Podcasts about sadler's wells

Pete Townshend is the songwriter, guitarist and co-founder of The Who. The band first stormed the pop charts sixty years ago, with teenage anthems including I Can't Explain, Substitute and My Generation. Broader songwriting ambitions led him to create the rock opera Tommy in 1969, and the concept album Quadrophenia four years later. Both projects were adapted as films, and Quadrophenia has now been staged as a ballet by Sadlers Wells. Throughout the seventies, The Who were regarded as the biggest and loudest live act in the world. They played at Woodstock, at Live Aid, Live 8 and the 2012 Olympic closing ceremony. Despite the deaths of drummer Keith Moon and bassist John Entwhistle, Townshend and singer Roger Daltrey continue to perform as The Who. Pete Townshend talks to John Wilson about the influence of his parents, who were both musicians. His father, the saxophonist Cliff Townshend, played in the popular dance band The Squadronaires, but it was his mother Betty, a singer, who was most supportive of Pete's early musical talent. Seeing Bill Haley and The Comets at Edgware Road Odeon in 1956 was another formative moment that introduced the teenage Townshend to the possibilities of a rock 'n' roll performance. Pete also reveals how his art school tutor Roy Ascot, who was head of the Ground Course at Ealing Art School, shaped his his approach to his band that was to become The Who. He also recounts how reading Labyrinths, a book of short stories by Jorge Luis Borges on the first US Who tour in 1967 opened his imagination and helped him expand his musical storytelling. Producer: Edwina Pitman

Are you a teacher who misses singing? Or a performer who would love to know how to supplement your career with teaching? In this episode, Olly Christopher from The Book of Mormon and Hello Dolly reveals his journey from Musical Theatre professional performance to the teaching room, sharing how he found harmony between his dual passions. Discover how you can balance both a busy teaching schedule and a professional performing career.QUOTE‘Anything you do as a performer is going to be valuable to you as a teacher. I really think they go hand in hand.'WHAT'S IN THIS PODCAST?2:16-6:43 Getting in to Musical Theatre6:45-7:06 The most challenging vocal role8:07-17:23 Challenges & successes in Musical Theatre training20:13-25:46 Advice to the aspiring Musical Theatre performer25:46-27:45 Advantages & disadvantages a teaching & performance career28:20-37:12 Maintaining a teaching and performance career38:27-41:42 Advice for those wanting to do both41:42-43:23 Vocal Balance44:57-45:24 Get in touch with Olly About the presenter click HERERELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS The Churchill TheatreGuildford School of ActingMountviewArts EdStephen OremusSinging Teachers Talk - Ep.109 Mastering ‘Acting Through Song' Techniques to Elevate Musical Theatre PerformanceVocal BalanceBAST Blog - How to Nurture a Singers Authentic VoiceDr Trineice Robinson-MartinABOUT THE GUESTOlly Christopher is both a performer and singing teacher and has worked across the UK and internationally.Olly trained at Arts Educational Schools, gaining a BA(Hons) degree in Musical Theatre. As a performer his credits include; A Christmas Carol (The Lowry, Manchester) Hello Dolly! (London Palladium), 42nd Street (Leicester Curve, Sadlers Wells, UK Tour & Toronto), Featured Soloist in The Greatest Showtunes (Raymond Gubbay Entertainment); South Pacific (Sadlers Wells & UK Tour); The Original London Cast of Pretty Woman: The Musical (Savoy Theatre, West End); The Book Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre, West End); All Star Musicals (ITV); and Sweet Charity (Manchester Royal Exchange).Alongside Olly's performing career, he is an accredited Vocal Balance singing teacher and has taught in many drama schools including Italia Conti, Bird College, LAMDA and PPA. Olly also runs his own private practice for Musical Theatre professionals, young adults who wish to train in Musical Theatre and non-professionals.Instagram: @ollychristopher_vocalsBAST Training is here to help singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher. Website: basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | Join the Free FB Group "I am so glad I took the course! It has given me the confidence to move forward in my teaching knowing that I am practising safely, with a wealth of knowledge and support that I simply didn't have before! Hayley Ross, UK...more testimonials

Jonzi D discovered the power of dance, drama and storytelling growing up in East London in the 1970s and 80s. He's gone on to create exciting platforms for people to explore the different manifestations of hip hop - breakdance, music, graffiti, rap, beatboxing and more. And to bring out inner feelings in movement, in expressions of joy and trauma, tension and release. Jonzi calls it cultural energy and in his Breakin' Convention festival at Sadlers Wells in London he's been wowing audiences with this brand of hip hop theatre. Out of the festival, more exciting projects are growing and in a wide ranging conversation with Akram, Jonzi remembers his beginnings in the world of movement, his seminal video Aeroplane Man and how mind and body are occasionally at odds with each other. Move to Live is a podcast brought to you by Marquee TV and Tandem Productions and is available on all main podcast platforms.If you'd like to get in touch with the show you can email: movetolivepodcast@gmail.comOr get in touch on our socials:Twitter: @marqueeartstvInstagram: @marqueeartstvFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/marqueetvYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarqueeTVThe show is also available as a video podcast via Marquee TV - https://marquee.tv/, the leading streaming platform showcasing arts and culture to millions of arts fans around the world.#movetolivepodcastCredits:Director and Producer: Alex AndersonAssistant Producer: Marion BettsworthResearcher: Charlotte Barbour-CondiniExecutive Producer: Sarah DevonaldMusic: Jay Witsey and Aref Durvesh Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We review the UK Premier of the Broadway rock-musical Passing Strange, at The Young Vic Theatre. We review Jez Butterworth's latest play, The Hills of California, directed by Sam Mendez. We review one of our favourite modern ballets, Scottish Ballet's A Streetcar Named Desire at Sadlers Wells. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kaia Goodenough is a freelance curator, writer and facilitator in London, particularly interested in interdisciplinary and collaboratively embodied practices. Kaia originally trained as a contemporary dancer at London Studio Centre and her choreography has been performed at Lillian Bayliss, Sadlers Wells, DanceEast, Battersea Arts Centre, The Place and the Point, and Eastleigh. She recently studied at the Royal College of Art graduating with a Masters in curating contemporary Art. In today's episode, Kaia discusses how she took her complicated relationship with dance and worked to reclaim it as her own, how being a dancer influences her art, producing, and curation, and the beauty of dancing explicitly to have a good time.  She also shares how having her work funded was the least creative she's ever been, how the choreographic project empowering students led to her never being asked to return,  and how she explores femininity and womanhood through movement. Follow along on Kaia's journey: kaiagoodenough.co.uk Transcript available on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/storyproject/support

“Dance Talk” ® with Joanne and special guest, Betti Franceschi.  In this episode of  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey,  join host Joanne Carey as she chats with a very Special Guest, 90 year old Betti Franceschi. She is an artist, painter, sculptor, and now new author.  Betti joins me on her very first podcast interview where we talk about her lifelong love of ballet, dance, and art.  A life-long stutterer, Betti talks about her constant search for grace in all things she does.  She candidly shares that stuttering is seen as a lack of grace, but let me assure you- this beautiful lady is FILLED with grace and exudes it! Listen in as we laugh and share stories and learn about her new photography book that embodies the longevity of the elder dancer titled, Ageless Dancers. You are going to want to get this book and if you're like me, you are going to want to listen to this inspirational and light-filled lady over-and-over again! Betti Franceschi is an artist who has done a double major in school and in life: fine art and ballet. Born in 1934 and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, she studied ballet with Marguerite de Anguera at Indiana University, Bloomington, fine art with Roger Anliker at Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon), and art history with Rosalind Krauss at Hunter College. Her Still Point drawings—vertical-hatched, tightly realistic nude close-ups of dancers' centers—were published in London as a book (The Still Point, 1987) designed by Simon Rendall, which won six nominations to the National Trust Show in London and Frankfurt, and were exhibited at Sadlers Wells in London, the National Museum of Dance in Saratoga Springs, New York, and the Philharmonic Center in Naples, Florida, among other venues. Her explosive, almost abstract, zen-calligraphic Signature Drawings (1983–1986) of dancers in motion, have been exhibited in several venues, including the New York State Theater, home of the New York City Ballet. Her early work was mostly portraits, then turned to focus on movement, with figure drawings and paintings, and later sculptures of dancers. In 2016 her interest in gesture brought her to photography for her Ageless Dancers project, a series of elegant, joyous portraits of dancers in the latter years of life. Her work has been reviewed in the London Evening Standard, The New York Times, the Saratogian, the New York City Ballet Playbill, and Dance Magazine. Franceschi lives in New York City. Follow on Instagram @brsfran19Learn More:https://www.bettifranceschi.com/ Purchase Betti's book:https://brilliant-editions.com/collections/new-arrivals/products/copy-of-refractions-2-ralph-gibson Join Betti April 18th in NYC for her book launch Jason McCoy Gallery41 East 57th StreetNew York, NY 10022 Thursday, April 18, 2024 - 5:00pm https://brilliant-editions.com/ Follow Joanne Carey on Instagram @westfieldschoolofdance And follow  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey wherever you listen to your podcasts. Tune in. Follow. Like us. And Share. Please leave us review about our podcast!  “Dance Talk” ® with Joanne Carey Dates:Tickets:"Where the Dance World Connects, the Conversations Inspire, and Where We Are Keeping Them Real."

