This two-part episode looks at authors and authorship, at leadership, and at collaboration. We look at two pieces of work: Best of Enemies, written by James Graham, and The Collaboration, written by Anthony McCarten. Both plays started their li

Best of Enemies and The Collaboration: authors, authorship, leaderships and collaboration (part 2)

May 1st, 2023 31m 55s

This two-part episode looks at authors and authorship, at leadership, and at collaboration. We look at two pieces of work: The Collaboration, written by Anthony McCarten, and Best of Enemies, written by James Graham. Both plays started their li

Hamlet: Imagining Elsinore, the Man and his Soul

Nov 12th, 2021 39m 37s

How does Hamlet inspire and intrigue audiences and artists? Designer Anna Fleischle unpacks how to bring the world of Hamlet to life, and Dr Louise Owen tackles the questions of the play for our times. We also introduce an original audio piec

Changing Destiny: How Kwame Kwei-Armah and Ben Okri tell a 4000 year old tale

Aug 20th, 2021 29m 30s

The Young Vic podcast investigates the power of a 4000-year-old story about exile and home: how the tale of Sinuhe inspired Ben Okri to write Changing Destiny. And Kwame Kwei-Armah speaks to Egyptologist Allison Hedges about mummies, myths and

Nadia Latif on the importance of the bookshelf, first steps in Theatre and developing Fairview

Jan 14th, 2020 43m 41s

Director of stage and film Nadia Latif chats to Off Book presenter Dan de la Motte about growing up between Sudan and London, her early experiences of London theatre, drama school, and why what’s on your bookshelf is so important.Nadia also d

Dadiow Lin on Taiwan, classics and collaboration on in a word

Dec 13th, 2019 24m 55s

Director Dadiow Lin chats to Off Book presenter Dan de la Motte about growing up in Taiwan, the influence of classic texts and how she combines a range of skills to collaborate on her plays.in a word written by Lauren Yee was the play Dadiow

Luke Barnes on The Jumper Factory, how he became a playwright and the role of a writer

Nov 13th, 2019 36m

Playwright Luke Barnes chats to Off Book presenter Dan de la Motte about developing authentic stories shaped by real experiences. Luke opens up about his process, through which he has created work with prisoners and people affected by the cri

Josh Parr on his first job, drama school and making his mark

Sep 9th, 2019 41m

Theatre Director Josh Parr grew up in the mining town of Rugeley and never saw arts as a viable career. Fast forward a few years, he's directing The Jumper Factory at HOME Manchester. Speaking to Off Book about how he entered the arts, what

Sharon D. Clarke on her first job, winning an Olivier and how she approached Linda Loman

Jul 26th, 2019 44m 30s

Stage royalty, Sharon D. Clarke speaks to Off Book about her role as Linda Loman, her journey into Theatre and what it meant to her to win the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.Sharon also shares an insight into what it's like rehea

Wendell Pierce discusses Willy Loman, activism and his first steps into theatre

Jul 26th, 2019 49m 9s

Wendell Pierce first visited London over 40 years ago, what does it mean to make his London debut and join the select group who have played Willy Loman in 'the American Hamlet' Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.Wendell talks about his first

Emma Dennis-Edwards talks The American Dream 2.0, drama school and her career so far

Jul 26th, 2019 39m 52s

Multi award winning Writer, Actor and Performer Emma Dennis-Edwards talks to Off Book about her new play The American Dream 2.0, a politically charged dystopian play about hope, idealism and humanity.Off Book is a podcast from Young Vic where

The Convert director Ola Ince rejoins us to talk about her latest YV show and Tina the Musical

Jan 4th, 2019 35m 18s

Director of Danai Gurira's The Convert, Ola Ince joins us as the first director to return to our tiny recording studio. We caught up on the very busy two and a half years Ola has had since she was last on Off Book where she spoke about her Ge

Kwame Kwei-Armah discusses Twelfth Night and taking charge at the Young Vic

Nov 15th, 2018 47m 50s

Writer, director, actor, musician and YV’s artistic director - Kwame Kwame Kwei-Armah joins Dan in the studio to talk about his return to London after 7 years in the US, and his most recent musical foray into Shakespeare with Twelfth Night.Th

