Trevor Nunn: 'I never miss Match of the Day' The Times Trevor Nunn MY CULTURE FIX Trevor Nunn: 'I never miss Match of the Day' new The theatre director on his favourite Shakespeare play, the Dickens book he is yet to read and the Les Mis song he helped to write Judi Dench; Trevor Nunn; Jaden Philogene-Bidace who plays for Ipswich Town STEFANIE KEENAN, DAVE BENETT, JUSTIN SETTERFIELD/GETTY IMAGES Trevor Nunn Monday October 19 2026, 10.30pm BST , The Times Listen 0:00 / · 7:31 min Share Share this article Email Twitter Facebook Link Save Today's Quizle Q: Test your knowledge T revor Nunn, 86, was born in Ipswich and studied English at the University of Cambridge, where Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi were among his contemporaries. There he started directing for the Marlowe Society and Footlights. In 1964 he joined the RSC and was artistic director between 1968 and 1986. He then became artistic director of the National Theatre from 1997 to 2003. He directed the first English production of Les Misérables with John Caird in 1985, for which he won the Tony award for best director. He has won two other Tonys — for Cats and The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby — and four Oliviers. Theatre newsletter Our chief theatre critic on what to see (and what to miss) in the West End and beyond. Sign up with one click You've successfully signed up to the Theatre newsletter Explore our newsletters An error occurred. Please use the link below. Theatre newsletter Explore our newsletters My favourite author or book The First Folio . The Complete Works of William Shakespeare is my bible since Shakespeare is my religion. I have now directed all 37 of his plays, several of them twice, and King Lear three times. As for novels, the top of the list would be Middlemarch by George Eliot, but I am deeply connected to Charles Dickens, Victor Hugo and TS Eliot, and I have a real affection for JM Barrie. Nunn has directed 37 of Shakespeare's plays Prisma/UIG/Getty Images The book I'm reading I am gripped by Never Flinch by the prolific Stephen King. The book I wish I had written From a host of contenders, I would have to choose Nicholas Nickleby . The book I couldn't finish A book of stories — not all of them pleasant — about the career of Pablo Picasso called Sunshine at Midnight. Advertisement Inside Picasso's studios: the secrets of the places where he lived and loved The book I'm ashamed I haven't read Martin Chuzzlewit . I should complete the set. My favourite film The film I first saw at university, directed by Ingmar Bergman, called The Seventh Seal , would win the serious film award and the incomparable Some Like It Hot would top the comedy list. In addition to genius performances by Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, Marilyn Monroe shows herself to be a brilliant comedian. Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe star in Some Like It Hot Archives/Getty Images My favourite play My favourite is, of course, going to be by Shakespeare, but my choice is influenced by my experience in the rehearsal room. I love The Winter's Tale . I'm transfixed by King Lear . But at the top of the list is the play we theatre folk are not allowed to name for superstitious reasons . . . The Scottish Play. When you have Ian McKellen and Judi Dench playing him and her, all other candidates for favourite play fade away. My favourite TV series The programme I cannot allow myself to miss is a series, but not a drama — particularly now that my home team, Ipswich Town, are in the Premier League. It's called Match of the Day . Advertisement My favourite piece of music I'm tempted to name several Beatles songs and I have just directed a play about JS Bach, but my favourite is the score for Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin. The last music that made me cry I am frequently in tears at the Royal Albert Hall during the Proms , most recently when the programme was mainly the music of Benjamin Britten, whom I met once when, at the age of 17, I was working in a hotel bar in Suffolk, not far from Aldeburgh. But also, my talented daughter frequently sings Sondheim tunes at a London cabaret venue, which elicit floods of tears from me. The lyric I wish I'd written That's easy. Yesterday and Eleanor Rigby — the Beatles songs that totally redefined popular music. The song that saved me During rehearsals for Les Misérables , our English lyricist said that one of the melodies would not work in English — too many “shadow syllables”. The composer understandably refused to change his tune. Since it was to be the main expression of the character Eponine, we had a crisis. So I wrote a lyric myself and came up with a song called On My Own . It duly went into the show, I agreed that I should not be credited, and the problem was solved. Nunn is frequently in tears at the Royal Albert Hall during the Proms Chris Christodoulou/BBC/PA Read theatre reviews, guides and interviews Advertisement The instrument I play At school, I was in a band called the Trackers, for which I played guitar and sang lead vocals. We were huge, every Saturday night, at the local Labour club. My son gave me a guitar a few Christmases ago, and I strum away occasionally when no one is around to hear me. My Culture Fix Slow Horses star Christopher Chung Rivals star Annabel Scholey The broadcaster James Naughtie The instrument I wish I'd learnt I have directed the original productions of many musicals, but I can't read music. I give notes to composers, but I can't point to the place in the sheet music where I sense that change is necessary. I so envy my friends and colleagues who are excellent pianists. The music that cheers me up I am a huge fan and close friend of the Irish composer Shaun Davey, whom I first met when he wrote songs and underscoring for a play I directed for the RSC called The Fair Maid of the West . Be it his Béal Tuinne music or something from the album May We Never Have To Say Goodbye . . . played at full volume, it never fails to lift the soul. If I could own one painting it would be Flatford Mill by John Constable, for sentimental reasons. As teenagers, my sister and I would cycle to Flatford, only a few miles from our home in Ipswich. It's a magical view that I am deeply familiar with. Flatford Mill by John Constable, 1871 Getty IMAGES I'm having a fantasy dinner party. I'll invite these artists and authors Shakespeare, Chekhov, Dickens, Ibsen, Sondheim, Tom Stoppard, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Schwartz . . . and Judi Dench, who would entrance them all. Advertisement And I'll put on this music Playing faintly but divinely in the background, a Mozart symphony. Versailles brings Mozart's 'poisoner' in from the cold The book and film that I'm looking forward to My friend Sebastian Faulks has just released a new book, Farewell to Eden — I devour his novels. Plus, I hear that Andrew Scott is terrific playing the role of a fellow genius actor, Ian Charleson, in the film Elsinore . Ian was a key member of the RSC early in his career and he and I had wonderful times working together. I simply adored being in the room with him. His loss remains heartbreaking. Andrew Scott and Olivia Colman in Elsinore Alamy I wasted an evening watching Alas, I find contemporary opera does not lend itself to happy viewing, and even less to happy listening. Twelve-tone music and the compulsory absence of anything resembling a melody are, sadly, not for me. The place I feel happiest Around a dinner table with my five children. If this happens to be on a family holiday in the middle of the Tuscan countryside while watching the sunset, so much the better. Advertisement Speculations is on at the Marylebone Theatre, London, Oct 30 to Jan 3, marylebonetheatre.com Culture Theatre & Dance Share Share this article Email Twitter Facebook Link Save