In the first part of this audio, Studs Terkel discusses French theater with critic Jean Vilar. In the second part, Studs and Eugène Ionesco discuss Ionesco’s work and the Theater of the Absurd.

Kenneth Allsop, literary critic for the Daily Mail, BBC host of Tonight and author of "The Bootleggers and Their Era" sits down with Studs Terkel to discuss everything from the Social Realism of Arnold Wesker, Allen Sillitoe, and Shelagh Delaney known as the Backstreet Kids to the class warfare of "The Fourth of July" author David Benedictus. The two key groups of theater, the Royal Court led by George Devine and the Theater Workshop led by Joan Littlewood is also discussed.

Claudia Cassidy discusses being a critic of theater and opera etc. Cassidy also discusses her writing and journalism aspirations.

Claudia Cassidy discusses being a critic of theater and opera etc. Includes about 1.5 minutes of another interview.

John Lahr discusses celebrities, the media, and his book "Autograph Hound". Includes Studs Terkel and John Lahr reading from Lahr's book "Autograph Hound".

Joachim Kaiser discusses critiquing German music and how the music scene in Germany has changed. Studs Terkel in Germany.

Discussing the collection of drama criticism "Astonish me" and interviewing the drama critic John Lahr.

Friedrich Luft, Chief Drama Critic for Die Welt discusses German theater and Bertolt Brecht as well as new playwrights such as Peter Weiss. Unlike American theaters, Germany has over 200 theaters that are subsidized and each town of 50,000 has a theater. Just like the days of The People's Stage (which still exists) the grocer and cobbler of Germany enjoy the theater. They are as devoted to the theater as going to a museum or church. They are treated to 12 to 16 new or old plays from Sophocles to Sartre or Pinter.

Terkel delves into the life of Frank Norman, a London ex-con who turned his life around and became a novelist and playwright by writing on his experiences. He wrote "Bang to Rights" shortly after his prison release which brought him great fame. He followed that with "The Monkey Pulled it's Hair" that had a U.S. release under the name "Don't Darling Me Darling". Norman opened up to Terkel discussing his illegitimacy, his illiteracy till age 14, his institutionalization in an orphanage which he turned into the novel "Banana Boy".

Interviewing with the very "u" girl at the establishment (Part 2) while Studs was in England.

Interviewing drama critic Robert Brustein.

Interviewing Harold Clurman.