James Graham
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hello and welcome to Table Manners. I'm Jessie Ware. It's a beautiful day in South London. You look fabulous. I like the red. Do you match my lips? Or my lips match the jumper? It's good. It's working, honey.
It's good. We are so excited about the guest today. I can't wait. I think I've seen probably at least more than half of his plays that he's written or been involved with.
So we have the phenomenal James Graham, who is a playwright, a screenwriter. He's the national treasure. He's got an OBE for his services to drama. He is one of our most cherished and celebrated playwrights in Britain and just kind of around the world too. He's incredible.
He addresses current issues, that's what I love about him, and old institutions.
If you don't know who James Graham is, you may have heard of the hugely successful play that was at the National and then transferred to the West End called Dear England, which was all about Gareth Southgate's kind of brain and vision with the England squad and how he really turned things around for us. He's also made musicals, Tammy Faye, which was hugely popular at the Almeida. House.
I didn't see House. I did. He tackled Parliament and people voting, voting in the House. Sherwood. Sherwood, the Nottingham drama, which is so good. Punch, which I think won Best... Punch won Best New Play, I think, and has transferred from Young Vic to the West End. And then it went to Broadway, Mum. It's gone to Broadway.
He's just incredible. I think he's absolutely amazing. And he's coming over now. I am on food duty. I know. So I've made, because it's really nice weather, I've made two salads. One is from the brilliant book Jerusalem by Yotam Otolenghi and Sami Tamimi. And I've made this. I've never made it before, but it was quite straightforward. It's fennel salad. and chicken and chilies and basil and mint and all these beautiful herbs. And then you make this cooked orange saffron honey sauce, which kind of almost tastes like marmalade. So you griddle the chicken and it's got this kind of sweet orange dressing But I think it will cut through with all the herbs and the chilli. So I've done that. And then I've done this roasted cauliflower, pistachio and pomegranate salad, which is from Otolenghi Simple.
What's it simple? I mean, for Otolenghi, it was quite simple. And then I've got a bit of a sad loaf.
What happened, Jess?
How did James Graham's upbringing influence his work?
I think I over-proofed it yesterday.
It's not the proofing, it's the cooking.
No, no, no, it's not that. No, the dark is fine, I don't mind that. Oh. But I don't think I left my starter to rise for long enough. I think I was too keen to use it yesterday. You actually know that, do you? I'm starting to understand Helen the starter. Okay.
And you've made two puddings. Well, I made a cardamom and pistachio cake yesterday. And it does have a kind of caramelised almond and sugar topping with butter on the top. But I wondered if it felt a bit hard and felt like a giant biscuit. And I thought, I'm not going to let myself down. So I got up this morning and I've made a Lisbon chocolate cake from the New York Times. What makes it Lisbon? I have no idea. Someone tasted it in Lisbon. Oh, OK. And so it's basically a chocolate cake, but kind of very limited. It's like butter, cocoa, chocolate and corn flour, but no flour and eggs. That's the cake. And then it's got a chocolate mousse on the top. So making the ganache was a trial, I can tell you. Oh, really?
Anyway, it looks all right and let's hope it works. James Graham coming up on Table Manners.
James Graham.
Hello.
We're so excited to have you. Why are you being like, no, you're a big deal.
I love you guys. No one will know who I am. Playwrights are so anonymous and rightly so.
Tony nominee, Olivier Ward winning, makes the best dramas on television, writes a play every other day. Congratulations on Punch.
Thank you.
I went to see it.
I know you did, I remember.
I think I went just after the press night or just at the end of previews.
At the Young Vic? Yeah. Yeah, thank you for coming.
And that was one of the most arresting first halves I've ever seen of any play.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–2:41
2
How did James Graham's upbringing influence his work?
2:41–17:06
3
What is the significance of Gareth Southgate in 'Dear England'?
17:06–19:19
4
How does James Graham describe his writing process?
19:19–57:34
5
What role does food play in James Graham's life and creativity?
57:34–1:04:43