1. A Typical Day

Nicholas Hytner tells the inside story of 12 years at the helm of Britain's greatest theatre.

It’s a tale of lunatic failures and spectacular successes like The History Boys, War Horse and One Man, Two Guvnors. Plus it's about opening the National Theatre's doors in London to a broader audience than ever before - and changing the public's perception of what theatre is for.

It’s also about probing Shakespeare from every angle and reinventing the classics, plus fostering new talent and directing some of the most celebrated actors of our times - from Alan Bennett and Maggie Smith to Michael Gambon and Helen Mirren.

Intimate, candid and insightful, Balancing Acts is a passionate exploration of the art and alchemy of making theatre.

In this opening episode, Nicholas describes his typical day as the theatre's director.

Producer: Simon Richardson.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2017.