Katie Mitchell

Katie Mitchell

From This Cultural Life by BBC Radio 4

January 29, 2026 · 43 min

About this episode

Theatre and opera director Katie Mitchell discusses her career and influences with John Wilson.

Theatre and opera director Katie Mitchell talks to John Wilson about her career and formative influences. She is renowned for her experimental storytelling on stage, her feminist perspective, and for contemporary reframing of classic plays, she has directed more than 100 productions over more than 30 years. She has worked at the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Opera House and the National Theatre, where - as associate director - she staged bold new versions of work by a wide range of writers including Aeschylus, Virginia Woolf, Chekhov and Sarah Kane. For many theatre goers, she is one of Britain’s most important and innovative living directors. Producer: Edwina Pitman

People in this episode

Host: John Wilson

Guest: Katie Mitchell

Topics covered

  • theatre
  • opera
  • experimental storytelling
  • feminism
  • classic plays
  • directing

Keywords

  • Katie Mitchell
  • theatre director
  • opera director
  • experimental storytelling
  • feminist perspective
  • classic plays
  • Royal Shakespeare Company
  • National Theatre

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Opera House, National Theatre

Books & works: Aeschylus, Virginia Woolf, Chekhov, Sarah Kane

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