In this episode we review Jamie Lloyd's bold new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Sunset Blvd. starring Nicole Scherzinger. We also saw the latest work from The BalletBoyz, England on Fire, at Sadlers Wells.-Opening/Closing Music: Little Lily Swing by Tri-Tachyonis: licensed under a CC Attribution License Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 96 we review a musical, and play and a ballet. We went to see Theatre Club FAVE, Jenna Russell, in the new production of Flowers For Mrs Harris at The River Side Studios; We have our second review of James Graham's play Dear England, about Gareth Southgate captaining the England squad, now that it has transfer into the West End after a sell out run at The National Theatre; and finally we went to see Birmingham Royal Ballet's new work, Black Sabbath: The Ballet at Sadlers Wells.-Opening/Closing Music: Little Lily Swing by Tri-Tachyonis: licensed under a CC Attribution License Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We review four amazing new shows in Episode 93. A Strange Loop, a new groundbreaking musical fresh from Broadway, featuring a queer black character at it's centre, currently playing at The Barbican. An exciting new production of Romeo and Juliet at The Almeida directed by Rebecca Frecknall. James Graham's new play, Dear England, about England football manager Gareth Southgate, as played by Joseph Fiennes at The National Theatre, directed by Rupert Goold. And finally, the all-taping Broadway classic 42nd Street which is currently on it's UK tour, and that we saw at Sadlers Wells. -Opening/Closing Music: Little Lily Swing by Tri-Tachyonis: licensed under a CC Attribution License Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We review the hottest ticket in town, Rebecca Frecknall's A Streetcar Named Desire staring Paul Mescal, Patsy Ferran and Anjana Vasan at The Almeida Theatre. We also review Spice Girl Mel C's London dance debut in Julie Cunningham & Company how did we get here? at Sadlers Wells. -Opening/Closing Music: Little Lily Swing by Tri-Tachyonis: licensed under a CC Attribution License Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rosie Kay -- (BA Hons) FRSA, MCR St Cross College, Oxford, born in Scotland -- danced from a very early age, then trained at London Contemporary Dance School, graduating in 1998, before a career as a dancer in Poland, France, Germany and the USA. Kay returned to the UK in 2003, founded Rosie Kay Dance Company 2004-21 and is now setting up a new venture for her future works.Kay's works up to date include a contemporary set adaptation of "Romeo + Juliet" (2021), and returned to performing on stage with the Absolute Solo II' tour in 2021. There, her solo work "Adult Female Dancer"' was celebrated as one of the ‘Top 5 Dance Works of 2021' by 'The Observer ', and Kay was nominated for a National Dance Award for Outstanding Female Performance (Modern) for Absolute Solo II. Kay is well known for the multi- award-winning work "5 SOLDIERS" (2010- present) based on intense research with the British Army.Kay's works tour to Sadlers Wells, Birmingham REP, Norwich Theatre Royal, Salisbury Playhouse and regularly tour Europe and the USA.FOLLOW ROSIE ON TWITTER:https://www.twitter.com/RosieKayK2COREVIEW for ""ABSOLUTE SOLO II": https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2021/may/22/rosie-kay-absolute-solo-ii-review-birmingham-repertory-theatreBBC BROADCAST OF "5 SOLDIERS":https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku1tVoBUyw8"THIS IS MK ULTRA":https://vimeo.com/676322446FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/cliftonaduncan SUBSCRIBE TO MY SUBSTACK: https://cliftonduncan.substack.com MY IMDB PAGE:https://www.imdb.me/cliftonduncan(MOST OF) MY THEATRICAL CREDITS:https://www.abouttheartists.com/artists/265366-clifton-alphonzo-duncanIntro/Outro: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/stJzyKNNgz/SUPPORT THIS PODCAST BY BUYING SOME DELICIOUS COFFEE FROM OUR FIRST SPONSOR, TWIN ENGINE COFFEE:https://www.twinenginecoffee.com/CliftonDuncanI NARRATED THIS AUDIOBOOK:https://www.berlinersbook.com/CHAPTERS:0:00:00 -- A Word for Our Sponsor.0:01:15 -- Teaser/Intros.0:04:40 -- Rosie's Origin, and the Makings of a Dancer.0:09:03 -- Art vs. Religion (Again).0:17:11 -- How Rosie Got Cancelled.0:26:28 -- Conspiracy Theories and Transhumanism??0:30:37 -- "5 Soldiers" and Sexual Dimorphism.0:38:05 -- Artistry vs. Activism.0:52:32 -- "Adult Female Dancer", and Womanhood.0:59:57 -- Tackling the Crisis in the Arts.1:14:40 -- Artists' Authoritarian Blindspot.1:26:20 -- Deprogramming a "True Believer".

Dame Alicia Markova was born Lilian Alice Marks in December 1910, in a two-bedroom flat in Finsbury Park, London. She began ballet classes because she was flat footed and knock kneed. Her natural talent, when she was ten, was spotted by Diaghilev, the Russian artistic impresario who founded the Ballets Russes and brought the contemporary arts of Russia to Europe. Dame Alicia joined Diaghilev's company, which was based in Monte Carlo, in 1925, a month after her 14th birthday. Diaghilev changed her name to Alicia Markova and cast her in the title role of Nightingale in Le Rossignol, a ballet scored by Stravinsky, choreographed by Balanchine and with costumes designed by Matisse. It premiered in Paris in June 1925. After Diaghilev's death in 1929 she returned to England and became a leading figure of the emerging English ballet scene, dancing with the Ballet Rambert and Vic Wells Ballet, as well as at Sadlers Wells. Dame Alicia danced the leading roles in Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Giselle, which became her trademark, illustrating her unique style of fragility and strength. In 1950, together with her dancing partner Anton Dolin, Dame Alicia founded The London Festival Ballet which eventually became the English National Ballet. She was still dancing Giselle at the age of 48 and had her last dance on stage in the early 1960s. Subsequently she has worked as director, patron and teacher and was awarded the CBE for services to dance in 1958. Her memory for dance steps has proved invaluable for dance historians, pupils and teachers alike. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Softly Awakes my Heart from Samson and Delilah by Camille Saint-Saëns Book: Speaking of Diaghilev by John Drummond Luxury: The perfume Knowing by Estee Lauder

