Tom Stoppard - A Life By Hermione Lee

Episodes

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01Childhood20201005

Sir Tom Stoppard is among British theatre's giants. Hermione Lee's evocative and immersive biography tells the story of the man and his work. Since 1964 Stoppard has been writing for the theatre, big screen, television, and radio. His plays are among the most studied of the last century.

Hermione Lee is one of our leading literary biographers, and with access to private papers, diaries and letters, interviews with the playwright's friends, and Stoppard himself, she has created an intimate portrait of the writer. We learn of his formative years as a young child forced to flee Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia; growing up in India and then England; his activism and campaigning on behalf of Eastern European and Soviet prisoners of conscience; the influence of, and his friendship with Vaclav Havel, and always his work, the writing, rehearsing, casting and his ever present humour.

Tom remains at the forefront of British theatrical life, even in a moment of crisis. His most recent, personal and highly acclaimed play, Leopoldstadt, fell victim to Covid-19, when its run in the West End was suspended in March, 2020, before resuming in August, 2021.

Abridged in five parts by Katrin Williams

Producer: Elizabeth Allard.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2020.

Hermione Lee's vivid biography of one of theatre's leading playwrights.

Alex Jennings reads this vivid new biography of one of theatre's leading playwrights.

02Overnight Success20201006

Hermione Lee's illuminating biography of one of our greatest playwrights, Tom Stoppard. Today, the writing and production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and its astonishing reception.

Tom Stoppard is among British theatre's giants and in Hermione Lee's evocative and immersive biography we come to know the man and his work. Since 1964 Stoppard has been writing for the theatre, big screen, television, and radio,. His plays are among the most studied of the last century.

Hermione Lee is one of our leading literary biographers, and with access to private papers, diaries and letters, interviews with the playwright's friends, and Stoppard himself she has created an intimate portrait of the writer. Here we learn of his formative years as a young child forced to flee Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia; growing up in India and then England; his activism and campaigning on behalf of Eastern European and Soviet prisoners of conscience; the influence of, and his friendship with Vaclav Havel., and always his work, the writing, rehearsing, casting and his ever present humour.

In his eighties Tom Stoppard remains at the forefront of British theatrical life. His most recent, personal and highly acclaimed play, Leopoldstadt, fell victim to Covid-19, when its run in the West End was suspended in March, 2020.

Reader Alex Jennings

Abridged in five parts by Katrin Williams

Produced by Elizabeth Allard

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2020.

Hermione Lee's illuminating biography of the great playwright explores his early success.

Alex Jennings reads this vivid new biography of one of theatre's leading playwrights.

03Activism20201007

Hermione Lee's illuminating biography of the playwright, Tom Stoppard, who turns to his activism and friendship with Vaclav Havel.

Tom Stoppard is among British theatre's giants and in Hermione Lee's evocative and immersive biography we come to know the man and his work. Since 1964 Stoppard has been writing for the theatre, big screen, television, and radio,. His plays are among the most studied of the last century.

Hermione Lee is one of our leading literary biographers, and with access to private papers, diaries and letters, interviews with the playwright's friends, and Stoppard himself she has created an intimate portrait of the writer. Here we learn of his formative years as a young child forced to flee Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia; growing up in India and then England; his activism and campaigning on behalf of Eastern European and Soviet prisoners of conscience; the influence of, and his friendship with Vaclav Havel., and always his work, the writing, rehearsing, casting and his ever present humour.

With a sixty year career, Tom Stoppard remains at the forefront of British theatrical life. His most recent, personal and highly acclaimed play, Leopoldstadt, fell victim to Covid-19, when its run in the West End was suspended in March, 2020.

Reader Alex Jennings

Abridged in five parts by Katrin Williams

Produced by Elizabeth Allard

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2020.

Hermione Lee's biography of one of theatre's giants. Tom Stoppard meets V\u00e1clav Havel.

Alex Jennings reads this vivid new biography of one of theatre's leading playwrights.

04Arcadia20201008

Hermione Lee's illuminating portrait of one of our finest playwrights, Tom Stoppard. Today's episode looks at his moving mid-life play, Arcadia, premiered at the National Theatre in 1993.

Tom Stoppard is among British theatre's giants and in Hermione Lee's evocative and immersive biography we come to know the man and his work. Since 1964 Stoppard has been writing for the theatre, big screen, television, and radio,. His plays are among the most studied of the last century.

Hermione Lee is one of our leading literary biographers, and with access to private papers, diaries and letters, interviews with the playwright's friends, and Stoppard himself she has created an intimate portrait of the writer. Here we learn of his formative years as a young child forced to flee Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia; growing up in India and then England; his activism and campaigning on behalf of Eastern European and Soviet prisoners of conscience; the influence of, and his friendship with Vaclav Havel., and always his work, the writing, rehearsing, casting and his ever present humour.

Tom Stoppard remains at the forefront of British theatrical life. His most recent, personal and highly acclaimed play, Leopoldstadt, fell victim to Covid-19, when its run in the West End was suspended in March, 2020.

Reader Alex Jennings

Abridged by Katrin Williams

Produced by Elizabeth Allard

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2020.

Hermione Lee's biography of playwright Sir Tom Stoppard, who explores his play, Arcadia.

Alex Jennings reads this vivid new biography of one of theatre's leading playwrights.

05On Leopoldstadt20201009

Hermione Lee's vivid biography of one of our finest playwrights Tom Stoppard concludes. Today, attention turns movingly to Leopoldstadt, his most recent play, where he reflects on his family and the Holocaust.

Tom Stoppard is among British theatre's giants and in Hermione Lee's evocative and immersive biography we come to know the man and his work. Since 1964 Stoppard has been writing for the theatre, big screen, television, and radio,. His plays are among the most studied of the last century.

Hermione Lee is one of our leading literary biographers, and with access to private papers, diaries and letters, interviews with the playwright's friends, and Stoppard himself she has created an intimate portrait of the writer. Here we learn of his formative years as a young child forced to flee Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia; growing up in India and then England; his activism and campaigning on behalf of Eastern European and Soviet prisoners of conscience; the influence of, and his friendship with Vaclav Havel., and always his work, the writing, rehearsing, casting and his ever present humour.

Sir Tom Stoppard remains at the forefront of British theatrical life. His most recent, personal and highly acclaimed play, Leopoldstadt, fell victim to Covid-19, when its run in the West End was suspended in March, 2020.

Reader Alex Jennings

Abridged in five parts by Katrin Williams

Produced by Elizabeth Allard

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2020.

Hermione Lee's portrait of the playwright, Tom Stoppard, who turns to Leopoldstadt.

Alex Jennings reads this vivid new biography of one of theatre's leading playwrights.