Michael Billington reflects on almost 50 years and some 10,000 reviews as he steps down as the Guardian's chief theatre critic. Michael is introduced by Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre. A number of guests including actors Penelope Wilton, Simon Russell Beale, Aisling Loftus and Oliver Ford Davies read from some of Michael's favourite plays.

Katy Rudd (The Almighty, Royal Exchange; Associate Artist, Elliott & Harper Productions) and Joel Horwood (I Want My Hat Back, National Theatre; The Little Mermaid, Bristol Old Vic) discuss their new production of Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Chaired by playwright and academic, Dan Rebellato.

Writer Inua Ellams and Director Nadia Fall discuss their new production of Three Sisters. Chaired by Louisa Uchum Egbunike, Lecturer in English at City, University of London, Curator of the Legacies of Biafra touring exhibition and Co-Convenor of the Annual Igbo Conference.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is the bestselling magical novel from the brilliant imagination of Neil Gaiman. Join Gaiman as he chats to Lenny Henry about writing this modern myth, where his inspiration came from, and what it's like to have his novel adapted for the stage.

Lindsay Duncan and Alex Jennings reflect on the challenges and rewards of performing in Hansard. Chaired by David Benedict.

Director Rufus Norris and Adapter Helen Edmundson reflect on their production of Small Island. Chaired by Brenda Emmanus.

Join legendary theatre-maker Peter Brook (‘our greatest living director’, Independent) as he speaks to Mark Lawson to discuss his new book Playing by Ear: Reflections on Music and Sound, which explores the role of music in the theatre and revisits some of the best-known productions from his long and distinguished career.

Director Simon Godwin (Antony & Cleopatra, Man + Superman) and writer Simon Woods reflect on their new production of Hansard

David Hare and Jonathan Kent (the partnership behind Young Chekhov) speak about the processes of making their new production. Hosted by Georgina Godwin

James McArdle (Platonov, Angels in America) reflects on the challenges and rewards of creating and playing Peter Gynt. Hosted by Georgina Godwin.

Director Polly Findlay (Beginning, As You Like It, Treasure Island) discusses her new production of Rutherford and Son with Fiona Mountford.

Director Polly Findlay (Beginning, As You Like It, Treasure Island) discusses her new production of Rutherford and Son with Fiona Mountford.

Actor Roger Allam (Les Miserables, The Thick of It) reflects on the challenges and rewards of playing John Rutherford in the new production of Rutherford and Son.

Join the director and writer as they reflect on their production of Downstate, with Rana Mitter.

Writer David Hare reflects on his new play I’m Not Running, chaired by Helen Lewis. David Hare is a playwright and film-maker. Hare first worked at the National Theatre in 1971. Seventeen of his plays have since been presented there including Plenty, Pravda (with Howard Brenton), The Secret Rapture, Racing Demon, Murmuring Judges, Skylight, Amy’s View, Stuff Happens, The Absence of War, Behind the Beautiful Forevers and The Red Barn. Film and TV includes Collateral, Licking Hitler, Dreams of Leaving, Saigon: Year of the Cat, Wetherby, Damage, The Hours, The Reader, and the Worricker Trilogy: Page Eight, Turks & Caicos and Salting the Battlefield.

Join the director and writer as they reflect on their production of Hadestown. Rachel Chavkin is a director, dramaturg and sometime writer, and the founding Artistic Director of the TEAM (teamplays.org). Anaïs Mitchell is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Mitchell has released six albums including Hadestown (2010), Young Man in America (2012) and Child Ballads (2013).

Join renowned playwrights Alecky Blythe (London Road, Little Revolution), Howard Brenton (Pravda, Never So Good), Natasha Gordon (Nine Night), and Conor McPherson (The Weir, Girl from the North Country) and publisher Nick Hern, to explore how playwriting has – and hasn’t – changed over the past 30 years. Chaired by Emily McLaughlin (Head of New Work, National Theatre). What new trends and themes have emerged in the last three decades? What changes have occurred in the way plays reach the stage? And where might playwriting, and theatre, go in the future?

Jacques Lecoq was one of the major figures of Western theatre in the second half of the 20th century, known especially for his teaching of movement, play, improvisation, masks, language, comedy, and tragedy. This event explores this legacy with an overview and analysis of Lecoq's life, work and philosophy of theatre, and looks at Lecoq’s influence on prominent performers and directors currently working in contemporary theatre in the UK. With contributions from Mark Evans, author and co-editor of The Routledge Companion to Jacques Lecoq; Leah Hausman, choreographer and movement director; actor Toby Jones; and Simon Murray, author and academic, Jacques Lecoq (Routledge Practitioners). Chaired by Clare Brennan, theatre critic for The Observer.

An event to celebrate the publication of Dramatic Exchanges: The Lives and Letters of the National Theatre selected and edited by Daniel Rosenthal. With contributions from the author and readings from actors with the NT company including Tim McMullan, Gloria Obianyo, Nadia Williams and Owen Findlay.

Dying and death is something we will all experience in our lifetime: the loss of a loved one, fear of dying or perhaps trying to extend our lives. Malika Booker, Rachel Clarke and Tony Walter explore different perspectives on dying. Malika Booker is a British Caribbean writer, Her collection Pepper Seed was published by Peepal Tree Press in 2013 and The Penguin Modern Poets Series 3 in 2017. She is currently a LHRI Fellow at Leeds University where she is conducting a creative research project gathering memories and anecdotes about Caribbean funerals, wakes and nine nights. Rachel Clarke is a current NHS doctor, former television journalist and author of Your Life in My Hands. She works in palliative medicine, believing that helping patients at the end of life experience the best quality life possible, is priceless. Professor Tony Walter is a sociologist who works with the University of Bath's Centre for Death & Society. He has written and lectured on diverse aspects of death in the modern world. His latest book is What Death Means Now (Policy Press).