The Remains of the Day - Tour 2019

There is nothing about the novel that makes me think "This has to be adapted for the theatre". That said, it was done as a musical a few years ago, which surprised me.

Yes, appeasement is in the background, but also (as I read it) as a parallel to the doomed love story between the head butler and housekeeper - in both cases, English reserve and hesitancy proving disastrous. The film was one of Merchant Ivory's two or three crowning achievements - and for me, Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson have never been better - so it's a brave decision to adapt it, and it will be a challenge to cast. But it's eminently suitable for the stage, being largely confined to one country house, so I applaud the ambition and hope it fulfils the potential.

I look forward to reading Barney's social media rants about his problems with people on this

He is a very lucky young man to be given such a wonderful project. I hope he appreciates that.

Theatre is not like other professions in that - relatively speaking - there are very few opprtunities even for highly talented and experienced writers. It’s a bit of a myth that there is a meritocracy in the arts... actually, I will correct myself: there is a meritocracy but only a very small pool of people benefit from it. It’s a bit like playing the lottery. I was speaking more in a kind of philosophical sense than as a reprimand or suggesting he should approach his work cap in hand. Although, people like Norris should realise that they could lose their privilege in a heartbeat and that there are any number of gifted writers willing to take his place. It’s a tough business, Cardinal.

How should they feel then ? Entitled ?

Barney Norris has been working hard at his craft of being a writer for as long as I have known him. He has a long-standing relationship with Out of Joint and a number of successes under his belt both on stage and as a novelist.

He may have had a recent relative failure but that does not stop him from being an up and coming talent.

He has earned the right to be considered for significant projects.

Given how well regarded both the original book and film are, I suspect that in many ways the pressures are even higher adapting something like this compared with writing something from scratch.

No one said anything about the young man having to be grateful. However, while we are on the subject, I am very grateful to have the work I do, especially given the number of people I know who have been made redundant. I am also grateful to be alive.

But the dictionary definition says nothing about grovelling submission... I honestly don't see that we disagree. Isn't this just splitting hairs? One can feel grateful and still be angry on behalf of others, can't one? I don't like the implication that my gratitude that I have a job means that I don't feel angry/upset about those who lost theirs. I am not embarrassed to admit that my initial comment says more about me than the young man in question: I do feel that people with artistic talent are lucky. While I understand that they have to work hard to develop those talents, I would love to have a job that was my passion and not just a means to an end. I would feel really grateful if I was a talented singer or dancer, especially one who was given opportunities to express and develop that talent - it isn't a given for everyone no matter how good they are at what they do. And appreciating what you do doesn't preclude standing up for your rights or speaking out if you feel hard done by, although I would encourage young people to do that through the proper channels. While people going off on a public rant is interesting for nosy rubbernecks like me, calling someone out on social media has got many people into hot water and it's a habit I would caution against. I would be extremely grateful if we could stop this now, Cardinal.  Please?

I read that Barney Norris's first play was rejected by 16 theatres. So eventually he formed a company and put it on himself - and it went on to win awards etc.

I think that he is an example of talent, hard work, ambition, confidence and, he says this himself in the blog below, luck.

www.theguardian.com/stage/theatreblog/2014/may/27/dont-look-back-in-anger-theatre-new-writing

I'm massively massively put off by Niamh Cusack. I thought she was dreadful in Macbeth. I was really keen to see this, because I love the film, but feeling sympathy for Miss Kenton is essential I think. I'm in two minds now whether to book.