Zoë among the 'cast of vivid characters' in Nicholas Hytner's National Theatre memoir

26 April 2017 20:08

If you've ever wondered what it's like to lead a major cultural institution, Balancing Acts: Behind the Scenes at the National Theatre by one of Zoë's directors, Nicholas Hytner, will be essential reading. As the Radio Times points out, there's a 'cast of vivid characters in the book: generations of actors (Simon Russell Beale, Rory Kinnear, Zoë Wanamaker) and writers whom Hytner has nurtured'.

During his hugely successful tenure as the National's Artistic Director (2003-2015), Hytner oversaw or was directly involved with a number of shows featuring Zoë. He was at the theatre's helm when the first Travelex £10 season, which included His Girl Friday (2003), was introduced, helping to make theatre accessible to wider audiences. He directed the celebrated 2007 revival of Much Ado About Nothing. He pioneered NT Live cinema screenings of plays including The Cherry Orchard (2011). His insights are bound to be fascinating.

Balancing Acts will be published on 27 April. You can also hear Hytner himself read from it on Radio 4's Book of the Week, from 1-5 May at 9:45am (repeated 12:30am).

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