Listen to Howard Brenton on BBC's Front Row

Lawrence after Arabia writer Howard Brenton talks to BBC Radio Four's John Wilson for Front Row. 

If you missed the interview live, follow the link below to hear the interview on BBC iPlayer Radio, from 15 minutes. 

Howard discusses his latest play Lawrence after Arabia, running on the Main Stage until Saturday 4 June, with excerpts of the play performed by Jack Laskey, Geraldine James and Jeff Rawle.

August, 1922. The most famous man in England has vanished without a trace: T.E. Lawrence has completely disappeared. But in the idyllic calm of the village of Ayot St Lawrence, on the top floor of the home of Mr and Mrs Bernard Shaw, the ‘uncrowned King of Arabia’ is hiding – with slabs of homemade carrot cake for comfort.

Wearied by his romanticised persona and worldwide fame, disgusted with his country and himself, Lawrence is craving normality. But when you’re a brilliant archaeologist, scholar, linguist, writer and diplomat – as well as a legendary desert warrior – how can you ever be normal? And beyond the Shaws’ garden wall, nobody cares how he feels: England just wants its hero back. Can he ever return?

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