'Wrong Norma': Anne Carson, Simon McBurney, Ben Whishaw and Robert Currie

'Wrong Norma' is Anne Carson’s first book of original material in eight years, a collection of writings, as she puts it, ‘about different things, like Joseph Conrad, Guantanamo, Flaubert, snow, poverty, Roget’s Thesaurus, my Dad, Saturday night, Sokrates, writing sonnets, forensics, encounters with lovers, the word “idea”, the feet of Jesus, and Russian thugs.’

Fragments of several of the above appeared first in the pages of the LRB, as Anne’s work has for many years. What a fine thing, to celebrate this treasured association with a celebration of Wrong Norma that may prove as uncategorisable as the book. A lecture, a reading, a conversation, a performance: joining Anne is her ‘Randomizer’ Robert Currie, the actor Ben Whishaw and, chairing proceedings, the actor, playwright and artistic director of Complicité, Simon McBurney.

About Complicité

Complicité is an international touring theatre company led by Artistic Director and co-founder, Simon McBurney. Founded in 1983, the company creates work that strengthens human interconnection, using the complicity between performer and audience that is at the heart of the theatrical experience. Recent work includes: the reimagined Mnemonic now playing at the National Theatre until 10 August, Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, Figures in Extinction [1.0], Figures in Extinction [2.0] But then you come to the humans, Can I Live? and The Dark is Rising. They have won over 50 major theatre awards worldwide, and played in more than 40 countries.

Film by Camilla Adams

Recorded at Conway Hall, 25 March 2024.

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