Talking Theatre: Interviews with Theatre People

by Richard Eyre

Candid, in-depth interviews published for the first time. Includes interviews with John Gielgud, Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Vanessa Redgrave, Arthur Miller, Liam Neeson, Stephen Rea, Fiona Shaw, Harold Pinter, Tom Stoppard, Alan Bennett, David Hare, Christopher Hampton, Tony Kushner, Peter Brook, Peter Hall, Stephen Sondheim, and many more.

Genres: Theatre, Nonfiction

331 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Zanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be a very dull book at first, with little interest for people outside of the theatre world. However, Peter Brook's fascinating, insight-filled reflections and reminiscences quickly reversed that impression. He has an intriguing idea about 'the richness of English inner life' and how cripplingly embarrassed we are by our emotionality. 'The theatre is the only area where the hidden Englishness can reveal itself respectably' he says. Hiding behind the facades created by the class system, the English are the opposite of the Irish who 'allow their deep natural poetry and imagination to come out all the time'. Thus, Irish writers have dominated the English theatre for three hundred years.

Brook also talks about inclusion in theatre (related to classism) and the need to tackle this locally and event by event, and for the theatre to make amends for its history of exclusion and 'letting people down'. He identifies the essential quality of Shakespeare as his anti-authoritarianism and distrust of all authority figures, which perhaps part-explains the rich radical tradition in English theatre, along with the dominance of Irish writers, essentially post-colonial and chafing at the language imposed on them, as Fiona Shaw eloquently points out in another interview.

This set the tone for a wonderful read. Most of the interviews are very good, and a few of them are dazzling, for example with Steven Berkoff and Willem Dafoe. Peter Hall is also fascinating, pointing out that in two or three hundred years Shakespeare will be unreadable and will need to be translated. He also quips that 'the theatre is always dying', hinting at the cycles of renewal and reinvigoration. He identifies Joan Littlewood, who directed Shelagh Delaney's groundbreaking little play 'A Taste of Honey', as truly revolutionary, and I was fascinated to read accounts of her methods and personality through the eyes of designer John Bury and actor Victor Spinetti.

Impressively, Eyre has managed to fashion this varied set of interviews into a story arc, taking the reader on a journey from the 'golden age' of actors like Olivier and the founding of the National Theatre and the RSC to the avant garde, interactive, de/reconstructed theatre of today , with frequent comfortable detours to the USA. Shakespeare, Brecht and Beckett cast their huge shadows across the book, yielding endless discussion and contrasting opinions. Each page presented a fresh testimony of the power and infinite potential of theatre. I defy anyone who reads not to feel inspired to go out and see more plays.

My favourite interview of all is with American playwright Tony Kushner, sections of which I am compelled to transcribe, possibly onto my bedroom walls. Here's a sample

Well, The Lion King is a right-wing fantasy about social domination and the supremacy of men everywhere. It’s a completely beautifully packaged, neo-con parable for neo-con times and neo-con audiences and their creepy little children. The ideology Brecht says is there: the absence of an ideology is an ideology. It’s just a conservative ideology and everything that you see has it.

[Jeff Howells · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had the possibility of turning into a bunch of 'luvvies' talking earnestly about 'the craft'. On the whole it manages to avoid this. It's a series of conversations from a variety of theatrical people (actors, playwrights, directors, designers) who more or less span the 20th Century (from Gielgud to Marber) and who discuss the impact of the big beasts (e.g. Shakespeare, Brecht, Beckett and including directors such as Joan Littlewood) on them and on arts. I found it fascinating and it showed me how little I know about those who are generally acknowledged to have had the greatest impact on theatre. It's pushed me to hopefully go and watch more productions (although theatre going, particularly in the West End can be prohibitively expensive).

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of books of interviews, and this was one of the best by far. As always, it helps that the interviewer is an old experienced professional who can ask informed intelligent questions that allow his subjects to relax into serious shop talk.

This may appeal more to professional artists and technicians rather than to the fan who is less interested in the nuts and bolts of the philosophies and work process behind the productions.

[Margaret Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent selection of interviews. The only thing I found frustrating was the fact that he would interview incredible actors and theater-makers not about their own work, but about the work of a legend who came before them. If you have Fiona Shaw, don't ask her exclusively about George Bernard Shaw. She may be knowledgable, but she has more to offer than that.

[Elliot · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slightly repetitive format, with Eyre asking the same or similar questions to most of the interviewees, and many giving similar answers. However, when he manages to tease out a golden nugget of insight or anecdote, then it lifts the whole thing.

[Hannah MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book filled with the various accounts and experiences of different Theatre people. A little samey in parts but otherwise brilliant. I particularly loved the accounts of Joan Littlewood and wish I could have worked with her.

[Regret Husk · Rating 5 out of 5]

an utter essential for anyone serious about theatre

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love reading interviews of leading theatre folks you'll love this collection. Concise, interesting discussions.

[Emily Rennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really interesting collection of interviews from important theatre icons, spanning across actors, playwrights, directors, designers and producers.

[Pers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent collection of interviews with theatre people (actors, directors, playwrights).