Greg Doran

Greg Doran is one of those lucky people who seem to have found his perfect place in life. From the age of 13, when his mother first took him to the theatre in Stratford, Shakespeare's been his passion; as a boy he dedicated himself to seeing every single Shakespeare play - sometimes managing to watch three Macbeths in a day.

So - what better job than Artistic Director of our great national Shakespeare company, a role he took on 18 months ago. His production of Richard II with David Tennant in the lead opens on 10 October, and he's directing Henry IV next year with his partner Anthony Sher playing Falstaff.

Doran doesn't come from a theatrical background - his father ran a nuclear power station. But his passion for music began early, thanks to a concert in the local village hall in Lancashire. A friend of his mother's, Mrs Sidebottom, got up on stage and sang 'Blow the Wind Southerly'. And young Greg was hooked. That haunting folk song begins his choice of music - sung in this case by Kathleen Ferrier. Other choices include Duke Ellington, a song by Cervantes, and a Vivaldi Concerto which changed Doran's life when he heard it in Paris. It was a low point - a love affair had ended, his ambition to be an actor was foundering. And the music spoke to him, and gave him a new direction.

In Private Passions, he talks to Michael Berkeley about his passion for Shakespeare, and about his relationship with Antony Sher. Its foundations are a shared life in theatre, but also a love of food: when Anthony's depressed, Greg cooks for him the comfort food he ate as a child in South Africa. He's even learned how to make a special lamb stew - and he gives us the recipe: "I believe there is a Jewish saying that food is love. For me, tomato bredie is an expression of love."

First broadcast in October 2013.