Had the sheer good fortune, a couple of days back, to come across a most illuminating talk from 2016 featuring playwright Alan Bennett and director Nicholas Hytner, largely focused on Bennett's brilliant The Madness of King George III. So much of what they say captures the peculiarly collaborative nature of writing for the stage - and for the movies. I know a tiny amount about the first from direct experience of trying to write stuff for the tiniest of stages, but have, of course, zero direct experience of the latter. The little I know distinctly chimed with the observations of both playwright and director.
Aside from being gripped by the insights of those involved in the talk - even the moderator had some astute comments to make - it was riveting, in a slightly sad way, to see the elderly Bennett in action. He seems a bit deaf these days, and somewhat slower than of old in framing his thoughts, but still the clarity and wit of old were there, and it was good to see everyone involved giving him the space he needed to display those qualities.
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