Conference Programme

Saturday

11.00-13.00 Intro keynote and panel: A national narrative?

Michael Boyd on Shakespeare’s Different Histories; Playwright Howard Brenton, director and actor Barrie Rutter.

13.00-14.15: Lunch

14.15-15.45: Access schmaccess?

Barbara Matthews (Arts Council of England), commentator Mark Lawson and Ed Vaizey MP (Conservative Arts spokesman)

15.45-16.15: Tea

16.15-17.45: Mistaken identity?

Playwrights Alia Bano, Kwame Kwei-Armah and Ashmeed Sohoye, director Natalie Wilson and academic and writer Lynette Goddard.

18.30-19.30: Reception and book launch (hosted by Nick Hern Books)

19.30: Conference dinner.

10.00-11.30: Are we being served?

Jonathan Church of Chichester Festival Theatre, Lisa O’Neill-Rogan of the Bolton Octagon, Stuart Rogers of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and director Simon Reade.

11.30-11.45: Coffee

11.45-13.15: Offending the audience?

Writer and comedian Stewart Lee, playwright Richard Bean, director Janet Steel, commentator David Aaronovitch and writer Kenan Malik.

13.15-14.15: Lunch

14.15-15.45: A National theatre? Theatre and film director Richard Eyre, National Theatre of Scotland Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone, and Jude Kelly, chair of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

15.45-16.00: Closing session.