In this episode I interview emerging stars of the dance and performance world Anthony and Kel Matsena. This episode of The Unlock Moment is very special, very moving, very powerful. Listening back. I was amazed at Anthony and Kel's richness of thought, their perspective, their wisdom at such a young age, still only in their 20s. The Matsena brothers have been through a huge amount in their lives. Being uprooted from their home in Zimbabwe, terrible family tragedy, and their experience of oppression has shaped their creative identity as breakthrough choreographers and performers. But so has the warm community that welcomed and embraced them in South Wales, the creative industry that has given them a huge platform, and the audiences who are wowed by their work. I've known the brothers a while and knew some of their story before we talked, but I have rarely had a conversation that has left me so affected. If you're like me, you'll be struck by how the tough times could so easily have pushed them to a really dark place, and instead have inspired them to speak through love, joy and empowerment in their creative voice. With most of these podcasts, we edit them down to give you just the best bits of the conversation. Here it's so compelling, we just couldn't take anything out. Sit back and listen in to this incredible interview with the extraordinary Anthony and Kel Matsena.Shades of Blue - Exclusive Preview: https://youtu.be/JU6dg6buiRkMatsena Productions: https://www.matsenaproductions.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/anthony_matsenahttps://www.instagram.com/kelmatsenahttps://www.instagram.com/matsenaproductions

The late great Stephen Sondheim's famous 1964 flop, Anyone Can Whistle is having it's first major revival in London at The Southwark Playhouse and we went along to find out if this show really deserved close after only nine performances in it's original broadway run! We also made two trips to Sadlers Wells recently, to see the new Ballet Boyz show "Deluxe", and then to see the "Forsythe Evening" by English National Ballet, which features choreography by the legendary William Forsythe set to the music of James Blake, Barry White, Khalid  and Natalie Cole to name a few. -Opening/Closing Music: Little Lily Swing by Tri-Tachyonis: licensed under a CC Attribution License

We're back, double vaxed and better than ever! After a long break from the podcast we've finally been on our first trip to see live theatre since pre-pandemic. In episode 66 we bring you our reviews of Singin In The Rain at Sadlers Wells and Operation Mincemeat at Southwark Playhouse, as well as Alice's "top tip" of what to book and where to sit and a much needed cocktail to celebrate our first episode of 2021! - Opening/Closing Music: Little Lily Swing by Tri-Tachyonis: licensed under a CC Attribution License

Kevin's here this week with exciting news! After months of having to keep things secret, Kevin has been announced in the role of Cosmo in the Sadlers Wells adaptation of musical masterpiece, Singin' In The Rain! Hear all about Kevin's incredible news, as well as some reviews from the first week of theatre and cinema's reopening, in this week's show. KEY TAKEAWAYS Sometimes the dreams we hold dear come true! Kevin has always longed to play Cosmo in a stage adaptation. When you wish for something hard enough... Stage companies fast become a family. One of the highlights of touring and performing in a production are the friends we make and people we meet. Cinemas and theatres have finally reopened, and the response has been incredible. People are embracing the fact that this form of entertainment is back in our lives. BEST MOMENTS 'It's a really massive deal and I'm really excited about it!' - 00:52 'From everything I can see so far, it's going to be a really lovely bunch of people' - 5:52 'The theatre felt packed and people were so ready to see a show' - 14:53 'Everyone came out all guns blazing' - 21:15 VALUABLE RESOURCES Singin' In The Rain - https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/2021/singin-in-the-rain/ ABOUT THE HOST Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.  CONTACT METHOD Kevin Clifton Instagram Kevin Clifton Facebook Kevin Clifton YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matthew Cole is an OLIVIER AWARD NOMINATED Choreographer and is the founder of LONDON THEATRE RUNWAY. A musical theatre training and connectivity programme for industry professionals. www.londontheatrerunway.comHis forthcoming productions include: FOOTLOOSE UK Tour - 2021, IDENTICAL (based upon The Parent Trap) Directed by Trevor Nunn, Music by George Stiles and Lyrics by Anthony Drewe - 2021, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF UK TOUR - 2021, BERLIN BERLIN German and International Tour - 2021 and MEMPHIS UK and International Tour - 2022.Choreography: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Olivier Award Nominated for Best Choreographer and Best Revival, dir. Trevor Nunn,The Menier Chocolate Factory, The Playhouse Theatre West End); OKLAHOMA (dir. Jeremy Sams, Chichester Festival Theatre); LOVESICK (dir. Chris Renshaw, Theatre J Washington DC); BERLIN BERLIN (German/International Tour); AMOUR (The Charing Cross Theatre);  THE BEAUTIFUL GAME (NYMT); THE SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (The Royal Academy of Music); THE NIGHT PIRATES (UK TOUR); THE PRODUCERS (China and Asian Tour); LOVESICK (New York City workshop); CINDERELLA (Milton Keynes); FLASHDANCE (UK and international Tour); EM (Royal Central School of Speech and Drama); FOOTLOOSE (UK and International Tour); LOVESICK (Berkely Repertory Theatre); ALADDIN (Theatre Clwyd); SIDE SHOW (Southwark Playhouse); THE MGM STORY (Upstairs at the Gatehouse); LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (UK TOUR); RAGS (The Royal Academy of Music); FOOTLOOSE (UK Tour); PURE IMAGINATION - The Songs of Leslie Bricusse (The Other Palace); BETTE  MIDLER AND ME (Edinburgh Festival and UK Tour); AMOUR (The Royal Academy of Music); JERRY'S GIRLS (The Other Palace, Jermyn Street Theatre); THE RETURN OF THE SOLDIER (Jermyn Street Theatre); ANGELINA BALLERINA THE MUSICAL (UK and Australian Tour)Associate choreographer credits include: Guys and Dolls (Chichester Festival Theatre and Phoenix Theatre).Television credits include: Assistant Choreographer on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing (BBC).Directing credits include: The Drive In London, Artistic Director; PIPPIN, Director/Choreographer; The Secret Garden, Director/Choreographer; Co Director CARMEN LA CUBANA, (Sadlers Wells); SWEET CHARITY, Director/choreographer; Resident Director on The Railway Children (King's Cross Theatre); Resident Director on West Side Story (ATG UK Tour).

Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles are joined by Akram Khan. Winning a disco dance competition as a child encouraged Akram to pursue what he saw as his one talent: dance. Today he is one of the UK’s leading choreographers, has an MBE for services to dance, and tells stories through dance on stages as varied as Sadlers Wells to the 2012 London Olympics stadium. Sarah Beeny has graced our TV screens for the past 20 years as one of the nation’s most loved property experts. She estimates that she’s now been in more than 1,000 homes offering advice on all things remodeling, interior design and extensions. Now, the cameras follow her and her family as they build a house from scratch in Somerset. When Dwayne Fields moved to London from Jamaica aged 6 he wondered where all the trees were. He escaped the city after discovering Epping forest and adventures in nature, becoming the first black Briton to reach the North Pole in 2010. The Scout ambassador and Countryfile contributor is now planning to take 20 disadvantaged youngsters to the Antarctic and has his sights on reaching the South Pole within the next two years. Saturday Live listener Bill Murray's father was the bodyguard and painting companion of Winston Churchill - he contacted us to talk about his memories. Writer Sophie Kinsella chooses her inheritance tracks, Five Hundred Miles by The Seekers and F. Couperin "Les Baricades Mysterieuses" played by Angela Hewitt on Hyperion Records and your "thank you". Producer: Corinna Jones

Episode 10 - When we move is a series of conversations based on movement, the body, art, dance, the heart, mind and life. Nadia Iftkhar being half English and half Kashmiri having roots in the part of it of what is Pakistan today. She is a professional dance artist based in the North East. She has over 15 years' experience working in a diverse range of settings, including work with companies such as; Talawa Young People's Theatre, Tyneside Women's Health, and Janice Parker Projects. To date she has made and collaborated on over 20 works that have been performed at Northern Stage, Maltings Berwick, Sadlers Wells, Dance City, Konzerthaus Wien, Theatre Royal Newcastle, MuTh and SommerTheatre Detmold. Her work is honest storytelling of the human experience told through movement, spoken word and film. She is interested in people, the stories they hold, the things that happen to them throughout their lives; how they survive the most traumatic situations and how they celebrate the joyous moments in life. Nadia serves as the Artistic Director as well as CEO for Company of Others and trustee of Newcastle East mixed multi Academy Trust To watch the vodcast (YouTube) and hear the podcast (various platforms), you will find the links to it on: https://suhaee.com/podcast/ Artwork by Abro Khuda Bux #podcast #nadiaiftkhar #dance #creativity #life #pakistan #movement #conversations #life #art #newcastle #theatre #storytelling #performingarts #crosscultural #artist #unitedkingdom

