A02. HRN-721
In: 10.41.38 Out: 10.42.32
Sound bite: Richard Griffiths
Yes, it was open out some more and Allen introduced some new characters, quite minor characters but played by terrific actors from the national theatre company who would normally front their own shows. They were just keen to be in an Allen Bennett thing you know because Allen Bennett is this strange…I think if we were in Japan he would be regarded as a national treasure. He certainly is in Britain. When we first start, I remember Nick Hytner’s idea was that really whatever we did was irrelevant because the star of the show was the author because that is for sure what the audience would come to see, or hear one of his plays. And whoever did it, that was incidental.

A04. HRN-721
In: 10.44.22 Out: 10.47.05
Sound bite: Richard Griffiths
It’s a very good way of describing it. A critical thinking course. That is a new phrase for me. But it does talk to it cause it is about who’s system or who’s approach is the one that is best. And you get the story shows you three approaches, there is Mrs. Lintott, which is ABC, down the line, fact fact fact fact fact. Which is quite a dull way of doing stuff. Learning by rote almost. 2 and 2 is 4 and all that stuff. Then there is Irwin who is flashy and intellectual bluffer who shows you the quick way to get through the cocktail ? and know what Julius Ceasar say…and you know three facts about him and spin them around and stand them on their heads and come up with something quite shocking and you’ll have an audience. There is that way which is regarding education as a ticket to be punched. You need these ticks here, tick tick tick tick tick tick, pass, bingo you get your degree. There is that way of looking at it which is a very appealing seductive way. And third way, Mr. Hector, which is the hardest way of them all. Which is the charismatic guy who has so much knowledge and passion and tries to talk about it that his audience picks up on it and gets excited. But I think, see in England there was a lot of talk about education systems and this is about education and history and I think no, no, to me the word I hear in the play, I mean I did it all for two years now and every night the words that hit you on stage, hit me, were heart and love. And it is about heart and love and Hector’s main idea is when you are in love, I mean really in love and completely vulnerable, especially when you are young, and maybe especially the first time around, you get so beaten up by the process that that is the true learning in your life. You learn loyalty, affection, kindness, cruelty, treachery, faithlessness, generosity, forgiveness. All of those biblically important things, they are all taught to you by the experience of being in love.