Nick Hytner: interview

Multi-tasking director of the National Theatre who brought 'The History Boys' to the big screen, Nick Hytner is on of our 40th birthday heroes

See all Time Out's 40th birthday London heroes

Who are your London heroes?
‘Lilian Baylis: Without whom there would be no National Theatre, no Royal Ballet and no English National Opera. And she did it to keep the working man from getting drunk – that’s why she did it. Peter Tatchell: Because there’s no compromise and nothing calculated, it’s completely uncompromising about fighting for what he believes to be right. Handel: It’s because I love his music and have worked with it for a very long time. But it’s because he gave to the city far more than the city ever gave to him. And I’m choosing him not because he’s necessarily the greatest musician of his generation but he’s central to the life of this city, and he was the dominant force in London musical life for about 30 years at the beginning of the eighteenth century.’

What’s the future of your field?
‘Everyone always says theatre’s dying. It’s been said that theatre’s been dying for the last 200 years. It will continue to die gloriously for the next 2,000. I personally would like a constant reintegration and reinvention of the great tradition. And I would like to see the great tradition challenged at every point by people with talent and imagination.’

And your favourite London moment?
‘There are lots of moments when you think: Oh God, I’m glad I live in this city. I was in Camberwell on Saturday night thinking: This is the most fantastic place to live.’

Complete the sentence: London is…
‘What am I going to do? Write a Noël Coward song?’

See all Time Out's 40th birthday London heroes

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