Sir Peter Hall

In a HARDtalk interview broadcast on 13 July 2009, Stephen Sackur talks to one of the best known figures in British theatre, the director Sir Peter Hall.

Sir Peter Hall has been a hugely influential figure in the performing arts for more than fifty years.

He has directed stage greats from Olivier to Gielgud.

As artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company and then of the National Theatre, he has always championed state funding for the arts.

But with economic hard times come tough questions: are taxpayer subsidies really necessary to foster creative excellence?

Stephen Sackur talks to Sir Peter Hall.

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