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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
inspiring
medium-paced
Nicholas Hytner provides fascinating insights into the workings of British theatre and the craft of a director in his look back at his time as artistic director of the National Theatre from 2003 to 2015. It includes details about the staging of some of the most high-profile productions such as The History Boys, War Horse, One Man Two Guvnors, Frankenstein, The Madness of George III, Hamlet, Othello, Henry IV, Timon of Athens, Much Ado About Nothing and The Winter’s Tale. It also features his work on films and other shows in his career, from Sweet Smell of Success to Miss Saigon.
A great gift for someone interested in theatre, even more so if they know a bit about London's National Theatre. Hytner writes about his years as its director in a witty and a bit self-depreciating way. There are musings about the role of theatre in the public life (art! entertainment! ticket prices! sponsorship! old audiences! new audiences! letters of complaint!), there are triumphs and flops, years-long personal relationships and paths briefly crossed, serious reflections on Shakespeare and wonderful theatre anecdotes (that young actor playing deamon goose in NT production of His Dark Materials? he went on to play Hamlet in a Trevor Nunn's production, because, well, he's Ben Whishaw). It's a fun light book and a love letter to the theatre and people working in it.
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I used this book for my dissertation about the National Theatre and found it really informative and a good window into what goes on behind the scenes
My interest in English Theatre mostly pre-dates Nicholas Hytner, but I nonetheless enjoyed this very much. There were enough familiar names and plays for me to follow, and I'm still pretty interested in theatre, although I no longer have any ambition to be an actor myself.
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
This book was such a fresh take on the genre. Reads like a gossip magazine but the author clearly has enough experience and knowledge to ground it and stop it from becoming tawdry. Each name drop actually lends something to the experience and its so fascinating to peek behind the curtain of one of the most prestigious theatrical institutes of the UK in such a tell all way. Nicholas Hytner allows us in with good humour, wit, and a whole heap of entertaining anecdotes. The fact he doesn't hold back from uncovering his and others mistakes, successes, secrets and journeys makes this a worthwhile effort; if he'd tried to play coy, overly humble or cocky and guarded this would have been just another pointless tease of a vanity project. Thank God he's a theatre kid and therefore loves the drama. I would read again and recommend to many people.