre all over again.
by Nick Adamson
As someone who enjoys going to the theatre to see a show I thought this book was going to be about how shows work and a look behind the backdrop. It’s not.
It’s about Theatre with a capital T. Interesting enough but for me a bit condescending and indicated the sort of theatre I enjoy isn’t worth thinking or writing about.
by Arthur Webb
This is a superb book and can be read at ease on short chapters in any order which is great. It is like a contemporary history of theatre history and gives a wonderful range of insights, thoughts, ideas and opinions on plays, actors, styles and genres and avoids all the personal guff. It is a theatre person’s read any is exceptionally enjoyable. I loved it.
by operetta
This is a very interesting book consisting of interviews with many of our theatres luminaries including Peter Hall and Trevor Nunn.
Very enjoyable for those who truly understand the nature of professional theatre but also useful for the amateurs who take their hobby seriously.