Break Out Culture With Ed Vaizey by Country and Town House

129. THE HYPOCHONDRIAC and THE INTERVIEW - Roger McGough and Jonathan Maitland tell us about their new plays

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Episode notes

We talk with two renowned playwrights about their new plays – both on for a short run and neither of them to be missed.   

Roger McGough, the much-loved author, Mersey poet and presenter of BBC Radio Four’s ‘Poetry Please’, has adapted Molière’s ‘The Hypochondriac’ for The Crucible in Sheffield. It’s already opened to rave reviews, with Edward Hogg starring as Argan. Jonathan Maitland, journalist and broadcaster turned playwright, has written ‘The Interview’, a play about Princess Diana’s interview with Martin Bashir, which opens on 27th October at The Park in London for a short run.

Roger McGough tells us how he came to adapt Molière’s 17th century classic and transform it into a comic delight for contemporary audiences. He also looks back at his time with The Scaffold, his fellow Mersey Poets, Brian Patten and the late Adrian Henri (‘The Mersey Sound’ has sold over a million copies) and regales us with tales of working on the script of ‘Yellow Submarine’.  

Jonathan Maitland, who shared an office with Martin Bashir at ITV for six years, tells us why now why is such a good time to examine Princess Diana’s legacy afresh and look again at our very polarised, if not frenzied, reactions to Martin Bashir and the way the now notorious interview, watched by over 23 million in the UK alone, came about. 

‘The Hypochondriac’ at The Crucible, Sheffield:  until 21st October

‘The Interview’ at The Park: 27th October till 5th November

With thanks to Lomi for supporting us over the last six episodes.  You can advantage of their  offer to get £50 off a Lomi by going to uk.lomi.com and using promo code breakout at the checkout.