What does it mean to pursue the self, and what does it cost? In this episode, playwright Will Eno and director Tim Carroll talk about Gnit, Eno’s wild and thoughtful reimagining of Ibsen’s Peer Gynt, now on stage at the Shaw Festival.

From existential longing to awkward small talk, they explore what makes this modern fable so strangely human, and why Gnit’s detours and dead ends speak to something universal. They also reflect on their creative collaboration, the role of failure in art, and the serious joy of making theatre without preciousness.

We’re also joined by executive director Tim Jennings, who shares how the Shaw’s All Together Now campaign aims to foster real human connection through live performance, both now and for generations to come.

Will Eno is a playwright and Residency Five Fellow at the Signature Theatre in New York. His work includes The Realistic Joneses (Broadway), Middletown, The Open House, and Thom Pain (based on nothing), a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His plays have been produced across the U.S. and internationally.

Tim Carroll is in his ninth season as artistic director of the Shaw Festival. His directing work includes My Fair Lady, Saint Joan, The Magician’s Nephew, and Victory, as well as acclaimed productions for Shakespeare’s Globe, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Broadway.

Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.

Hosted by Alexis Milligan
Produced by Kelly Wong
Original Music by Travis Seetoo

We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at podcast@shawfest.com