Episode 10 TRAILER - When we move is a series of conversations based on movement, the body, art, dance, the heart, mind and life. Releasing Friday, August 21st, 2020. Nadia Iftkhar being half English and half Kashmiri having roots in the part of it of what is Pakistan today. She is a professional dance artist based in the North East. She has over 15 years' experience working in a diverse range of settings, including work with companies such as; Talawa Young People's Theatre, Tyneside Women's Health, and Janice Parker Projects. To date she has made and collaborated on over 20 works that have been performed at Northern Stage, Maltings Berwick, Sadlers Wells, Dance City, Konzerthaus Wien, Theatre Royal Newcastle, MuTh and SommerTheatre Detmold. Her work is honest storytelling of the human experience told through movement, spoken word and film. She is interested in people, the stories they hold, the things that happen to them throughout their lives; how they survive the most traumatic situations and how they celebrate the joyous moments in life. Nadia serves as the Artistic Director as well as CEO for Company of Others and trustee of Newcastle East mixed multi Academy Trust To watch the vodcast (YouTube) and hear the podcast (various platforms), you will find the links to it on: https://suhaee.com/podcast/ Artwork by Abro Khuda Bux Company of Others: https://www.companyofothers.org.uk/company/ #podcast #nadiaiftkhar #dance #creativity #life #pakistan #movement #conversations #life #art #newcastle #theatre #storytelling #performingarts #crosscultural #artist #unitedkingdom

The theatre producer and writer David Lan meets the composer Nico Muhly. David Lan was the artistic director of the Young Vic in London for 18 years, winning the special Olivier Award in 2018 for his outstanding contribution to the stage. Born in South Africa, he trained as an actor, and then gained PhD in social anthropology, before working as a writer and director. Nico Muhly has written more than 80 works, including the opera Marnie, staged by English National Opera and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. He has collaborated with a wide range of musicians, including Philip Glass and Bjork, and his recent work for the screen includes the score for the BBC TV drama Howards End. Three of his compositions have inspired new dance works, currently being performed at Sadlers Wells.

This episode we discuss New Adventures "The Red Shoes" at Sadler's Wells, Noel Coward's "Present Laughter" as Shelley visits an NT Live Screening, and Wise Children's "Romantics Anonymous" at Bristol Old Vic!

In this podcast, we'll be hearing from ex-ballet dancer, choreographer and composer Kasper Cornish, who enjoyed success as a professional dancer for many years. We'll hear about some of his career highlights and his passion for ballet and music (he considered being a professional musician before making the decision to become a dancer). But we'll be mainly focusing on Kasper's work in music composition, which he has concentrated more on since retiring from professional performing. Kasper talks lucidly about his creative and research methods when writing for dance as opposed to abstract music. And he explains some of the challenges when working with musicians in a class setting, as well as the invaluable opportunity a dance class presents for a composer to trial new material. Many thanks to Kasper for kindly taking the time out of his day to talk to me before teaching at The Place! Published on 7th February 2020; recorded at Sadler's Wells on 15th January 2020. Kasper Cornish began his dance training at the age of 10 with Sara Phillips in 1984 and graduated from Central School of Ballet in 1993 after which he joined Ballet Wales, touring the UK in productions of The Swan and Cinderella. Performing work ranged from Ballet Dancer to Wrestler for the BAFTA award-winning Channel 4 series Faking It to creating the title role in The Snowman (Birmingham Repertory Theatre, West End and BBC film of the stage show). Other credits include The Phantom of The Opera feature film and dancing the role of "Slavemaster" for the national tour of the stage show. He played the Prince of Transylvania in the National Theatre production of My Fair Lady at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, was a founding member of Just Desert Dance Co. and as a freelance principal artist danced popular ballet pas de deux as far afield as Japan. He was principal ballet dancer at Glyndebourne in 1996 as well as understudy to Zoltan Solymosi and toured France and Switzerland in Maurice Bejart's Bolero with Sylvie Guillem. He has taught Classical Ballet and Pas de Deux since 1997 for performing arts colleges, international summer schools, dance companies and open classes. Choreographic work includes The Classical Brits, Comedy Shuffle (BBC3), "Canvas Bag" for Tim Minchin, The Terence Higgins Trust, Nickleodeon TV, movement for actors in feature films and "Degas – A Passion for Perfection" (Exhibition on Screen). Kasper's music compositions include six ballet class albums, music for dance, a brass quintet, clarinet sonata, Oratorio for Baritone - choir & string orchestra, Christmas carols, string quartet, song cycles and works for solo piano. www.kaspercornish.bandcamp.com

Episode 14, A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic and interviews with Rebecca Trehearn(Belle), Lenny Rush (Tiny Tim), Steven Miller (Bob scratcher) and Patterson Joseph (Scrooge). Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes at Sadlers Wells and interview with Cordelia Braithwaite prima ballerina and protagonist Victoria Page. The Lion, The Witch and The Watdrobe at The Bridge Theatre with backstage interview with Beverly Rudd who plays Mrs Beaver.

In this episode, I’m speaking with London-based guitarist and composer Laura Snowden.Hailed a ‘string sensation’ by BBC Music Magazine, British-French guitarist and composer Laura Snowden is acclaimed for her ‘poise and intensity’ (Guardian) and playing of ‘extraordinary depth’ (Strings, Classical Music Magazine). The first guitarist to graduate from the Yehudi Menuhin School, made possible by the Rolling Stones, she was invited by guitarist Julian Bream to premiere his latest commissions at Wigmore Hall in 2015 and 2017. Laura’s international appearances have since built rapidly, with festival debuts across Europe, China and the US, as well as concerto debuts with Norrköping Symphony Orchestra and Münchener Kammerorchester, and a recording of Lisa Streich’s guitar concerto Augenlider with the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester.Described by Classical Guitar Magazine as ‘linking guitar’s past, present and future’, Laura’s eclectic musical output has ranged from producing arrangements for Noah and the Whale frontman Charlie Fink to giving dozens of world premieres by composers including Julian Anderson, Errollyn Wallen and Olli Mustonen. She has also collaborated closely with her folk band Tir Eolas, appearing with them at Shakespeare’s Globe at the invitation of guitarist John Williams. As a composer, Laura’s music has been performed at Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall and Sadlers Wells, commissioned by the Park Lane Group, Birmingham Symphony Hall and International Guitar Foundation, and broadcast on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Scotland and Hong Kong Radio 4.Laura currently teaches at the Yehudi Menuhin School and has given classes alongside performances at venues including the Royal College of Music, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Birmingham Conservatoire, Brussels Conservatoire, Uppsala International Guitar Festival, Altamira Hong Kong International Guitar Symposium, the Volterra Project in Italy and the Guitar and Lute Festival in Sweden.Laura’s principal teachers were Julian Bream, Richard Wright (Royal College of Music and Yehudi Menuhin School) and Gary Ryan (Royal College of Music).Laura and I cover a lot of topics. We talk about her history, working with Bream, composing, teaching, we get into the topic of expression and interpreting music, how she handles challenging things like self-doubt and those pesky existential questions like “what am I doing?”, and so much more. We had a great time over these two different interviews and I hope you enjoy. Featured clip from her composition titled Light Perpetuum, which was commissioned by VIDA Guitar Quartet, performed by them and saxophonist Amy Green, and appears on their latest album Bachianas.https://www.vidagq.com/http://www.laurasnowden.co.uk/

Listen as Rod, Mike, Leigh, Miranda & Steve Till discuss:Breeding Theories | Young Mare vs. Old Mare | Inbreeding to Sadlers Wells

