Tom Stoppard in Conversation with Hermione Lee

Join acclaimed playwright Tom Stoppard in conversation with his biographer, Hermione Lee.

For over five decades Stoppard has been a leading voice in British theatre. His plays are celebrated for their inventiveness and “intellectual exhilaration”, tackling an astonishing range of political and philosophical ideas and exploring the tension between intellect and emotion. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead puts two minor Shakespeare characters centre-stage to explore themes of mortality; his masterpiece Arcadia pits 19th century Romanticism against 20th century chaos theory; The Coast of Utopia trilogy tackles the politics of revolution through the lives of 19th century Russian emigres.

Born in former Czechoslovakia to non-observant Jewish parents, Stoppard was forced into refugee status when the Nazis invaded his hometown; with some members of his family he fled to Singapore, and there he remained until he was again forced out, this time by the Japanese occupation. He lost his father to the conflict, and after attending school in India, relocated to England at the age of nine. His early experiences gave him a lifelong commitment to human rights and free speech.

In Tom Stoppard: A Life, Hermione Lee draws on hundreds of interviews with family, friends, and long conversations with Stoppard himself. This is a rare opportunity to hear from one of the greatest playwrights of our time, as he talks to Lee, about his fascinating life and career in theatre.

Running time: 60 minutes

If you live in the UK, you can purchase a ticket with a copy of Tom Stoppard: A Life by Hermione Lee at checkout for the special combined price of £28 including postage and packing (RRP £30).*

This event will be hosted on a third-party live streaming platform BlueJeans, please refer to their privacy policy before purchasing a ticket to the event. After registering, you will receive a unique link in advance to access the event online.

If you require closed captions to be available on this event notify us on your booking form when making your purchase.

This event is being streamed globally. If you are joining us from outside the United Kingdom, please use this time zone converter to check your local live streaming time.

*Books will be dispatched on publication date, 1 October, 2020. However, please note that in the current circumstances, some books may be delayed. If we experience any delay in getting your copy to you, we will contact you by email to let you know.

£5 plus £0.83 booking fee











When: Wed., Sep. 30, 2020 at 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Join acclaimed playwright Tom Stoppard in conversation with his biographer, Hermione Lee.

For over five decades Stoppard has been a leading voice in British theatre. His plays are celebrated for their inventiveness and “intellectual exhilaration”, tackling an astonishing range of political and philosophical ideas and exploring the tension between intellect and emotion. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead puts two minor Shakespeare characters centre-stage to explore themes of mortality; his masterpiece Arcadia pits 19th century Romanticism against 20th century chaos theory; The Coast of Utopia trilogy tackles the politics of revolution through the lives of 19th century Russian emigres.

Born in former Czechoslovakia to non-observant Jewish parents, Stoppard was forced into refugee status when the Nazis invaded his hometown; with some members of his family he fled to Singapore, and there he remained until he was again forced out, this time by the Japanese occupation. He lost his father to the conflict, and after attending school in India, relocated to England at the age of nine. His early experiences gave him a lifelong commitment to human rights and free speech.

In Tom Stoppard: A Life, Hermione Lee draws on hundreds of interviews with family, friends, and long conversations with Stoppard himself. This is a rare opportunity to hear from one of the greatest playwrights of our time, as he talks to Lee, about his fascinating life and career in theatre.

Running time: 60 minutes

If you live in the UK, you can purchase a ticket with a copy of Tom Stoppard: A Life by Hermione Lee at checkout for the special combined price of £28 including postage and packing (RRP £30).*

This event will be hosted on a third-party live streaming platform BlueJeans, please refer to their privacy policy before purchasing a ticket to the event. After registering, you will receive a unique link in advance to access the event online.

If you require closed captions to be available on this event notify us on your booking form when making your purchase.

This event is being streamed globally. If you are joining us from outside the United Kingdom, please use this time zone converter to check your local live streaming time.

*Books will be dispatched on publication date, 1 October, 2020. However, please note that in the current circumstances, some books may be delayed. If we experience any delay in getting your copy to you, we will contact you by email to let you know.

£5 plus £0.83 booking fee

Buy tickets/get more info now