National Theatre Platforms - February to May 2009
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
THE NATIONAL Theatre has a number of Platforms lined up for spring 2009. They begin at 6pm, last for 45 minutes and cost £3·50/£2·50 unless otherwise stated.
The Satanic Verses – Twenty Years On – in the Lyttelton Theatre on February 14 at 12.30pm (1 hour).
On February 14, 1989, Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini sent a startling valentine to the prize-winning novelist Salman Rushdie, in the form of a fatwa which condemned the author and his novel, The Satanic Verses. It was a moment when global forces set religion and imaginative expression against one another.
Twenty years on, English PEN and the National Theatre bring together actors and writers to read from the novel and discuss the implications of the fatwa against the writer.
Tom Stoppard on Every Good Boy Deserves Favour – in the Olivier Theatre on February 14 at 5.30pm.
The playwright discusses his play for actors and orchestra. Booksigning.
Michael Kustow – in the Cottesloe Theatre on February 26.
Outspoken writer, producer and cultural activist Michael Kustow, reflects on In Search of Jerusalem, his year-long spiritual journey from India to Israel and Palestine, revisiting the places, people and ideas that have formed his beliefs. Booksigning.
Richard Bean on England People Very Nice – in the Olivier Theatre on February 27.
The writer discusses his new play about immigration in London’s East End. Booksigning.
Sandi Toksvig presents The Great Feminist Quiz – in the Cottesloe Theatre on March 5.
Sandi Toksvig, Fiona Laird and friends celebrate the post-feminist age. Marvel at the fact that women now own as much as 1% of the world’s assets and in as little as 187 years, women in Britain could be paid the same as men.
Peter Flannery on Burnt by the Sun – in the Lyttelton Theatre on March 24.
Peter Flannery talks about his theatrical adaptation of this story set in Soviet Russia. Booksigning.
Alain de Botton – in the Lyttelton Theatre on April 2.
We spend much of our lives at work – both one of the most exciting and most painful of all our activities. Alain de Botton introduces The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, exploring the modern workplace and what makes jobs either fulfilling or soul-destroying. Booksigning.
James Macdonald on Dido, Queen of Carthage – in the Cottesloe Theatre on April 3.
The director talks about his production of Marlowe’s intense tale of love, betrayal and suicide.
Immigration in Literature – in the Olivier Theatre on April 15.
The subject of immigration into London has inspired a wealth of fiction, biography and drama, most recently England People Very Nice. Writers, including Charles Nicholl and Robert McLiam Wilson, discuss the literary history of migrating Huguenots, Irish, Jewish and Bangladeshi communities. Booksigning.
Jonathan Dimbleby – in the Lyttelton Theatre on April 16.
In Russia, Jonathan Dimbleby looks at how her past has shaped her current identity, and investigates what modern Russia means to her people now. Booksigning.
Rufus Norris on Death and the King’s Horseman – in the Olivier Theatre on April 22.
Rufus Norris talks about his new production of Wole Soyinka’s play.
Ten Years of the Children’s Laureate – in the Olivier Theatre on April 27.
To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the inauguration of the Children’s Laureate, Anne Fine, Michael Morpurgo, Michael Rosen and Jacqueline Wilson reflect on the fun and challenges of being Laureate and discuss the current trend of dramatic adaptations of children’s novels. Booksigning.
Virginia McKenna – in the Cottesloe Theatre on April 28.
Virginia McKenna’s autobiography looks back on a career which includes celebrated performances in The Cruel Sea and A Town Like Alice and her role in the conservation and animal welfare movement as founder of The Born Free Foundation. Booksigning.
Rupert Goold on Time and the Conways – in the Lyttelton Theatre on May 14.
The director talks about his new production of Priestley’s ‘time play’.
Also at the National Theatre:
Paris Calling – a Franco-British Season of Performing Arts launched by the French Institute, in association with the National Theatre Studio.
Paris Calling: Readings – in the Cottesloe Theatre on April 23, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm, £5/£4 (concessions)
A chance to hear extracts from three newly translated contemporary French plays: Holy Land by Mohamed Kacimi – a contemporary tragedy set in occupied territories; The beginning of by Pascal Rambert – a meditation on the surprise of love; and Moi aussi je suis Catherine Deneuve by Pierre Notte – a dark comedy of dysfunctional family life.
Paris Calling: Discussion – in the Cottesloe Theatre on April 23 at 6pm.
Playwrights from the series discuss the current state of French playwriting and the genesis and development of the Paris Calling season.
In Conversation with… – company members chat informally about their work and answer questions from the floor. Chaired by Al Senter.
Claire Skinner – on March 2 at 3pm (1 hour), £5/4. The actress talks about playing the title role in Mrs Affleck.
Rory Kinnear – on April 3 at 3pm (1 hour), £5/4. Currently appearing in Burnt by the Sun, Rory Kinnear talks about his career.
Free Valentine’s Day Screening of Shakespeare in Love at 8.15pm, Fly Tower.
A free outdoor screening of Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman’s ingenious love story about the rising young light of the Elizabethan stage. Bring blankets (and a date) to keep warm! The film will be best viewed from the Baylis Terrace.