Jenna Russell, fresh from Fun Home joins us to discuss her colossal acting career - Off Book Podcast

Oct 16th, 2018 42m 41s

This month, Dan de la Motte was joined in the old YV stationary cupboard by stage icon, Jenna Russell. We hear how Sylvia Young was integral to giving teenage Jenna a start in theatre and a way out of 'normal' schooling, as well as talking ab

Debbie Hannan discusses her Genesis production & identifying as a working class director

Aug 31st, 2018 34m 39s

Debbie Hannan, Genesis Future Director Award Winner and recent director of Naomi Wallace's Things of Dry Hours joined us for a chat this month.We discuss what initially got her interested in theatre whilst "being an incredibly bossy child wit

Alison Bechdel & Sofie Hagen talk about Fun Home, the Bechdel test & being seen - Off Book Podcast

Jun 29th, 2018 40m 57s

Guest host, comedian and podcaster Sofie Hagen is joined by Alison Bechdel, the cartoonist who wrote the graphic novel Fun Home for a special Off Book episode.Alison and Sofie discuss Alison's the graphic novel, the autobiographical coming of

Oscar winning writer Tarell Alvin McCraney talks The Brothers Size, Moonlight & his career

May 25th, 2018 54m 40s

The Brothers Size writer and Oscar winner Tarell Alvin McCraney joined us in Feb 2018 during the revival of the Young Vic's production of his play, The Brothers Size, directed by Bijan Sheibani.Tarell discusses his Brother/Sister trilogy of p

Justin Martin discusses making "theatre that's necessary" & his long-term collab with Stephen Daldry

Apr 20th, 2018 55m 36s

Having worked back to back on The Jungle and The Inheritance at the Young Vic, Justin Martin, long-time collaborator with Stephen Daldry, spoke to us about his "14 year conversation" with the Oscar nominated director and his career to date maki

The Inheritance writer Matthew Lopez discusses his early influences, his Florida roots & his writing

Mar 9th, 2018 50m 47s

Writer of The Inheritance, Matthew Lopez joins us to discuss his hilarious and profound heart-breaking play in two parts, directed by Stephen Daldry.Matthew discusses everything from his upbringing in the Florida panhandle and seeing Peter Pa

David Lan, Young Vic Artistic Director talks about his 18 year tenure - Off Book

Jan 30th, 2018 1h 3m

“We should be thinking about the totality of people’s experience” The Young Vic’s Artistic Director, David Lan spoke to us about well, everything. And in a beautiful twist of fate we happened to chat on the 18th anniversary of him starting th

Olivier Award-winner Juliet Stevenson on Wings, women in theatre and activism - Off Book

Dec 21st, 2017 48m 30s

Olivier Award-winner Juliet Stevenson joins us this week following her recent production of Wings at the Young Vic. Juliet discusses her recent performances in Wings, Happy Days and Hamlet, the limitations still faced by women in theatre, and

Nancy Medina on Yellowman, her Brooklyn influences and being a director of colour

Dec 1st, 2017 33m 16s

Nancy Medina, Genesis Future Director Award winner and director of Yellowman joins us this week. Nancy discusses directing Dael Orlandersmith's Pulitzer nominated play and their conversations ahead of it coming to the Young Vic, how growing u

Natalie Abrahami - Off Book

Oct 31st, 2017 41m 7s

Natalie Abrahami got her theatre break as the Royal Court Graduate Trainee, before winning the JMK Award at Battersea Arts Centre in 2005. A spell at the Gate theatre followed, and then associate director at the Young Vic. Natalie spoke to us

Josh Roche - Off Book

Oct 20th, 2017 42m 57s

"The goal is to get to the age of 80 and not be bruised by the experience" JMK Award Winner 2017, former Fat Git and My Name is Rachel Corrie director Josh Roche chatted to us about his first forays into theatre from Tunbridge Wells and Warwi

Zoë Svendsen & the role of dramaturgy - Off Book

Sep 16th, 2017 40m 51s

Theatre maker and Dramaturg Zoë Svendsen joined us earlier in 2017 to discuss the important role dramaturgy plays in theatre and how she discovered dramaturgy was part of what she wanted to do.Zoë discusses the Berlin theatre scene and recent