The Musical Stephen Sondheim Wished He Never Wrote – Extended Interview (2009)

On 13 October 2010, Stephen Sondheim sat down with Channel 4's Matthew Cain for an in-depth interview looking back on his life's work. The composer and lyricist, considered to be one of the most significant figures in 20th Century musical theatre, was in London to attend a retrospective of 50 years of his work. Having just turned 80, Sondheim had also released a book to coincide with the anniversary, 'Finishing the Hat: The Collected Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim'.

Reflecting on his long and celebrated career, Sondheim discussed his beginnings under the mentorship of Oscar Hammerstein, his work with Leonard Bernstein on West Side Story, and the play he wished he'd never written. he reflected on how the musical theatre industry in America compared with Britain, and how the industry had changed since he was starting out. He gave advice to young writers on the best and worst reasons to write. And he pondered the state of the world – particularly the influence of modern technology on people's sense of identity and community.

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