A Young Vic Taking Part project, led by Neighbourhood Theatre Company.
A six-part podcast series celebrating local voices in Lambeth and Southwark. We’ll uncover stories about our community over the past 25 years and look ahead to the next 25 years, with even more stories to share. 
This series is a tribute to the legacy of our community work and its long-lasting impact. Our episodes will be published on the 25th of each month, starting in July which will take us right through to the end of the year.
Part of Taking Part 25, a season of work celebrating 25 years of the Young Vic’s creative engagement department.

Journeys: The Podcast

The Young Vic theatre's podcast series, Off Book, features interviews with many of the exciting artists we work with.

Our conversations bring to light people's first experiences with the arts and theatre, how their background has informed the work they produce today and how it has developed throughout their career.  

Off Book is also available on iTunes: https://itun.es/gb/YGTscb.c

Off Book podcast by the Young Vic

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 piece: “The Man and his Soul” by Nana-Kofi Kufuor

Hamlet: Imagining Elsinore, the Man and his Soul

Neighbourhood Theatre Company presents Journeys: the Podcast, celebrating Taking Part’s 25th anniversary. 
Episode 1, New Horizons, includes a discussion with members of the creative team for Of The Cut, an upcoming multi-disciplinary show from Taking Part and TEA Films.
A line-up including Adam and Dan Hipkin, Nicola T. Chang, Philip J Morris and Alisha Arty discuss what theatre should look like in a post-pandemic world, what Of The Cut is about and why it’s so special.
Edited by Mengfei Liu, Co-Produced by Alisha Artry and Vicky Olusanya.

New Horizons (hosted by Nana Oforiwaa & Gabriella Andronico)

We are here now. 
Neighbourhood Theatre Company presents Journeys: the Podcast, celebrating Taking Part’s 25th anniversary.  
Episode 2, We All Came From Somewhere Else, is a conversation between four members of Neighbourhood Theatre (Anne Jean-Baptiste, Beatrice Colbrant, Nancy Silverstein, Marilyn Rogers) and Neighbourhood Theatre Producer, Alisha Artry. They discuss their international journeys that brought them together, now, in Young Vic’s Neighbourhood Theatre. Is this community, this theatre or this city - home? 
This episode contains poetry extracts written by Marilyn Rogers. 
Co-Produced by: Alisha Arty and Vicky Olusanya  
Edited by: Vicky Olusanya  
Music: Louis James Pearson  
Lo-Fi Hip-Hop - Artist: Mit-Rich

We All Came From Somewhere Else

Episode three is a reflective on the past work of Taking Part. We hear from five participants (John Watts, Pixie Maddison, Thelma Purcell, Alissa Christie) and previous Taking Part Assistant, Dan de la Motte, as they look back at the variety of productions and creative projects they have been part of over the years and what the legacy of that work is for them now.
Co-Produced by: Alisha Arty and Vicky Olusanya  
Edited by: Mengfei Liu
Lo-Fi Hip-Hop - Artist: Mit-Rich

We Took Part

This episode looks at the history, present and future of Southwark’s East Street Market, one of the community hubs of the Walworth area. Members of Neighbourhood Theatre Company have curated this audio exploration of the market interviewing locals over the course of a weekend.
Created by: Simon Bracken, Naomi Hopkins, Chloe Delanney, Monique Odoom, Chantel Faudone, Lorna Miri
Co-Produced by: Alisha Arty and Vicky Olusanya 
Edited by: Nicola T. Chang 
Music: Lo-Fi Hip-Hop - Artist: Mit-Rich

Stories From The Stalls

We want everyone - from our audiences to our ushers and school groups – to feel welcome and comfortable at the Young Vic. That means there are things you can expect from your visit to the Young Vic and things we ask of you too.

Young Vic Audience Values in Practice

A new song written, composed and performed by Paula Wichall, inspired by the themes of Journeys: the podcast.

‘Southside’ gives tribute to the artists and entertainers who were born or lived in the boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark (the Young Vic part of London), from Charlie Chaplin to the much-loved 80’s rapper Smiley Culture.

Paula will perform ‘Southside’ live at the Young Vic Neighbourhood Theatre’s end of year celebration.

Southside - a song by Paula Wichall

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 life at the Young Vic shortly after one another, before transferring to the West End and to Broadway respectively.  
 
In part 1, we talk to playwright James Graham about Best of Enemies, and Tyler Woodhouse, one of the participants in the Young Leaders programme from the Young Vic’s creative engagement department Taking Part interviews Artistic Director and director of The Collaboration Kwame Kwei-Armah.

Best of Enemies and The Collaboration: authors, authorship, leaderships and collaboration (part 1)

YOUNG VIC

Nachtland - Audio Introduction

The Little Foxes - Audio Introduction

Introduction to Punch at the Young Vic

Punch - Post-Show Talk, 19 March 2025

Punch - Post-Show Talk, 11 March 2025

The Museum of Austerity meditation

MoA Complete Text Guide

Ohio Audio Introduction

ENTERTAINING MR SLOANE (YoungVic) - Introduction

Museum of Austerity Audio Introduction

MoA YV Complete Text Guide London

We sat down with Peter Brook at the Young Vic whilst he was in London for his production of Battlefield to talk about his life,  his introduction to the arts and his career in theatre which spans over 70 years.

