Sir Nicholas Hytner understands the power of the arts and music. One of the UK’s most respected theatre directors, he has a reputation for demanding brilliance in his work.
He has also dabbled in the film world, directing seven films across a 30-year period.
In 1994 he made his first film The Madness of King George, in 1996 The Crucible, in 1998 he directed The Object of My Affection, Centre Stage in 2000 and The History Boys in 2006.
He has worked with a raft of actors in theatre and film including Daniel Day Lewis, Ralph Fiennes, Nigel Hawthorne and Richard Griffiths.
In 2015 he produced and directed Dame Maggie Smith in Lady in the Van and this year he returns to the silver screen.
Have a Go News spoke with Sir Nicholas Hytner about his forays into filmmaking and his new film The Choral.
“I am a visitor to the film world, my primary world is theatre, I make a film with enormous relish and a little fear because it’s not my first or natural language.
“It’s been writers who have mainly brought me to into film; Alan Bennett primarily, this is the fourth film I’ve made with him,” he said.
Hytner says it’s the connection with the writer which draws him into a story. He has been working in the theatre with Bennett since 1990.
“I like his concerns, his sense of humour and the way he deals with human connection is something that I respond to very personally.
“We’re from, essentially, the same part of England and we share an ironic and unsentimental outlook on the world.”
“This is the first time we’ve made a film together that hasn’t been based on a play that we’ve already worked on together. This is an original screenplay, and I really share his sensibility,” he said.
Hytner says they have evolved together as a working team and that becomes obvious when you watch this beautifully scripted and directed movie.
The Choral promises to be another compelling addition to this team’s body of work.
Set in 1916 against the backdrop of World War I, the film focuses on a small town in England and its prestigious choral institution, exploring themes of ambition, rivalry, and the transformative power of music.
Young men are being sacrificed at a terrifying rate in the fields of France, families are torn apart and there is little hope.
“This is a community which is being completely devastated by a war that it’s not responsible for or has had any influence in its progress,” said Hytner.
“About 400 miles away in Northern France, young men are simply being picked up, thrown into the war machine and slaughtered.”
The Choral shows the audience that time and technological advances may change society, but the essence of humanity remain the same.
Music and the arts provide solace, particularly in times of upheaval and of course war.
“The one thing that brings them together is music and it helps them: it’s more than solace. It helps them explain to themselves what’s happening. It channels their anger, it channels their grief,” said Hytner.
It’s quite an unusual character for leading actor Ralph Fiennes who plays a man who loves all things German, particularly its composers and has lived and worked in Germany. During WWI this certainly ruffles a few feathers among small town England.
Hytner says that it wasn’t hard to convince Fiennes to take on the lead role because he knows him well and they have worked together over the years in theatre.
“I think the first time was in 1991, when we did Shakespeare together.
“Ralph is not hard to convince, because if he’s not interested, he just says so.
“But this material, this part, what this film was saying, this writer, he immediately responded to, so it was only a matter of making sure that we could find a time when he was free to do it,” he said.
“Ralph is extremely straightforward, although I can see, from the outside, he’s a huge movie star, but to me, he’s one of the community of London actors, who I know very well, who don’t mess around.
“They just tell you what they like and tell you what they don’t,” said Hytner
Fiennes character comes to this town to lead the choral society and throughout the film portrays a character who understands the power of music.
“I was drawn to the story because of its emotional depth and the opportunity to explore the human condition through the lens of music,” Hytner reveals.
“The choral setting provides a rich and complex environment for the characters to interact and evolve.”
He emphasises the importance of capturing the authenticity of the choral experience, working closely with musicians and singers to ensure a believable and engaging portrayal.
“I think this film will, in the first instance, particularly resonate with anybody who’s ever been involved in the performance of music.
“I haven’t, myself, sung in choirs since I was a student when I used to sing in them all the time.
“Directing this partly brought me back to those days, to that experience, but also reminded me how privileged I had been in that I’ve spent my whole life in the performing arts,” he said.
Sir Nicholas Hytner’s contribution to both theatre and film is undeniable. His ability to bring stories to life with depth, nuance, and emotional resonance has earned him critical acclaim and a dedicated audience.
The Choral is poised to be another milestone in his illustrious career, further solidifying his place as one of the most influential directors of our time.
In cinemas from January 1, 2026.
