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Antony Sher and Gregory Doran, Writing video games, Hendrik Groen

Sir Antony Sher and Gregory Doran talk about King Lear, how video games are embracing narrative, and the anonymous author of The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1/4 Years Old.

Actor Sir Antony Sher and director Gregory Doran talk about all-powerful pagan kings and post-Brexit Britain in relation to their RSC production of King Lear.

As the Victoria and Albert Museum adds to their archive a collection of Tommy Cooper's props, posters and notebooks, Cooper's daughter Vicky remembers growing up among her father's famous stage props and hearing jokes at the kitchen table.

This month has seen two big new releases in the video gaming world: the highly anticipated No Man Sky, which promises an infinite, constantly regenerating universe for players to discover, and the latest instalment in the sci-fi blockbuster franchise Deus Ex, Mankind Divided. From an economic perspective, games have outperformed other creative industries for years, and they're also nurturing the best creative writing talent. So how do writers fit in to this multi-billion pound industry? Novelist and scriptwriter James Swallow, whose game writing credits include Deus Ex: Mankind Divided and No Man's Sky, and scriptwriter and story designer Rhianna Pratchett, whose credits include Lara Croft: Tomb Raider discuss.

A hit when it was first published in Holland two years ago, The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen 83 1/2 Years Old is a debut novel written in the voice of the titular Hendrik, a resident in a retirement home in the north of Amsterdam. Praised for its witty and realistic portrayal of life in a care home, the book also sparked a media frenzy over the identity of its anonymous author, with a series of famous Dutch authors linked to the book. By email, the author responds to Samira's questions about the novel - and his or her's true identity.

Presenter: Samira Ahmed
Producer: Rachel Simpson.

Available now

30 minutes

Sir Antony Sher and Gregory Doran

Sir Antony Sher and Gregory Doran

King Lear is playing at the until 15 October and then at the Barbican Theatre from 10 November to 23 December.

Image credit: Ellie Kurrtz

Tommy Cooper Collection

Tommy Cooper Collection
The Tommy Cooper Collection has been acquired by the

Writing Video Games

Writing Video Games
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is on general release.

The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen 83 陆 Years Old

The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen 83 陆 Years Old
The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen 83 陆 Years Old is published by Penguin Random House.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Samira Ahmed
Producer Rachel Simpson
Interviewed Guest Antony Sher
Interviewed Guest Gregory Doran
Actor Vicky Cooper
Interviewed Guest James Swallow
Interviewed Guest Rhianna Pratchett

Broadcast

  • Fri 26 Aug 2016 19:15

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