An Evening With David Hare
I didn't want to make theatre. I wanted to overthrow capitalism.
Good theatre holds a mirror up to society, forcing audiences to shine a light on the darkest corners and recesses of society. In these tumultuous times, it’s easy to wonder where is our world headed, and how we might navigate the new obstacles that arise when we get there?
Fortunately, British playwright David Hare, is no stranger to pondering these mind bending questions. During his illustrious career he has written over 30 plays often examining the machinations of British politics and institutions, and its these plays that have seen him named, “the premier political dramatist writing in English” by The Washington Post.
So how has writing shaped David Hare’s vision for where society is headed? And how might creativity unlock a way to adapt to what the future holds? In discussion with theatre producer Jo Dyer, David Hare speaks about his remarkable career as a playwright, and his creative plans for the future.
To access a transcript of this podcast please head here.
This event is presented by the UNSW Centre for Ideas and supported by the Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture and Adelaide Writers’ Week.
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Jo Dyer
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David Hare
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An Evening with David Hare
David Hare
David Hare was described by The Washington Post as “the premiere political dramatist writing in English”. He has written over 30 stage plays and 30 screenplays for film and television. The plays include Plenty, Pravda (with Howard Brenton), The Secret Rapture, Racing Demon, Skylight, Amy’s View, The Blue Room, Via Dolorosa, Stuff Happens, The Absence of War, The Judas Kiss and Straight Line Crazy. For cinema, he has written The Hours, The Reader, Damage, Denial, Wetherby and The White Crow among others, while his television films include Licking Hitler, The Worricker Trilogy, Collateral and Roadkill. In a millennial poll of the greatest plays of the 20th century, five of the top 100 were his.
Jo Dyer
Jo Dyer is a writer and literary curator, and producer of film and theatre. Through her production company Soft Tread Enterprises, she has created and presented theatre projects across Australia, Europe, the US and India in venues including the Sydney Opera House, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the National Centre for Performing Arts in Mumbai and the legendary Tropicana in Las Vegas. She has held significant roles in the Australian cultural industry, including as Director of Adelaide Writers’ Week, CEO of Sydney Writers’ Festival, General Manager of Bangarra Dance Theatre and Executive Producer of Sydney Theatre Company. Jo is also a two-time AACTA nominee for Best Film for her debut film, Lucky Miles (Michael James Rowland) (2007) and Girl Asleep (Rosemary Myers) (2016). Her films have screened in cinemas and at Festivals and won awards worldwide, most notably at the Berlin International Film Festival. Jo is a regular contributor to the Chaser’s The Shot and her first book, Burning Down the House: Deconstructing Modern Politics, was published in February 2022 by Monash University Publishing.
