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AUDIO: National Theatre Director Rufus Norris Calls Brexit 'A Huge Wake-Up Call'

By: Jul. 28, 2016
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The recent Brexit vote, where the people of Great Britain opted to have their nation leave the European Union, has raised a multitude of questions from people of all walks of live who now wonder what comes next.

The members of Britain's artistic communities are certainly included, and a special BBC Radio 4 program hosted by John Wilson had a panel of arts professionals discussing what the vote means to them and their colleagues.

Rufus Norris, director of the National Theatre says, "Art always responds to the time and this has been a huge wake-up call," realizing that half the country feels that "they have no voice."

An immediate National Theatre response has been to create a listening project, where staff members travel the country meeting with people of diverse backgrounds to get a better sense of the "British values" that should be represented on stage.

"There is no question that we as an arts community have been surprised by this. We have to reflect we are slightly out of touch with the way most of the country is feeling," says Norris.

Click the photo below for the full discussion.







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