The theatre impresario's recent co-productions include the award-winning "Oedipus" and "The Years". His book, "Amorous or Loving: The Highly Peculiar Tale of English and the English" is out on 7 May.
The Years
As co-producer of "The Years" in the West End, I've spent a lot of time re-reading Ernaux's work. This beautiful piece of autobiographical writing gives such an insight into female psychology and the development of women's roles over the past 80 years.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Henry V
Dan Jones, 2024
I think Jones has really broken ground in understanding Henry V, opening up his formative years and scotching the myths of the Shakespeare plays. What is particularly important to me is that Henry V was the first king to officially adopt English as his language of record, which he did in 1417. And from that point we've never looked back.
Letter from a Lost Generation
Vera Brittain, 2008
I was chairman of Historic Royal Palaces for the Poppies Commemorations at the Tower of London, and this book was a touchstone in being a way to see WWI as not just a historic event, but a personal, emotional story of immense relevance. I think it's one of the most moving books ever written.
Coming to England
Floella Benjamin, 1997
A terribly important book about how someone of the Windrush generation came to this country and tackled the welcome, or lack of it, on arriving here. It's a story of real hope and positivity – a bit like Floella herself, who has embraced, engaged and championed her background, and shown what can be achieved in a sophisticated, multicultural country like England.
La langue anglaise n'existe pas
Bernard Cerquiglini, 2024
My final, tongue-in-cheek choice is this wonderful book by a French professor who has worked out that there are some 70,000 words in the English language derived from French, and concluded that English is therefore a mangled version of French and doesn't really exist.
-
Political cartoons for February 21Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include consequences, secrets, and more
-
Crisis in Cuba: a ‘golden opportunity’ for Washington?Talking Point The Trump administration is applying the pressure, and with Latin America swinging to the right, Havana is becoming more ‘politically isolated’
-
5 thoroughly redacted cartoons about Pam Bondi protecting predatorsCartoons Artists take on the real victim, types of protection, and more
-
James Van Der Beek obituary: fresh-faced Dawson’s Creek starIn The Spotlight Van Der Beek fronted one of the most successful teen dramas of the 90s – but his Dawson fame proved a double-edged sword
-
Properties of the week: pretty thatched cottagesThe Week Recommends Featuring homes in West Sussex, Dorset and Suffolk
-
Kia EV4: a ‘terrifically comfy’ electric carThe Week Recommends The family-friendly vehicle has ‘plush seats’ and generous space
-
Bonfire of the Murdochs: an ‘utterly gripping’ bookThe Week Recommends Gabriel Sherman examines Rupert Murdoch’s ‘war of succession’ over his media empire
-
Gwen John: Strange Beauties – a ‘superb’ retrospectiveThe Week Recommends ‘Daunting’ show at the National Museum Cardiff plunges viewers into the Welsh artist’s ‘spiritual, austere existence’
-
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl: A win for unityFeature The global superstar's halftime show was a celebration for everyone to enjoy
-
Book reviews: ‘Bonfire of the Murdochs’ and ‘The Typewriter and the Guillotine’Feature New insights into the Murdoch family’s turmoil and a renowned journalist’s time in pre-World War II Paris
-
6 exquisite homes with vast acreageFeature Featuring an off-the-grid contemporary home in New Mexico and lakefront farmhouse in Massachusetts
