Podcasts about kirsty mcquire

In 1993, the Czech player Jana Novotna threw away a huge lead in the ladies' final at Wimbledon but captured the hearts of tennis fans by breaking down in tears on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent, the tournament's patron. Five years later, Novotna was back on Centre Court and this time she won. She tells her story to Kirsty McQuire. Jana Novotna died of ovarian cancer in 2017. The programme is a Sparklab Production for the BBC World Service and was first broadcast in 2015. (Photo: Czech tennis player Jana Novotna is consoled by the Duchess of Kent after losing the women's singles final at the 1993 Wimbledon Championships, held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, 3 July 1993. Credit: Getty Images)

As the Paralympic Games take off in Tokyo, presenter and former Team GB sitting volleyball player Kat Hawkins, hears from some of the most exciting artists with disabilities globally. Madison Ferris, star of New York's Broadway, made headlines when she became the first leading actor to take the stage in her wheelchair. She talks about the extent to which theatre is evolving to become more diverse. American author and teacher Rebekah Taussig discusses writing characters with visible disabilities into stories on the page and screen, and her own book Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body. British dance group Atypical with Attitude, whose members are neuro-diverse or live with a disability, talk to BBC reporter and former dancer Anna Bailey about breaking down barriers in the dance world. And Pakistani-Qatari comedian and disability rights activist Nawaal Akram, who has muscular dystrophy, on finding material for her comedy in frustrating moments and using her performances to change attitudes. Presenter: Kat Hawkins Producers: Paul Waters, Kirsty McQuire, Olivia Skinner and Lucy Wai Reporter: Anna Bailey (Photo: Madison Ferris. Credit: Jimi Celeste/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images)

As pandemic restrictions ease in different countries, musicians from across the world discuss how performing live gives them a special connection with audiences. Cellist and singer Abel Selaocoe talks about his Proms concert, called Africa Meets Europe, coming up in London in August – and how he first got involved in music as a boy in Sebokeng, South Africa. Egyptian-Australian oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros shares how he's tried to maintain contact with his fans despite lockdown. His latest album is called Hope In An Empty City. Sudanese jazz musician and radio presenter Islam Elbeiti tells how being a female bass player appearing on stage can be challenging in a conservative society. And Israeli musician Kutiman shares three lessons he's learned about reinventing his art in isolation. His single, Guruji, is out in August. Presenter: Chi Chi Izundu Producers: Paul Waters, Kirsty McQuire & Olivia Skinner (Photo: Abel Selaocoe. Credit: Mlungisi Mlungwana)

In his new book Unbury Our Dead With Song, Kenyan-American author Mukoma Wa Ngugi celebrates Ethiopian musicians in exile in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, as they search for the perfect performance of the iconic song of their homeland, the Tizita. Sri Lankan Kanya D'Almeida has written a short story which is the Asia winner of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize and in the running for the global prize announced at the end of June. Kanya shares her story I Cleaned The – and reveals how it addresses universal issues such as motherhood, class and how we deal with our own bodily waste, as well as being firmly anchored in the country of her childhood. In Lebanon, new public art has emerged from economic and political crisis. The street art movement, Art of Change, has been using murals as a powerful voice against corruption, inequality, high unemployment and increasing poverty. Reporter Frank McWeeny speaks to the artists behind the project. Plus Nigerian Afrobeats star Joeboy talks about recording his debut album Somewhere Between Beauty and Magic during lockdown and why the music of Burna Boy inspires him Presenter: Colleen Harris Producers: Paul Waters, Kirsty McQuire, Anna Bailey, Frank McWeeny and Nancy Bennie (Photo: Mukoma Wa Ngugi. Credit: Cornell University)

During lockdown, BAFTA-winning actor Emilia Clarke discovered the work of the late British novelist and essayist Jenny Diski. Jenny had been a fan of Game of Thrones, the TV series in which Emilia starred as Daenerys Targaryen. Emilia speaks to poet and academic Dr Ian Patterson, who was married to Jenny until her death in 2016, to discuss Jenny's work and their shared love of cultural escapism. Nigerian author Oyinkan Braithwaite was long-listed for the Booker Prize in 2019 for her debut novel My Sister, the Serial Killer. Lockdown has not slowed her down, and has in fact provided inspiration for the plot of her latest novella The Baby is Mine. She shares how her love of Japanese animation, or anime, has shaped her writing during this time. After a hiatus of ten years, Hong Kong director Yonfan returned to filmmaking with an animation debut, No 7 Cherry Lane. He reveals how he turned to the work of American director Stanley Kramer when its release was impacted by the Covid-19 outbreak. Plus we hear from our listeners across the world about the art that has changed them during the pandemic. Presented by Tumi Morake Produced by Lucy Wai, Kirsty McQuire, Lucy Collingwood and Nancy Bennie. (Photo: Actor Emilia Clarke. Credit: VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)

