Whose National Theatre?
James Naughtie investigates the role of major social change in the eventual creation of the National Theatre. From October 2013.
For its 50th anniversary, James Naughtie investigates why the UK took so long to found a National Theatre and whether the struggles and delay resulted in a more creative and versatile organisation.
Episode Two: Whose National Theatre?
James Naughtie takes up the story from the end of the First World War, but his particular focus is on how the introduction of a National Health Service and National Insurance after the Second World War shifted cultural attitudes.
He looks into the legacy of the Festival of Britain and the ways in which this eased the way for a National Theatre company and, eventually, its iconic building on the South Bank.
He considers why, when this building was at last opened in 1976, its publicity poster boldly declared "The New National Theatre is Yours".
James Naughtie speaks with Nicholas Hytner, Richard Eyre, Michael Frayn and Michael Billington as well as listening to the voices of Laurence Olivier, Sybil Thorndike, Lillian Bayliss and other theatrical luminaries in the 大象传媒 Archives, tracing a story in which the arts, history, politics and national identity share the stage.
Reader: Simon Russell Beale
Producer: Beaty Rubens.
Last on
More episodes
Next
You are at the last episode
Upcoming programmes on the National Theatre
On Radio 4 Extra:
听Saturday 19 October
The National Theatre at 50
9.00am鈥�12.00pm (rpt 7.00pm 鈥� 10.00pm)
Daniel Rosenthal conjures up stories and scenes from five decades of a unique national institution, featuring big names, songs from the shows and secrets from behind the scenes.
Sunday 20 October
The National Theatre at 50: The Nativity 听
11.00am 鈥� 12.00pm (rpt 7.00 鈥� 8.00pm)
Another chance to hear The Nativity from Bill Bryden's Royal National Theatre production of The Mysteries, based on the medieval plays of York, Wakefield and Chester, in a version by Tony Harrison.
The National Theatre at 50: Elmina's Kitchen
8.00pm听 鈥撎� 9.30pm
First performed at the National Theatre in 2003 the play won its author Kwame Kwei-Armah the Evening Standard Drama Awards Most Promising Playwright award.听
Ex-boxer Deli runs a cafe in Hackney. Keeping his son safe, his business alive and staying out of trouble is a full-time job in East London's notorious Murder Mile.
Monday 21 October
The National Theatre at 50:听 The Third Soldier Holds His Thighs
7.00pm 鈥� 8.00pm
In 1982 Mary Whitehouse brought a prosecution against Michael Bogdanov, director of the National Theatre, over the production of Howard Brenton鈥檚 The Romans in Britain, which included a simulated male rape. In Mark Lawson鈥檚 documentary drama about the case actors Peter Sproule and Greg Hicks play themselves, with Eleanor Bron as Mrs Mary Whitehouse and Simon Callow as Peter Hall.
Monday 21 October 鈥� Friday 25 October
The National Theatre at 50:听 The Passion Play 1/5
2.30 鈥� 2.45pm
Retold in five 15 minute episodes, this is Bill Bryden鈥檚 radio version of his National Theatre production of The Passion adapted from the medieval Mystery plays of York, Wakefield and Chesterfield and written by Tony Harrison.
Saturday 26 October
The History Boys
7.00pm - 9.30pm
Sunday 27 October
Amadeus
7.00pm - 9:15pm
Sunday 3 November
Pravda
7.00pm - 9.00pm
听
On 大象传媒4:
Thursday 24 October
Arena National Theatre
听
Thursday 31 October
Arena National Theatre
听
On 大象传媒2:
Saturday 2 November
National Theatre Live Event
Broadcast
- Sun 13 Oct 2013 13:30大象传媒 Radio 4