Dr Rowan Williams & Philip Pullman
15th March, Olivier
Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Philip Pullman,
author of His Dark Materials, continue their conversation which
began on Channel 4, when they discussed whether consumerism and the
mass media have created a crisis of childhood.
Alan Ayckbourn
22nd March, Cottesloe
On publication of The Crafty Art of Playmaking in paperback,
Alan Ayckbourn reveals further tricks of the trade and talks to Paul
Allen, author of the Pocket Guide to Ayckbourn's work. [Booksigning]
Will & Lyra: Dominic Cooper & Anna Maxwell Martin
26th March, Olivier
As the run of His Dark Materials draws to a close, the young
actors at the centre of the action talk about playing two of the best-loved
characters in modern fiction.
Alain de Botton
30th March, Cottesloe
The bestselling author talks about Status Anxiety, a highly
entertaining and thought-provoking examination of the universal anxiety
about what others think of us. [Booksigning]
Julian Fellowes
6th April, Cottesloe
Actor and writer Julian Fellowes, Oscar-winner for the screenplay
of Gosford Park, talks about his novel, Snobs, which
is set against a background of aristocracy and actors at the end of
the 20th century. [Booksigning]
Jocelyn Herbert at the National
7th April, Lyttelton
To mark the opening of the exhibition celebrating the late Jocelyn
Herbert's stage designs, collaborators from her distinguished career
recall her work and her lasting influence on the theatre.
John Gielgud's Letters
14th April 04 from 2.30pm to 4pm, LytteltonP
John Gielgud was born on 14 April 1904. To mark his centenary and
the publication of Gielgud's Letters, this is the first reading
of his frank and enthralling correspondence which gives a vivid picture
of his life, and views of Olivier, Redgrave, Ashcroft, Evans and Hitchcock
amongst others. He wrote almost every day, beginning in the 1920s
with letters to his mother and continuing until a few days before
his death in 2000.
Discussion on The Permanent Way
16th April , Lyttelton
Maureen Kavanagh and Linda di Lieto both lost their sons in recent
train disasters. Alongside their solicitor, Louise Christian, they
discuss the important issues of rail safety raised by The Permanent
Way with director Max Stafford-Clark. Also invited is novelist
Nina Bawden, who lost her husband in the Potters Bar crash.
Michael Gambon
23rd April 04 from 2.30pm to 3.30pm, Lyttelton
The Great Gambon, as he was dubbed by Ralph Richardson, talks about
his work and illustrious career, on publication of Mel Gussow's Gambon:
A Life in Acting. [Booksigning]
Peter Hall
29th April, Olivier
Peter Hall returns to the National to talk about his latest book,
Shakespeare's Advice to the Players, which celebrates a passionate
understanding of the verse and marks fifty years of directing the
canon. [Booksigning]
Improbable Theatre on Lifegame
10th May from 5.30pm, Cottesloe
Improbable Theatre's Julian Crouch, Phelim McDermott and Lee Simpson
talk about the company's work and how Lifegame is developed
and altered each night.
Simon Gray
11th May, Cottesloe
Playwright Simon Gray reads from his Smoking Diaries, begun
when he was 65, which reflect on a life filled with cigarettes (continuing),
alcohol (stopped), several triumphs and many more disasters, plus
shame, adultery, friendship and love. [Booksigning]
Michael Pennington & Stephen Unwin
12th May, Cottesloe
Actor Michael Pennington and director Stephen Unwin talk about their
Pocket Guide to Ibsen, Chekhov and Strindberg, a comprehensive
historical and theatrical analysis of the three great founders of
naturalism. [Booksigning]
Roy Williams & Paul Miller on Sing Yer Heart Out for the
Lads
17th May, Cottesloe
The writer and director talk about the new production of this acclaimed
and controversial play in the Cottesloe.
Alan Bennett on The History Boys
25th May, Lyttelton
To celebrate the opening of his new play at the National, Alan Bennett
talks about The History Boys and answers questions about his
work. [Booksigning]
Nigel Hawthorne on Stage
28th May, Lyttelton
Nigel Hawthorne's extensive stage work is celebrated in Kathleen Riley's
new book. It charts his early career in South Africa, discovery by
Joan Littlewood and his towering performances in Shadowlands,
The Madness of George III and King Lear. Colleagues
gather to recall the work of a great man of the theatre. [Booksigning]
Joan Bakewell
21st June, Cottesloe
Joan Bakewell talks about her autobiography, The Centre of the
Bed, which covers her eclectic career in the arts and broadcasting,
and explores the extraordinary changes in women's roles during her
lifetime. [Booksigning]
Channels (Hungary)
2.30pm-4.30pm (approx), Cottesloe
Rehearsed readings of four contemporary Hungarian plays in specially
commissioned translations from four young British playwrights. Part
of Magyar Magic: Hungary in Focus 2004, a year-long celebration
of Hungarian culture in the UK.
"The Stonewatchers" 17 June by Janos Hay, translated by
Phil Porter
"The Fourth Gate" 18 June by Peter Karpati, translated by
Dennis Kelly
"Car Thieves" 24 June by Akos Nemeth, translated by Ché
Walker
"Portugal" 25 June by Zoltan Egressy, translated by Ryan
Craig
The National Theatre: Brutalist Beauty?
22nd June 6pm, Cottesloe
Theatre practitioners square up to architects to debate the merits
and misfortunes of the National Theatre building.
Architours at the National
19th June 10.15am;
22nd June 10.15am, 12.30pm, 3pm, 4.30pm;
26th June 10.15am
Architects join NT guides for special tours, looking at both the inside
and outside of Lasdun's building from a design, structural and practical
point of view.