Many of us like to copy the dance moves we see on screen, but award-winning choreographer, JaQuel Knight in the United States, is on a mission to copyright the sequences that he has devised, and encourage others to do the same. You may have watched and tried to imitate his work. He created the steps for Beyoncé's performance of Single Ladies. For the award-winning poet and dancer Tishani Doshi, sometimes words aren't enough to convey the power of the female body, or the anger she feels when it's violated. It's then that her poetry ‘demands choreography.' She tells Nawal how she fuses verse and movement to embody the message of her writing. How do you go viral in the time of coronavirus? Quang Dang is a Vietnamese dancer and choreographer, who went viral a year ago with a video that made a public health campaign about hand-washing look like fun. Now he's made a new video, exclusively for the BBC #WSDanceChallenge, imagining the freedom he hopes we'll all enjoy when we step into the post-Covid world. And French choreographer Marion Motin shares what inspires her steps - hip hop, life on the street and the French film, La Haine. Presenter: Nawal Al-Maghafi Producers: Paul Waters, Kirsty McQuire, Lucy Collingwood, Nancy Bennie, Oliver Jarvis (Photo: Choreographer JaQuel Knight. Credit: Jake Green.)

The world of tennis is mourning the death of the popular Czech player, Jana Novotna, at the age of 49. In 1993, Novotna threw away a huge lead in the women's final at Wimbledon but captured the hearts of tennis fans by breaking down in tears on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent, the tournament's patron. Five years later, Novotna was back on Centre Court, and this time she won. In 2015, she told her story to Kirsty McQuire. PHOTO: The Duchess of Kent consoles Jana Novotna after her 1993 defeat (Getty Images)

In the 1950s and 60s, the Australian swimmer, Dawn Fraser, became one of the most famous athletes in the world - winning the Olympic 100 metres three times in a row. But Fraser was almost as well known for her rebellious attitude and bad behaviour out of the pool. Kirsty Mcquire talks to Dawn Fraser and her coach, Harry Gallagher. The programme is a Sparklab Production. Photo: Dawn Fraser. Credit: Getty Images Sport)

Two stories from our recent open mic in Hackney. Maryam has a breakdown and finds recovery in the least likely place. Then, Daniel helps defend a friend and is rewarded in unexpected ways. There's still time to hear our contribution to Radio 4: Truth Be Told is available to download via the iPlayer Radio app, or you can stream it on their website. Spread the word so they might make more! Spark is produced by founder Joanna Yates and a large team of volunteers. Audio production by Matt Hill with support from Kirsty McQuire and Hannah Ratcliffe.

In 1967, the Yorkshire cyclist, Beryl Burton, set a world record in the 12 hour time trial that stands to this day. It was arguably the greatest in a long list of achievements which also included seven world championships and numerous British records. Many now consider Beryl Burton the best woman cyclist of all time. Kirsty McQuire, of Sparklab Productions, talks to Beryl's husband, Charlie, and cycling commentator, Phil Liggett. (Photo: Beryl Burton in action on the track. Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

In 1988, two of the world's top figure-skaters, Brian Boitano of the USA and Brian Orser of Canada, fought out an epic contest at the Winter Olympics. Dubbed the "Battle of the Brians", the showdown was decided by the narrowest of margins and on the final dance. Kirsty Mcquire, of Sparklab Productions, talks to Brian Boitano for Sporting Witness. (Photo: Brian Boitano (centre) with Brian Orser (left) on the Olympic podium in 1988. Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

Mehmet Ergen is best known to UK theatre audiences as Artistic Director of London's Arcola Theatre, but his pioneering work in Hackney is only half the story. We follow him to Istanbul, post Gezi Park and post Arab Spring, caught between the Syrian conflict and EU aspirations; an emerging economy with freedom of speech still in jeopardy. Kirsty McQuire produces for Whistledown. The programme aired on Radio 4 on April 3rd 2013.

What begins as a childish prank against a harmless drunk turns into something more meaningful. From May 2013, when the theme was 'Mixed Messages'. Special thanks to Kirsty McQuire who recorded this show for us at the Hackney Picturehouse - and to Dave Pickering, who hosted the evening. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.