Sir Peter Hall is one of the best known theatre and opera directors in the world today.
He founded The Royal Shakespear Company in 1960 where he served as Artistic Director until 1968. He was appointed Artistic Director of The National Theatre, London in 1973 taking over form founding director Laurence Olivier. His work has been presented on many of the world's great stages from Convent Garden Opera House to the Metropolitan Opera, New York and from the West End to Broadway. In August 1955, he directed the English-language premiere of Waiting for Godot by Samual Beckett at the Arts Theatre London.
The recipient of numerous awards he has been nominated for a TONY Award on 10 occasions and twice won as Best Director, in 1967 for Harold Pinter's The Homecoming, and in 1981 for Peter Shaffer's Amadeus. He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Arts in 1999.
His latest project is as Director Emeritus of the Rose Theatre, London where he recently directed Dame Judi Dench in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Later this year he directs his daughter Rebecca Hall in Twelfth Night at the National Theatre, London.
Michael Billington is Theatre Critic of The Guardian and author of State of the Nation - British Theatre Since 1945 and biographies of Harold Pinter and Peggy Ashcroft, and of critical studies of Tom Stoppard and Alan Ayckbourn.
Sir Peter Hall joins Michael Billington in conversation to discuss his life and work.