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David Hare: 'Subsidised theatre is simply a breeding ground for commercial theatre'

The playwright spoke to Theatr Clwyd artistic director Tamara Harvey about the upcoming production of ”Skylight”

Will Longman

Playwright David Hare has said that subsidised theatres are now "simply a breeding ground for commercial theatres".

He was speaking to artistic director of Theatr Clwyd Tamara Harvey ahead of her production of his play Skylight. Hare's play is about what happens when a lover returns to visit east London school teacher Kyra and turns her life upside down. The piece will run in the Anthony Hopkins Theatre at Theatr Clwyd.

Skylight was famously revived in the West End in 2014 and starred Bill Nighy and Carey Mulligan. The production was directed by Stephen Daldry. It originally premiered at the National Theatre in 1995. It won an Olivier Award for Play of the Year and a Tony Award for Best Play.

Last month, Hare said classic British drama was "being infected" by radical European staging.

Writing for WhatsOnStage, Matt Trueman said that the National Theatre's future "has to be in the here and now".

Skylight runs at Theatr Clwyd from 14 February to 4 March with previews from 9 February.