Sky Arts at the National Theatre

Sky Arts sponsors this year's Travelex season at the National Theatre. As part of the sponsorship, we are going behind the scenes at the theatre to talk to actors, directors and staff to find out what it takes to bring these fantastic plays to the stage.

England People Very Nice
Sky Arts spent the week meeting the cast and crew involved in Richard Bean’s England People Very Nice. It’s the first of this year’s National Theatre Travelex £10 plays. Nicholas Hytner directs this work set through four periods of immigration from the 17th century to today. An ensemble group of 22 actors all play the four separate cultures as they enter the chaotic world of Bethnal Green, each new influx provokes a surge of violent protest over housing, jobs, religion and culture. And the emerging pattern shows that white flight and anxiety over integration is anything but new.

We talk to Nicholas Hytner, Richard Bean and actors Sacha Dhawan, Michelle Terry and Olivia Coleman. We also catch a glimpse of rehearsals on the Olivier stage.  

VIDEO: ENGLAND PEOPLE VERY NICE  >>

Death and The King's Horseman
National Theatre's second play in the Sky Arts sponsored Travelex season is Death and The King's Horseman, and we are giving you a behind the scenes documentary on Wole Soyinka’s acclaimed play.

The play is based on a real incident that took place in Nigeria during British colonial rule when the ritual suicide of the Horseman of an important chief was prevented by the intervention of the British colonial authorities.

The story focuses on the character of Elesin played by Nonso Anozie, the King's Horseman of the title. According to a Yoruba tradition, the death of the Chief must be followed by the ritual suicide of the Chief's Horseman, failure to do so will result in the Chief's spirit being left to wander the earth bringing harm to the Yoruba people.

Our film features interviews with director Rufus Norris, choreographer Javier de Frutos, Associate Director Peter Badejo and lead actor Nonso Anozie. It also features footage of the production team’s visit to Nigeria to research the local customs and meet with the play’s author Wole Soyinka. 

VIDEO: DEATH AND THE KING'S HORSEMAN >>

Sky Arts at the National Theatre’s All’s Well that Ends Well
The third play in the National Theatre’s Travelex season is Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well. Sky Arts spent time with Director Marianne Elliott as she ran through early rehearsals with her cast. We also caught up with designer Rae Smith and actors Michelle Terry and Oliver Ford Davies to discuss some of the finer points of the play

Elliott, who triumphed at the National with her work on War Horse and St Joan, is bringing a heavy gothic fairytale interpretation to this production and we get to see some of the design work that she and designer Rae Smith have been working on.

The story centers around a young woman Helena played by Michelle Terry who falls in love with Bertram, a young rather irresponsible count. To gain his hand in marriage she is set an unlikely task. Even if accomplished, it can hardly guarantee his love. He refuses to bed her and yet says he’ll only be hers if she bears his child. So begins a twisted fairytale with a heroine refusing to give him up.

Oliver Ford Davies, a hugely experienced Shakespearian actor and scholar gives us a fascinating interview about the times in which the play was written, explaining why it is considered a problem play as well as giving us details about the character of the King of France whose part he interprets.

VIDEO: ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL >>

To find out more about the productions, visit The National Theatre

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