Jorge Crecis holds a degree in Sport Sciences and studied contemporary dance at the Royal Conservatory of Madrid. After working as a professional dancer for different companies throughout Europe, he became a full-time lecturer at London Contemporary Dance School (The Place) for four years. Currently, Jorge is an award winning choreographer whose work has been performed in the main theatres around the world: from the prestigious New York City Centre (USA), to the avant-garde 798 District in Beijing (China) or Sadlers Wells and the Royal Opera House in London (UK). Following this motto and based upon his synthesis of sport and dance movement patterns, Jorge founded SQx (somoSQuien eXperience) leading workshops internationally and coaching professional companies such as Akram Khan Company, DV8, Punchdrunk, Rambert, etc. And in 2018 he obtained his PhD degree by Goldsmiths University of London. For the last 20 years, Jorge has been working to crack the secret of how to replicate altered states of consciousness using neurosciences, anthropology and phenomenology. The result is a cutting-edge methodology that he shares through workshop and a one of a kind online training that is called: Towards Vivencia. Rachel Elderkin is a freelance dancer and dance writer based in London. Her dance writing can be also be read in the Stage, londondance.com, Exeunt and British Theatre Guide. She is a member of the UK's Critics' Circle, and has previously written for publications including Fjord Review, the Skinny (Scotland) and LeftLion (Nottingham) where she was Art Editor. Credits: Host: Rachel Elderkin Guest: Jorge Crecis Editing and production: George Bushaway Produced for Fjord Review

In episode 39 we review three fantastic, but very different pieces of theatre: The hilarious WWII musical, and a bit of a hidden gem, that is Spitlip's Operation Mincemeat; The romantic and sweepingly operatic musical The Light in the Piazza, staring opera sensation Rene Fleming; And the world renowned San Francisco Ballet at Sadlers Wells. Plus we have our Top Tip, some Falsettos casting news, and a new cocktail inspired by one of this episode's shows. -- Opening/Closing Music: Little Lily Swing by Tri-Tachyonis: licensed under a CC Attribution License

“Are you a dancer” is the question that Alistair Spalding gets asked the most. Understandably so, as he runs London’s most successful and internationally renowned dance theatre – Sadler's Wells.  In our conversation, we discuss communicating ideas through movement, the rock-concert-like creations from Hofesh Schechter and Akram Khan’s tender stories of belonging and identity as well as Sadler's Wells collaborations with creatives such as sculptor Antony Gormley, fashion designer Hussein Chalayan, musician Jamie XX, and artist Olafur Eliasson.   Presented and produced by Justyna Green Music by James Green  

"I love performing but actually, I'm overcoming it now, but I really freeze up and get nervous when I have to talk in public. I like the idea of a performance speech to the public but the free, off-the-cuff, point a camera at me, I just don't become myself. When I performed at the Opera House, you can't see the audience, nice big spotlight, only child here got to be a princess for 13 years, when I wasn't being all the other hilarious roles.    Pietra quite often says to me "I know you want to go to Mars but we've only got the petrol to get to the moon".   I always hated it, I always hated performance. I think that it takes a long time for people to realise what their strengths are.   Ella took me to see a concert of Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Cadogan Hall and that was just amazing but we could see a gap at that moment to fill and it had never been done before so there was no challenge at that point for us, we were just so committed that it was a project that lasted five years for us. It had a setback, it had a pilot phase where it wasn't excepted and carried on, we wanted to do it ourselves and at that point, it grew and then had different challenges again.   We were working on Inala, Ella composed the music with Ladysmith Black Mambazo who Nelson Mandela took to collect his Noble Peace Prize, the legends. She sat around a piano, in South Africa and we took ourselves off there to start this project and she sat at the piano, surrounded by nine Zulu men, at the grand age of 22, and just played her music and they co-wrote five songs in that short time that we came back with and presented to the Director of the Royal Ballet.   He (Adam) sent me a message "Congratulations, that's amazing! The Grammy nominations!" And he text me a screenshot of the nominations that had just been announced and we had been nominated for a Grammy award."   Welcome to episode #121 of #Screwitjustdoit. On today's show, it's my pleasure to welcome the Sisters Grimm, that's Ella Spira and Pietra Mello-Pittman.   I'm all for taking #Screwitjustdoit in different directions, shining a light on different industries, different businesses and this is very much the case with Sisters Grimm.   I attended a British-American Business Christmas lunch, back in December, and I was sat at a table sponsored by Virgin Atlantic Delta and sat right next to me was Pietra and Ella. We got talking and I literally spent the entire Christmas lunch enthralled by an amazing business that they'd put together which is just celebrating 10 years and I thought this would be a fantastic subject for the show.   So, who are Sisters Grimm, what do they do? They're two of the UK's most exciting and successful, original theatre-show producers. They're best known for a fusion of the legendary sound of the African male choral group, Ladysmith Black Men Bazoo, with ballet, to create the Grammy Award-nominated show, Inala.   So Inala sold out the Edinburgh festival, the UK tour performed five times in Moscow at the famous Chekhov international theatre festival, returned to the UK for a sell-out tour at Sadler's Wells. In fact, I believe they sold something crazy 80,000 tickets - think of Wembley and you get an idea of the number of people who have been to this show and they're back again for a very limited run in the West End from April the 30th this year as well.    The music from the show, which Ella composed alongside Ladysmith, was released separately and won a Grammy nomination and then they went on, Ladysmith, to win a Grammy award.    The ladies have been to the Grammys, they've also been to the Royal Variety Show alongside the likes of Ed Sheeran, Shirley Bassey, Simon Cowell etc.  Ella has worked with the likes of Bruno Mars, remixing in his music, and David Arnold, the composer of several of the James Bond scores. Whereas Pietra has danced all the classic ballets as a royal ballet ballerina and her ability as a choreographer and creative director has helped the duo win a 'woman of the future' nomination for arts and culture.    They're celebrating 10 years as the Sisters Grimm, an incredible story spanning many different continents, just been up for an export champion award as well, looking at China, Japan and Dubai this year but they are back in the UK for a limited time   I'm going to start off by asking Pietra to explain exactly who the Sisters Grimm are and what they do and the obvious question, of course, about where that name came from.    Let's start up!    

This week Chris spent sometime in a dressing room at Sadler's Wells with Esteban and Aoi. We hosted the impressive WHIST back in 2017 and got a sneak peek of 0AR during our 2018 #vrLAB. Find out more about thier work at http://www.aoiesteban.com.

In this episode we chat about what we’ve seen and done in the last fortnight, recent classical music news, including the RPS awards, BBC Young Musician of the Year, the Royal Wedding (including a bonus phone-in chat with Royal Harpist Anne Denholm)  and some surprising research involving sharks. Sharing her incredible experiences and words of wisdom this week is our special guest, bassoonist Amy Harman. And as always, we conclude with a stomach-turning weird gig of the week. Mentioned in this episode (in order): BBC Young Musician Podcast with Jess Gillam: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p062pf6x/episodes/downloads George Benjamin’s Lessons in Love and Violence: http://www.roh.org.uk/productions/lessons-in-love-and-violence-by-katie-mitchell RPS awards: https://royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/rps_today/news/rps-music-awards-winners-2018 BBC Young Musician of the year: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-44103947 Chart-topping Sheku: http://www.classicfm.com/music-news/shostakovich-sheku-kanneh-mason-chart/ Sharks shun classical music: http://www.radionz.co.nz/concert/programmes/upbeat/audio/2018645334/study-reveals-sharks-not-hooked-on-classical-tunes KOFMA:  https://kofma.co.uk/events/ Rambert at Sadlers Wells: https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/2018/rambert-life-is-a-dream/ A Moderate Soprano play: https://www.themoderatesoprano.com

Katie Derham explores the vibrant and varied world of Caribbean music and dance and finds out why it makes a good dance partner with mediaeval French Polyphony. So much of the culture of the Caribbean has been shaped by the many and various peoples who have informed its history, and this is mirrored in its music and dance. Katie Derham looks at some of distinctive dance styles of the Caribbean and meets the award-winning choreographers Cecilia Bengolea and François Chaignaud, whose latest dance collaboration DFS, currently running at Sadlers Wells, fuses Caribbean Dance Hall with the music of Machaut.

Clowns have a varied tradition with significant variations in costume and performance. The most recognisable modern clown character is the Auguste or "red clown" type, with outlandish costumes featuring distinctive makeup, colourful wigs, exaggerated footwear, and colourful clothing. Their entertainment style is generally designed to entertain large audiences.Modern clowns are strongly associated with the tradition of the circus clown, which developed out of earlier comedic roles in theatre or Varieté shows during the 19th to mid 20th centuries.Many circus clowns have become well known and are a key circus act in their own right. The first mainstream clown role was portrayed by Joseph Grimaldi (who also created the traditional whiteface make-up design). In the early 1800s, he expanded the role of Clown in the harlequinade that formed part of British pantomimes, notably at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and the Sadler's Wells and Covent Garden theatres. He became so dominant on the London comic stage that harlequinade Clowns became known as "Joey", and both the nickname and Grimaldi's whiteface make-up design were, and still are, used by other types of clowns.The comedy that clowns perform is usually in the role of a fool whose everyday actions and tasks become extraordinary—and for whom the ridiculous, for a short while, becomes ordinary. This style of comedy has a long history in many countries and cultures across the world. Some writers have argued that due to the widespread use of such comedy and its long history it is a need that is part of the human condition.The "fear of clowns," circus clowns in particular as a psychiatric condition has become known by the term coulrophobia.

Mark Smith talks to Esther Richardson, Bryony Lavery and Hannah Peel in a busy York Theatre Royal café about Pilot Theatre’s new adaptation of Brighton Rock. They discuss the appeal of Brighton Rock’s morally complex underworld, getting younger people into regional theatres, creating a musical and choreographic world for the play, and how the company set out to look at Graham Greene’s classic story through a lens which is both contemporary and of the time. Director Esther Richardson has been the Artistic Director of Pilot since February 2016. Her previous theatre work has included productions at theatres throughout the UK, including Soho Theatre, Cast in Doncaster, Tamasha Theatre, Royal and Derngate, Nottingham Playhouse, Bolton Octagon, and many more. Adapter Bryony Lavery is a renowned playwright whose work is regularly performed internationally. She is a prolific writer and adapter, whose plays include Stockholm, Beautiful Burnout and The Believers for Frantic Assembly, Queen Coal for Sheffield Crucible and Treasure Island at the National Theatre. She has also written numerous adaptations which have premièred at York Theatre Royal, including most recently the adaptation of Brideshead Revisited for the York Theatre Royal and English Touring Theatre’s 2016 production. Hannah Peel is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter, composer and arranger, who has recorded as a solo artist as well as with band The Magnetic North and various other high-profile collaborators. She has created scores and co-composed for dance theatre performances at Sadler's Wells and for television. Brighton Rock runs at York Theatre Royal until 3 March 2018 and then tours to Brighton, Colchester, Hull, Cheltenham, Winchester, Watford, Birmingham, Newcastle, Mold, Derby and finally The Lowry Salford Quays. (Photo of Esther Richardson, Bryony Lavery and Hannah Peel by John Saunders.)

Alistair Spalding talks about dance with the zeal of the convert. Although he's headed Sadler's Wells since 2004, commissioning new work from leading international choreographers - Akram Khan, Mark Morris, Matthew Bourne, Pina Bausch - he doesn't come from a dance background. He left school at sixteen, and worked in a solicitor's office, aiming to be a lawyer. He then studied linguistics and philosophy and became a primary school teacher. And so, how did he end up becoming Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Sadler's Wells in London, the top British venue for international dance? In Private Passions, Alistair Spalding reveals his route to an unlikely career, beginning with the first dance performance he ever saw: John Cage was in the pit, blowing on a conch shell. He explains his vision of drawing in the best contemporary composers to write for dance, and of widening the repertoire to include older dancers. He discusses too his innovative and highly popular dance afternoons for the over-65s. Music choices include Debussy, Bach, Thomas Adès, Monteverdi, Nick Cave and Joni Mitchell. Produced by Elizabeth Burke A Loftus production for BBC Radio 3.

Singer Patti Boulaye; dancer David Toole; actor Charlie Condou and costume designer Tracy Tynan join Libby Purves. David Toole is an actor and dancer who played a starring role in the 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony. Born without the use of his legs, he turned his back on a job with the post office to study at the Laban Centre of Movement and Dance and follow his dream of becoming a dancer. He is performing with Stopgap Dance Company in The Enormous Room, a new touring piece about grief and the relationship between a father and daughter. The Enormous Room is at Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler's Wells before heading off on tour. Patti Boulaye OBE is a singer and actor. Her autobiography, The Faith of a Child, charts her life growing up in Nigeria during the Biafran War to her West End debut in the musical Hair. In her new show, Billie and Me, she considers the parallels between Billie Holiday's troubled life and her own - at times difficult - experiences. The production starts its UK tour at the Pheasantry in London. The Faith of a Child - The Autobiography is published by Bipada Academy Ltd. Tracy Tynan is a costume designer and writer. The daughter of theatre critic Kenneth Tynan and actor and writer Elaine Dundy, she recounts her story of growing up amid the wreckage of her parents' disintegrating marriage. The couple were at the epicentre of a glamorous show business world - their social circle included Laurence Olivier, Orson Wells and Tennessee Williams. But the bohemian, hard drinking environment came at a cost and Tracy - who describes her life then as being "in a movie with lots of crazy people" - writes candidly about a childhood where the drama happened offstage. Wear and Tear: The Threads of My Life by Tracy Tynan is published by Duckworth. Charlie Condou is an actor best known for his role as midwife Marcus Dent in the British soap opera Coronation Street. He stars in a touring production of The Crucible playing the witch hunter Reverend Hale. In recent years Charlie has written extensively about his experiences co-parenting - he and his partner care for their children with a friend who is also the children's mother. The Crucible starts its tour at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch. Producer: Paula McGinley.

Anne Seel made motor-racing history last year when she became the only Swede to ride both a motorcycle and a car in the Dakar Rally. Very few women take part in the Dakar Rally in South America and Seel wants to encourage more women to get involved and has set up a women's only rally course just outside of Stockholm. Game of Thrones: We visit the once run down seaside resort of Portrush where thanks to the unusual combination of Game of Thrones and the game of golf, the town has been rejuvenated.. Ballet Football West Ham take on Southampton on Sunday. It's not however West Ham's only fixture of the weekend. On Saturday night and in cooperation with the Sadler's Wells theatre company, there's a community dance production inspired by football. 'Home Turf' features 93 performers aged between 6 and their late 80's including community dancers and football fans! Homophbia Following on from a report released this week about homophobic abuse by football fans we investigate what it’s like to be an LGBT football fan and how significant football is in sending a message of equality around the world (Photo; Annie Seel with her rally car, Credit; Nathalie Rothschild)

Libby Purves meets actress Glynis Barber; flamenco composer and guitarist Paco Pena; Pastor Lorraine Jones and champion long distance swimmer Diana Nyad. Diana Nyad was a champion swimmer in her twenties, setting the record around Manhattan Island. In 1978 she made her first attempt to swim from Cuba to Florida, but failed to get across. In her sixties she made four further attempts, finally achieving her dream at the age of 64. Her memoir, Find a Way - One Untamed and Courageous Life, is published by Pan McMillan. Pastor Lorraine Jones lost her son Dwayne Simpson just short of his 21st birthday when he was fatally stabbed in Brixton. Dwayne had created a boxing club for young people to divert them from joining gangs. After his death his mother relaunched the boxing scheme as Dwaynamics. She recently won a Points of Light Award which recognises outstanding individual volunteers. Paco Pena is a flamenco composer and guitarist. His new work Patrias is an exploration of the emotional and cultural impact on Spain of the civil war and the death of one of its most prominent victims, Federico Garcia Lorca. Born in Cordoba, Paco taught himself to play the guitar as a child. Patrias is at Sadler's Wells, London. Glynis Barber is an actress who is best known for her role in the crime series Dempsey and Makepeace. She is appearing in Stalking the Bogeyman based on the story of journalist David Holthouse who was the victim of a violent rape when he was a child. Glynis's television work includes EastEnders and Emmerdale. Stalking the Bogeyman is at Southwark Playhouse, London. If you have been effected by anything you heard on the programme: Survivors UK (www.survivorsuk.org) Napac (napac.org.uk) Safeline (www.safeline.org.uk) Producer: Paula McGinley.

