The actor and director fears we will soon be gibbering morons

Steven Berkoff on...

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The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky I spent hours in record shops as a teenager listening to the most off-the-wall music. I liked anything experimental and absurd. I would listen to this over and over again. La cration du monde by Darius Milhaud The Creation of the World: what a title! I can almost see the roots bursting through the Earth when I hear this. Its the most beautiful music with this jazz theme running through it. Wilhelm by Richard Wagner For the tempestuousness of his work. What a pity about his anti-Semitism.

What to say about...

Steven Berkoff would like you to know that he hasnt played that many villains. So please forget his parts in Octopussy (pictured below), Rambo and Beverly Hills Cop and think of The Tourist. Or not. Maybe what the 73-year-old means is that people forget he is a playwright and theatre director, too. He adapted Kafkas The Metamorphosis in 1969 and in 1986 wrote Sink the Belgrano!, a diatribe against the Falklands conflict. For one of Hollywood/ the West Ends most outspoken figures, Berkoff comes across as considerate, articulate and always reasonable. Who wouldnt rail against Hitler? Or bemoan the loss of the BBC weekly and monthly plays? Its not as if he condemns the cast of EastEnders, the BBCs modern substitute, to a gory end. He wouldnt do that. Berkoff has a strong sense of morality and besides, he was brought up in East London, where he still lives. Im scared of Steven Berkoff, sang the Queen guitarist Brian May. Unless youre a fascist dictator, give the guy a break. Oedipus by Steven Berkoff is at Liverpool Playhouse from Friday until March 12 (everymanplayhouse.com), then Nottingham Playhouse from March 23 until April 9 (nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk)

phone, I can record videos, but technology is racing beyond our needs. Were heading towards an age of depravity. Ive eaten at restaurants where the mother, the father, the two children are each staring into their little screens at the same table. Its pathetic.

Sexual Nature at the Natural History Museum An exhibition about animals mating rituals aimed at adults and children over the age of 16? Given that 15-year-olds can legally watch Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis getting it on in Black Swan, the footage that the NHM has of butterflies going at it must be absolutely smoking hot. Nicole Kidman in Rabbit Hole File under vehicle for A-list actress to do the trusty grieving mother routine in Oscar nomination grab (see also: Halle Berry in Monsters Ball, Angelina Jolie in Changeling, Naomi Watts in 21 Grams, etc, etc, etc). The Grammys You probably think that winning a Grammy award is the prestigious apogee of anyones music career. I thought so, too. Then I discovered that there are 109 different categories you can enter, so thanks to awards such as Best Surround Sound Album, Best Regional Mexican Album and Best Album Liner Notes, Im backing myself to win something eventually. DIY SOS: The Big Build The presenter, Nick Knowles, is not only a legend, but may well end up being the first Wickes loyalty card holder to be granted beatification. James Camerons Sanctum 3D If you like watching people struggle for their lives while trapped in a cave filled with rising water, you want a word with yourself. Its for the same people whod always set their videos to catch every episode of 999. The much tweeted about childrens TV series Rastamouse Right-on middle-class parents are all over the reggae-playing rodent right now. Lets see how they react when he starts to lay down some violently homophobic dancehall riddims on CBeebies. Ben Machell
12-18 February, 2011 Playlist 5

...villains

Hitler Easily the most exciting villain Ive played. When I took him on in the 1988 TV series War and Remembrance, the late director Dan Curtis said to me, For Gods sake, dont make him human. I released all my loathing of Hitler into that part. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Not content with vilifying his enemies, the Mad Diner (my name for the Iranian

president) has to destroy the past. Anyone who denies the Holocaust is complicit in it and is sowing the seeds for the next massacre. The same goes for David Irving. Theyre unbelievable. Charles Taylor I saw a documentary about Liberia when Taylor was in power (1997-2003) that was so shocking that it was almost impossible to watch. Hosni Mubarak is not nearly so oppressive: hes just clinging desperately to the old world. Im not too concerned about Egypt.

Garbage TV When I was in my late teens, the BBC had the worlds best drama. On my little 12 inch, I saw all the Shakespeares; it was my sole education. I saw Hamlet starring Christopher Plummer (above); I havent seen it done better since. Today the BBC puts on EastEnders night after night. Its turning us into a bunch of gibbering morons.

...art

Hunters Hunting, shooting: its all to satisfy some perverted instinct. These people have no compassion for nature, theyre shrivelled in their souls. Were not the only ones on Earth. Humans have defences, animals havent. Technological decadence I can type, I can use a mobile

...pet hates

Piano I wanted to be a professional pianist. I played in my early teens and stopped out of frustration. Its an unfortunate weakness in my being that I will work hard at something, but if I dont make the progress I think I should, I give up. I could have been quite good.

...music

Hunters are satisfying a perverted instinct; theyre shrivelled in their souls

Hieronymus Bosch Art should be dramatic, inventive and illuminating. Bosch, a 15th-century Dutch oil painter, was all those. With his detailed religious imagery, he was the most phenomenal painter of all time. Pierre-Auguste Renoir I loved him when I was younger for the joyfulness of his pictures, the spirit of Paris, the loveliness of his colours, that wonderful painting of dancers (Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette) and of men and women enjoying life. Peter Howson Most artists (like Howson) are unsung because we live in an age of abject stupidity and cynicism where people who paint gloriously are considered old-fashioned. I collect Howsons paintings: my favourite is The Drummer. As for most celebrated artists, I wouldnt have their pictures in the smallest room of my house. Interview by Laura Silverman

TOM PILSTON, RONALD GRANT ARCHIVE, BBC