Voices Off is a new programme of events – with leading voices in the arts, media, science and politics – to question, explore and debate themes raised by the productions on our main stage. They’ll provide a platform for experts to voice their opinions and reflect the colourful and wide-ranging approach to Matthew Warchus’ first season.

Voices Off

To listen

plays

This is a collection of recordings featuring playwrights connected to The Old Vic, including Tamsin Oglesby (Future Conditional), Tom Stoppard (Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead) and Jack Thorne (Woyzeck).

The Old Vic: Writers in conversation

Sarah Crompton (Former Telegraph Arts Editor in Chief and Dance Critic) spoke to Rob Brydon, writer Tamsin Oglesby and assistant director Sean Linnen about Future Conditional - a play tackling the conundrum of British schooling.

This is a recording of a live event, the first in a series to provide a platform for leading voices in the arts, media, science and politics to share their opinions and reflect the colourful and wide-ranging approach to Matthew Warchus’ first season.

For more information on Future Conditional: http://www.oldvictheatre.com/whats-on/2015/future-conditional/

Future Conditional Q&A with Rob Brydon and Tamsin Oglesby

Jap Man Har Har Naam - Bhai Resham Singh Ji Bhai Jivanpal Singh - Sri Guru Ramdas Ji Gurgaddi Divas

Rebecca Jones (BBC Arts Correspondent) talks to Bertie Carvel about The Hairy Ape and his recent roles in Doctor Foster, Bakkhai and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. 

This is a recording of a live event, one in a series to provide a platform for leading voices in the arts, media, science and politics to share their opinions and reflect the colourful and wide-ranging approach to Matthew Warchus’ first season.

For more information on The Hairy Ape: http://www.oldvictheatre.com/whats-on/2015/the-hairy-ape/

The Hairy Ape Q&A with Bertie Carvel

Do class boundaries still exist? If so, who is responsible for erecting and maintaining them? And are they as deep and rigid as they were in 1922 America when Eugene O’Neill wrote The Hairy Ape? 

Owen Jones reflects on some of these questions and more in this audio recording a live Old Vic Voices Off lecture.

Owen Jones on the British class system in 21st century

David Hare reflects on the process of adaption, focusing on his new version of Ibsen's The Master Builder with Ralph Fiennes. He is interviewed by Kirsten Shepherd-Barr, Professor of English and Theatre Studies at Oxford University.

This recording contains spoilers of the play.

The Master Builder Q&A with David Hare

Author, activist, and researcher Virgie Tovar joins The BodCast to dissect the meaning of fat liberation versus body positivity, all the while tackling how to change the narrative and educate the masses on some simple truths: Your fat can be beautiful. Your fat is not an inherent flaw. Heck, your fat can even save your life. Listen to Virgie analyze the most recent "fat pos" episode of 'This American Life' and explain how we can do better. 
 

Virgie Tovar Talks Fat Liberation & Changing The Narrative (Feat. Virgie Tovar)

Based on his new book What We Cannot Know, Marcus du Sautoy explores the nature of time and space and infinity and whether it is ever possible for us to know what is going to happen next. 

This is a recording of a live Voices Off event from September 2016.

Marcus du Sautoy OBE is the Charles Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of New College. He is recipient of the Faraday Prize, for excellence in communicating science. He is author of The Music of the Primes, Finding Moonshine: a mathematician’s journey through symmetry, The Num8er My5teries, and most recently What We Cannot Know. He has also written for The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent and The Guardian, and regularly appears on television, fronting a number of series for the BBC.

Groundhog Day: Marcus du Sautoy on What We Cannot Know

Deborah Warner talks to Matt Wolf (theatre critic, New York Times) about directing the King Lear with Glenda Jackson. 

This is a recording of a live event from November 2016.

King Lear: Deborah Warner in conversation

Vivien Wallace (Executive Director of Development at The Old Vic) chairs a conversation between David Leveaux and Tom Stoppard.

In 1967 Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead was first performed at The Old Vic, when it was the home of the National Theatre. 50 years later it's back on the same stage with Daniel Radcliffe, Joshua McGuire and David Haig directed by David Leveaux.

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern: Tom Stoppard and David Leveaux in conversation

Vivien Wallace (Executive Director of Development at The Old Vic) talks to director Joe Murphy and writer Jack Thorne on their new version of Woyzeck with John Boyega.

This version of Woyzeck is set in 1980s Berlin as The Cold War rages and the world sits at a crossroads between Capitalism and Communism. On the border between East and West, a young soldier and the love of his life are desperately trying to build a better future for their child.

Find out more: http://bit.ly/2dsTcGK

Woyzeck: Joe Murphy and Jack Thorne in conversation

A unique insight into Girl from the North Country’s journey from conception to opening night and beyond from writer and director Conor McPherson.
 
From initially turning down the project to working his way through the 650-strong catalogue of songs, Conor discusses the use of Bob Dylan’s music in Girl from the North Country and the creative freedom the Nobel Prize for Literature recipient has allowed him.
 
Girl from the North Country is playing at The Old Vic from 8 July – 7 October 2017.
 
Find out more: https://goo.gl/1Tn7fj

Conor McPherson on Girl from the North Country

On 27 July 1967, the Sexual Offences Act began the decriminalisation process for homosexuality between men. While much has changed since then, how equal are LGBTQ people in the UK today? And are some of the hardest-won liberties now under threat?

On the day of the Act’s 50th anniversary, we hosted a discussion on what the next 50 years should look like for LGBTQ rights – where do we go from here, and, more importantly, how do we get there?

The panellists for the talk are Angela Eagle, MP for Wallasey, Moud Goba, an LGBTQ+ and human rights activist and the current Director of Community Engagement at UK Black Pride, Rebecca Stinson, Head of Trans Inclusion at Stonewall, and Jonny Woo, acclaimed comedian, actor and drag queen and one of London’s leading figures in cabaret and alternative variety. Rikki Beadle-Blair MBE, fourth on the most recent Rainbow List of the UK’s hundred most influential LGBTQ+ people, chairs the event.

Queers: The Next 50 Years

Did Bob Dylan’s Nobel Prize in Literature win redefine the boundaries of literature? Or do we, by calling it poetry, deny music a place as its own unique art form? A group of poets, musicians and performance artists discuss the relationship between lyrics and poetry.

Actor and poet Jade Anouka, spoken word artist Steven Camden (Polarbear), musician and songwriter Charlie Fink, and musician, poet and actor Johnny Flynn discuss this question as part of Voices Off programming at The Old Vic. Writer and music critic Dorian Lynskey chairs.

Girl from the North Country: Can Lyrics Be Literature?

A gay man falls for a woman during a break from his boyfriend. Starring Ben Whishaw, Andrew Scott, Katherine Parkinson, and Paul Jesson. Produced by Mary Peate, directed by James MacDonald, and written by Mike Bartlett. Original air date: 20/11/2011. All credit where it's due.

REUPLOADED (https://soundcloud.com/delilahface/bbc-radio-3-presents-mike) to accomodate those wishing to download.