Recorded in Feb 2016.
(Warning: PB drops an F-bomb around 22:30)

Peter Brook - Off Book by the Young Vic

Isango Ensemble's Musical Directors, Pauline Malefane and Mandisi Dyantyis joined us in the studio to talk about A Man of Good Hope and how the 'extraordinary magic piece of theatre' came to be. Pauline and Mandisi also discuss how they first became interested in music, when they joined Isango and how Asad's story is not unique to Asad, but is every refugee's story.

Isango Ensemble's Pauline Malefane & Mandisi Dyantyis - Off Book

Director of the upcoming A Midsummer Night's Dream and 2015's Measure for Measure at the Young Vic, Joe Hill-Gibbins came in for a chat at the YV about his career to date. From interviewing Rufus Norris for his dissertation, to running shows on day 3 of rehearsals and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith apparently roaming the streets with a broad sword as part of an improvisation gone awry. We also discuss Measure for Measure's design, iconography and those inflatable sex-dolls.

Joe Hill-Gibbins - Off Book

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 productions at the YV with Joe Hill-Gibbins; Measure for Measure and A Midsummer Night's Dream. We also hear about the development of Shakespearonomics with journalist an economist Paul Mason.

Let us know what you think of Off Book by sending us a tweet (twitter.com/youngvictheatre) and leave a review on iTunes or some love on Soundcloud.

Zoë Svendsen & the role of dramaturgy - Off Book

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 her activism and response to the refugee crisis.

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

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 Pan on broadway to his aunt's Tony award and writing about a  community and safe spaces in The Whipping Man. We also deep dive into the issues from The Inheritance, writing from personal experience and casting straight men as gay characters.

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

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 making "theatre that's necessary" and getting his work "off the arts pages...and finding yourself part of the national conversation".

An Australian native, Justin talks through his first experiences with theatre between his early musicals and trying to break down his family's comic timing.

Justin also discusses taking Billy Elliot to the US, developing The Jungle with Stephen Daldry and Joe Robinson and Joe Murphy and the differences between directing for theatre and his work as associate director on Netflix's The Crown and The Inheritance at the Young Vic.

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

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 plays and how he came to write these incredibly powerful shows after originally starting out as an actor and later collaborating with Peter Brook and David Lan and working at the RSC. 
He also explores what it meant to train as an 'artist' and how you learn to express yourself and find your voice. And of course we also discuss Moonlight and *that* suit at the Oscars and if fame has changed who he works with or how he works.
Tarell also discusses why teaching has always been an important part of what he does, starting aged 12 supporting his peers at school to his classes and programs of high school and college students.

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

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 age and coming out story that delves into her childhood memories and her relationship with her father. 

They also talk about the musical's role for queer audiences to be seen and represented on stage as well as why Alison chose drawing cartoons as a means of artistic expression as well as storing and processing memories.

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

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 about her successes later in life in productions such as Grey Gardens, Into The Woods and of course, Sam Gold's production of Fun Home at the Young Vic.

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

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 we shine a light on the creatives that are inspiring us and a candid discussion about their career so far.

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

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 steps into Theatre, navigating through the industry and how political activism is a part of his identity as an artist.

Off Book is a podcast from Young Vic where we shine a light on the creatives that are inspiring us and a candid discussion about their career so far.

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

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 rehearsing Blues In the Night and performing Death of a Salesman and the importance of having a family of good people around you. 

Off Book is a podcast from Young Vic where we shine a light on the creatives that are inspiring us and a candid discussion about their career so far.

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

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 he's faced along the way to get to this point and why his ambition is to inspire people with the same background as him.

Off Book is a podcast from Young Vic where we shine a light on the creatives that are inspiring us and a candid discussion about their career so far.

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

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 criminal justice system (The Jumper Factory), asylum seekers (Fable), and NHS service users (Men in Blue), and how tackling politics, society and stories that make an impact are the responsibilities of the writers of today.

The Young Vic presents Off Book, a podcast where we shine a light on the creatives who inspire us, offering a candid insight into their life and careers.

Please note: this podcast episode contains swearing and the political views held are of the guest.

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

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 chose direct as part of the Genesis Future Directors Award, a Directors Program and Genesis Foundation initiative which offers emerging directors the opportunity to stage a production fully supported by our creative, administrative and production teams. 

The Young Vic presents Off Book, a podcast where we shine a light on the creatives who inspire us, offering a candid insight into their life and careers.

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

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 discusses working with Jackie Sibblies Drury and her experiences of directing the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Fairview at the Young Vic.

Nadia Latif was the 2018-2020 Young Vic Genesis Fellow and Associate Director, a position which supports someone to develop their craft as a theatre director whilst working closely with the Young Vic’s Artistic Director. Opportunities whilst in post include supporting the theatre’s programming and artistic planning, contributing to the work of the Young Vic’s Directors Program and mentoring Genesis Future Directors Award recipients.

The Young Vic presents Off Book, a podcast where we shine a light on the creatives who inspire us, offering a candid insight into their life and careers.

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

The Young Vic theatre's podcast series, Off Book, features interviews with many of the exciting artists who have visited us recently.

Our conversations bring to light people's first experiences with the arts and theatre, how their background has informed the work they produce today and how they have developed throughout their career.

At the Young Vic we tell stories that change the way people look at the world.

Our shows are created by some of the world's great artists - of this generation and the next. With roots deep in our neighbourhoods, we reach out to theatre makers across the globe.

We have the most diverse and engaged audience in London, enjoying work of the highest quality at low prices. In our award-winning super-flexible theatre, you'll never feel you're in the same place twice.

YoungVicTheatre

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks