Kiln Theatre

Why does James Baldwin's writing continue to resonate with readers seventy years after the publication of Giovanni's Room? Today's episode is from our recent live event with Booker Prize-winning author Ben Okri and Jason Akundaye exploring the life, the work, and the enduring legacy of James Baldwin.

They joined us at Kiln Theatre to reflect on Baldwin's extraordinary contribution to literature and his exploration of race, sexuality, love, and belonging.

Marking the seventieth anniversary of Giovanni's Room, Okri examined how Baldwin challenged the conventions of his time, the influence of his writing on generations of authors, and why his ideas continue to speak to the world today.

Let's join the discussion now live at Kiln Theatre.

Hello, and welcome to this Intelligence Squared event.

I'm Jason Akundaye, and I'm delighted to introduce our esteemed guest this evening.

For our interview this week, Nick Curtis spoke to Stranger Things star Linnea Berthelsen, who is currently on stage at the Bush Theatre in Darkling.

And Jamel Westman, the star of Table 17 at the Kiln, answers our five questions.

Now, this week we've had our first ever watch party with Marquee TV, the expert curated streaming platform for arts and culture of Macbeth, recorded at the Donmar Warehouse.

Now, look out on your podcast feed this coming Wednesday for our first special review episode, and it features your thoughts on the show.

So, yep, it's booking at the Tom Stoppard Theatre until May 29th.

Now,

if you listened last week, you'll know that Nick and I had a great night out at Table 17 at the Kiln, and one of its three stars, Jamel Westman, has answered our five questions.

Hi, my name's Jamel Westman, and you are listening to the London Theatre Review.

Why does James Baldwin's writing continue to resonate with readers 70 years after the publication of Giovanni's Room? Today's episode is from our recent live event with Booker Prize-winning author Ben Okri and Jason Akundaye exploring the life, the work, and the enduring legacy of James Baldwin.

They joined us at Kiln Theatre to reflect on Baldwin's extraordinary contribution to literature and his exploration of race, sexuality, love, and belonging.

Marking the 70th anniversary of Giovanni's Room, Okri examined how Baldwin challenged the conventions of his time, the influence of his writing on generations of authors, and why his ideas continue to speak to the world today.

Let's join the discussion now, live at Kiln Theatre.

Hello and welcome to this Intelligence Squared event.

I'm Jason Ogundaya and I'm delighted to introduce our esteemed guest this evening.

Um, and I think it also ran in Ipswich too.

But I saw the show for the first time when it, you know, re-premiered, I guess, as Two Strangers at the Kiln Theatre in 2023, where it sold out.

It was a big hit, and then it transferred to the West End for a run at the Criterion Theatre.

I saw it there again, um, and it ran for a good few months there, about four months or something.

Well, [sighs] I was mesmerized by seeing it, the, on stage, and I, I think I saw it in London.

I, it might've been the Tricycle Theatre, a very kind of intimate.

And as somebody who was reared in a bar, I could identify with the characters because they were always a third party once removed.

There was always a disconnect with the individuals and, and obviously, [laughs] without the obvious connotation of referring to The Brother all the time, I felt my life was always a, was a parallel automatically.

Bring it back, Indu, bring it back.

She has left a huge mark at the Kiln Theatre in Kilburn, which she's absolutely transformed and nurtured the careers of some of the best and brightest of British theatre.

We couldn't think of anyone better to be running the National Theatre itself, so please welcome Indu Rubasingham.

Indu, welcome.