Filmed at Sadler's Wells on 17th July 2013. Speaking for the motion were Palestinian-American writer, human rights campaigner and political commentator Susan Abulhawa and Former British Ambassador to Syria Sir Andrew Green. Speaking against the motion were Director of Research for the Brookings Doha Center Dr. Shadi Hamid and Senior Adviser on Public Affairs for the Electoral Reform Society Nick Tyrone. The debate was chaired by Guardian columnist, author and broadcaster Jonathan Freedland. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kim Brandstrup is one of the leading choreographers of his generation. He talks to Michael Berkeley about his passion for telling stories through music and dance. Born in Denmark, he originally trained in contemporary dance, but he now also works extensively in ballet, as well as film, theatre and opera, for companies including The Royal Ballet, the Royal Danish Ballet, the Metropolitan Opera, Glyndebourne and Rambert Dance - and his new piece for them is just opening at Sadler's Wells. He chooses music from that piece, Schoenberg's Verklarte Nacht, and film scores by Prokofiev and Miles Davis, reflecting his days as a student of film in Copenhagen. He tells Michael how film has influenced his choreography and informed his narrative style. His other music choices include Bach, and a wonderful, rousing gospel song he remembers from his childhood. Producer: Jane Greenwood A Loftus Production for BBC Radio 3.

Dan, James, Anna, Andy and QI creator John Lloyd discuss Iceland's last McDonalds burger, the science of ignorance, and sea battles at Sadler's Wells.

Robert Cohan is the founding father of contemporary dance in Britain. Born in Brooklyn in 1925, he was first struck by the power of dance whilst on leave from serving in France during the Second World War, when he was taken to see a ballet at Sadler's Wells. Back in New York in 1946, a single modern dance class at the Martha Graham studio convinced him of his vocation. He worked with Graham for almost two decades before moving to London in the late sixties, to found what became the London Contemporary Dance Theatre. Cohan defined the style of British contemporary dance with his breadth of vision, challenging physical style and inspirational teaching. And virtually all the major figures in 20th-century choreography have been influenced by Cohan - Siobhan Davies and Richard Alston to name just two. Ahead of his 90th birthday celebrations at The Place, Robert Cohan talks to Michael Berkeley about the music that's inspired him during his extraordinary career. He movingly recalls his time on active duty in France, including the time when a can of ham and eggs saved his life by deflecting shrapnel. He reveals the sometimes tempestuous reality of working with Martha Graham, and shares his plans for his tenth decade in dance. He shares his love for Elgar, Vivaldi and Prokofiev, but also celebrates the music of less well known composers Barry Guy, Alan Hovhaness, Jon Keliehor, and Eleanor Alberga. Produced by Jane Greenwood. A Loftus Production for BBC Radio 3.

The choreographer Matthew Bourne and X Factor 2013 winner Sam Bailey join Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles. We meet the friends of Malala Yousafzai who were shot by the Taliban in Pakistan two years ago and are now studying in rural Wales. They will be reunited with Malala this week as she receives the Nobel Peace Prize. Tim Wootton was told he wouldn't live long enough to finish school because of a genetic disease. Now in his 40s he explains what impact that's had on his outlook on life, and what others can learn from him. Listener James Showers also shares lessons from his life, a life spent constantly re-inventing himself; head hunter, carpenter, rain forest resident, hermit, and now undertaker. Plus we have the Inheritance Tracks of Michael Morpurgo. Matthew Bourne's production of 'Edward Scissorhands' is on until January 11th at Sadler's Wells. Sam Bailey's autobiography 'Daring to Dream' is published by Blink Publishing. Producer: Joe Kent Editor: Karen Dalziel.

Choreographers Wayne McGregor and Alex Whitley talk to Sean Rafferty about their new work set to music by Thomas Ades opening at Sadlers Wells on 30 October.

Amy Shuard CBE (19 July 1924 – 18 April 1975) was an English operatic soprano renowned in such dramatic roles as Elektra, Turandot and Brünnhilde. She created both title roles in Janáček's Káťa Kabanová and Jenůfa in their respective British premieres. She has been described as "the best English dramatic soprano since Eva Turner" (her teacher). [1] Biography Amy Shuard was born in London. After studying at the Trinity College of Music, she had lessons from Eva Turner. In 1948 the Worshipful Company of Musicians awarded her a prize and she toured South Africa as the organization's representative.[2] She returned there in 1949 to make her operatic debut, in Johannesburg, in the title role of Verdi's Aida; during that season she also sang Giulietta in The Tales of Hoffmann and Venus in Tannhäuser. [3][2] She sang at Sadlers Wells from 1949 to 1953, before undertaking more study in Milan[2] with Rosetta Pampanini, and then at Covent Garden from 1954 until her death. She also sang at Bayreuth, La Scala, Vienna, Buenos Aires and San Francisco.[3] Her notable roles included the title roles in Káťa Kabanová (in the 1951 United Kingdom premiere), Jenůfa (in the 1956 UK premiere), Carmen, Tosca, Turandot, Elektra, Madama Butterfly and Aida; as well as Santuzza in Cavalleria rusticana, Eboli in Don Carlos, Tatyana in Eugene Onegin, Magda Sorel in The Consul, Lady Macbeth (in the first production of Verdi's Macbeth at Covent Garden), and Kostelnička Buryjovka in Jenůfa in 1972 and 1974.[3][1] The latter part of the career saw her essay Wagnerian roles, and she was the first English soprano to sing Brünnhilde at Covent Garden. She also sang Isolde at Geneva, as well as Sieglinde and Kundry. San Francisco was the only place she appeared on stage in the United States, firstly as Brünnhilde in Die Walküre in October 1963, then in 1966 as Elektra, 1968 as Turandot, and finally as Brünnhilde in Götterdämmerung in 1969.[2] Amy Shuard was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). She died in 1975, aged 50. Aida,Tosca,Turandot,Boheme,Schicchi,Chenier,Cavalleria,Onegin

Libby Purves meets British Museum curator Dr Daniel Antoine; translator and editor Brendan King; artist Hetain Patel and writer Sue Swingler. Dr Daniel Antoine is the curator of human remains at the British Museum. He is overseeing the museum's new interactive exhibition Ancient lives, new discoveries. The exhibition uses state-of-the-art technology to allow visitors to look inside mummy cases and examine what's underneath the wrappings. Visitors will encounter each mummy with accompanying large-screen visualisations which penetrate through the skin to reveal the secrets of mummification. Ancient lives, new discoveries is at the British Museum. Brendan King is a freelance translator, editor and reviewer. Between 1987 and 2010 he worked as Beryl Bainbridge's secretary, helping her prepare some of her novels for publication including The Birthday Boys; Master Georgie and According to Queeney. He also completed the novel she was working on at the time of her death, The Girl in the Polka-Dot Dress, from his copy of the working manuscript. An exhibition of Beryl Bainbridge's paintings, Art & Life: The Paintings of Beryl Bainbridge is at the Cultural Institute, King's College, London. Hetain Patel is a visual artist whose work crosses a number of art forms, with the body and identity as his core concerns. His new solo show, American Boy, is a warm and witty self-portrait created entirely from quotes from American movies and home-grown television. American Boy is at the Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler's Wells, London. Sue Swingler's new book, The House of Fiction, tells the story of her complicated family background and her relationship with her father Leonard and step-mother, the Australian novelist Elizabeth Jolley. The House Of Fiction - Leonard, Susan and Elizabeth Jolley, is published by Scribe. A drama documentary The House of Fiction, based on Sue's book, will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Producer: Paula McGinley.

