What Tom Stoppard Says About Consciousness in His New Play

This interview with Tom Stoppard took place in the coffee lounge of the National Theatre London in a break in rehearsal of his new play "The Hard Problem." Your new play "The Hard Problem" opens at the National Theatre on Jan. 31, 2015. The director is Nicholas Hytner, and this is your first play since "Rock 'N' Roll" in 2006. Why is "The Hard Problem" your first play for the National Theatre since "The Coast of Utopia" in 2002? I am surprised that it's that long, it doesn't feel like so many years to me. When I wrote "Rock 'N' Roll" I said to Nick Hytner that I would send "Rock 'N' Roll" to the Royal Court Theatre because I have never been performed at the Royal Court Theatre, and I really wanted to be there with something before I am dead. I said I will come back to the National Theatre with the next play, but I didn't think it would take so long. How do you feel? I love being in rehearsal, and I like being in rehearsal with a new play, so generally speaking I feel very good. I feel this is the main part of my writing life and other things are interruptions. Being in rehearsal with a new play at the National Theatre is where I touch base with my life as a writer. Are you worried about it? No, I am too old to worry about these things. The play will be OK or it won't be entirely OK, until there's an audience you don't really know what you've got. It doesn't keep me awake. I hope the play works pretty well, but we'll just have to see. I don't worry nowadays; I used to wo...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news