With theatres, cinemas and stages on the verge of permanent closure, What I Love highlights the value of arts and culture to all our lives.
In this eight-part interview series, some of the UK’s most celebrated artists, performers and creatives reveal how this period of isolation has impacted their artistic lives, and what has mattered most to them during this time. In each interview, celebrated arts figures share their three cultural highlights – a cherished piece of writing, a memorable song and a favourite film – exploring what we are in danger of losing.
Ian Rickson, former artistic director of the Royal Court Theatre and one of British theatre’s most acclaimed directors conducts the interviews on stage of the empty auditoriums of some of Britain’s most iconic venues. The theatres have been left in the dark for months due to the imposed shutdown but are opening their doors for this special series.
Featuring original theme music from PJ Harvey, the series is Executive Produced by Robert Delamere, a critically acclaimed theatre, television director and writer (Force of Change, Hang Ups, Bleak House Guest) and founder of Digital Theatre and Digital Theatre Plus – the world’s leading digital platforms for the arts and for arts education. The series is produced by Sarah Murray and Ben Walker for Storyglass.
Interviewed for the series are:
Kae Tempest
Spoken word performer, poet, recording artist, novelist and playwright – recorded at the Harold Pinter Theatre.
Cush Jumbo OBE
Actress and writer – recorded at the Young Vic.
Ben Whishaw
BAFTA-winning stage and screen actor – recorded at the Harold Pinter Theatre.
Sonia Friedman
OBE International theatre producer – recorded at the Palace Theatre.
Chiwetel Ejiofor
CBE Oscar and Golden Globe-nominated actor and filmmaker – recorded at the Young Vic.
Russell Brand
Comedian and author – recorded at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in Maidenhead.
Johnny Flynn
Musician, singer, songwriter and actor – recorded at the Hackney Empire.
Ian Rickson, Creator and Host says: “To step inside our empty theatres is a powerful experience. Sitting on stage with performers, writers and producers gives What I Love a poignant sense of what has been lost. I wanted to do the interviews face to face, in these spaces, to create an ambience that would liberate candour and intimacy. Why am I doing this? Well, firstly to remind ourselves about the vital importance of culture in all our lives, but more importantly when we talk about the things we especially love, perhaps we reveal something deep about ourselves.”
The series launched on Thursday 29 October.
A trailer is available here: https://podfollow.com/what-i-love