Video review to help spread word of mouth on the beauty and magic to be found within live theatre

Libby Purves meets engineer and performer Professor Brendan Walker; former Home Secretary Alan Johnson MP; blues musician Johnny Mars and actor and campaigner Amanda Waring. Professor Brendan Walker is an aeronautical engineer and TV presenter. He is known as the Renaissance Showman for his technology-inspired performances and has been dubbed 'the world's only thrill engineer.' In his new four-part series for Channel 4 he examines recent aviation incidents and near misses to discover what they tell us about safety in the sky. Alan Johnson MP was general secretary of the Communication Workers Union before entering Parliament as Labour MP for Hull West and Hessle in 1997. He went on to serve as Health Secretary, Education Secretary and Home Secretary, a post he held from June 2009 to May 2010. He was Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer until his resignation in 2011. His book, This Boy - A Memoir of a Childhood, is published by Bantam Press. Johnny Mars is a blues singer and harmonica player. Born into a sharecropping family in the Deep South, he formed his first band in 1957 and performed at Woodstock. During his career he has played on the same bill as Jimi Hendrix and BB King. He is now involved in a music mentoring scheme called 'Dare to Dream'. He is playing alongside other musicians for the Clod Ensemble who are performing their show Zero at the Brighton Festival and Sadler's Wells. Amanda Waring is the daughter of actor Dorothy Tutin. She is an actor herself and also a campaigner for dignity and compassion in care. She is appearing in her one woman show, For the Love of Chocolate, at the Festival of Chichester. Producer: Paula McGinley.

Libby Purves meets shoe designer Marc Hare; filmmaker Leslie Woodhead; choreographer Kate Prince and Howard Raymond, son of Paul - the King of Soho. Shoe designer Marc Hare is known for his stylish handcrafted shoes. His creations are worn by some of the world's most fashionable men including Robert Downey Jr, Javier Bardem and Tinie Tempah. He opened his first shop in London last year and is taking part in The Secret Meaning of Shoes,a talk examining how and why shoes have become such a fetishised commodity. The Secret Meaning of Shoes is part of a series called 37 Things You Need to Know About Modern Britain at The House of St Barnabas, in London. Leslie Woodhead OBE is a documentary maker. He shot the first TV footage of the Beatles performing at the Cavern Club in 1962 and has won many awards for his work. His book, How The Beatles Rocked The Kremlin, tells the story of how the band's music galvanised young Soviets to challenge the communist regime. How The Beatles Rocked The Kremlin - The Untold Story of a Noisy Revolution is published by Bloomsbury. Choreographer Kate Prince is founder and artistic director of dance company ZooNation. Their production of Some Like It Hip Hop has just returned to Sadler's Wells. Referencing Billy Wilder's film and Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, the comical tale of love, mistaken identity and cross-dressing is played out in their trademark style of hip hop, comedy and physical theatre. Some Like it Hip Hop is at the Peacock Theatre. Howard Raymond is the son of Paul Raymond who launched Raymond's Revuebar in London's Soho in 1958. Paul Raymond went on to build up a property empire and publish adult magazines such as Men Only, Mayfair, and Razzle. Howard is an adviser on a forthcoming film about his father called the King of Soho.

Featuring Kevin Spacey and Sadlers Wells Theatre we examine: A ‘tax on giving’ that has been met with fierce opposition from charitable organisations. This comes as Chancellor George Osborne announced the treasury’s ‘charity tax’. Presenter/Editor/Reporter Jayson Mansaray 'Give it back George' Website :: Drop the Charity Tax Campaign 'Give it back George' Twitter :: Sadler's Wells Website :: Kevin Spacey Biog :: London Old Vic :: Sadlers Wells :: 'Best Disabled Access Facilities in London' Camden Community Radio :: Camden Community Radio on Twitter :: File Download (4:21 min / 4 MB)

This week Libby Purves is joined by Runa Khan Marre, Charles Hazlewood, Matthew Bourne and Gebisa Ejeta. Runa Khan Marre is preserving the unique cultural heritage of Bangladeshi boat-building through her living museum on the riverbank near Dhaka. She is one of six global innovators who is in London to receive a Rolex Award for Enterprise. The Rolex Awards for Enterprise will take place at the Royal Geographical Society. Charles Hazlewood is an award-winning conductor who works regularly with great orchestras around the globe including the BBC Concert Orchestra. In a documentary for BBC Four, 'Scrapheap Orchestra', he sets about trying to create an entire orchestra of 44 instruments made entirely from scrap, culminating in performances at the 2011 BBC Proms. 'Scrapheap Orchestra' is on BBC Four. Matthew Bourne is the renowned choreographer. He and his ballet company New Adventures' returns to Sadler's Wells this Christmas with their much loved production of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker! Originally created in 1992 for the ballet's centenary, this year it celebrates its own 20th birthday. Gebisa Ejeta is one of the world's leading, and award-winning plant scientists who has been developing drought-resistant crops for Africa. He is now an adviser to President Barack Obama as well as being a World Food Prize Laureate and Distinguished Professor at Purdue University, USA. He will be taking part in a BBC World Service event, 'Exchanges at the Frontier, at the Wellcome Collection. Producer: Lucinda Montefiore.

Eddie Nestor and Robert Meakin are joined by Daddy Ernie to look back at the Arsenal game and forward to Schalke and the now massive game against Chelski at the weekend.

Sue Lawley's castaway is the dancer Carlos Acosta. Carlos Acosta is one of the greatest ballet dancers of his generation. He is the first black principal dancer at Covent Garden. Tocororo, the show about his own life, that he wrote, choreographed and starred in, broke box office records at Sadlers Wells and in his homeland of Cuba he is a national hero. But his extraordinary success has followed an even more remarkable journey from the impoverished back streets of Havana. He was the youngest of 11 children and, as a boy, his only ambition was to be a footballer. At the age of nine, his father sent him to ballet school - inspired not by art, but by the promise of free school meals and the hope that his increasingly delinquent son would be brought into line by the strict regime. Carlos hated it, was bullied by his friends and was twice expelled. The first time, his father persuaded the school to take him back, the second, his father found another ballet school and secured Carlos a place there as a boarder. It was only there, at the age of 13, that he had an epiphany. Seeing the Cuban National Ballet perform he decided he did want to follow that path. At the age of 16 he travelled for the first time to Europe, he won four major dance competitions in one year and his career as an international ballet dancer was launched.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]Favourite track: Bacalao Con Pan by Irakere Book: Dirty Trilogy of Havana by Pedro Juan Gutiérrez Luxury: Case of Havana rum

Sue Lawley's castaway is the dancer Carlos Acosta. Carlos Acosta is one of the greatest ballet dancers of his generation. He is the first black principal dancer at Covent Garden. Tocororo, the show about his own life, that he wrote, choreographed and starred in, broke box office records at Sadlers Wells and in his homeland of Cuba he is a national hero. But his extraordinary success has followed an even more remarkable journey from the impoverished back streets of Havana. He was the youngest of 11 children and, as a boy, his only ambition was to be a footballer. At the age of nine, his father sent him to ballet school - inspired not by art, but by the promise of free school meals and the hope that his increasingly delinquent son would be brought into line by the strict regime. Carlos hated it, was bullied by his friends and was twice expelled. The first time, his father persuaded the school to take him back, the second, his father found another ballet school and secured Carlos a place there as a boarder. It was only there, at the age of 13, that he had an epiphany. Seeing the Cuban National Ballet perform he decided he did want to follow that path. At the age of 16 he travelled for the first time to Europe, he won four major dance competitions in one year and his career as an international ballet dancer was launched. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Bacalao Con Pan by Irakere Book: Dirty Trilogy of Havana by Pedro Juan Gutiérrez Luxury: Case of Havana rum

Dame Alicia Markova was born Lilian Alice Marks in December 1910, in a two-bedroom flat in Finsbury Park, London. She began ballet classes because she was flat footed and knock kneed. Her natural talent, when she was ten, was spotted by Diaghilev, the Russian artistic impresario who founded the Ballets Russes and brought the contemporary arts of Russia to Europe. Dame Alicia joined Diaghilev's company, which was based in Monte Carlo, in 1925, a month after her 14th birthday. Diaghilev changed her name to Alicia Markova and cast her in the title role of Nightingale in Le Rossignol, a ballet scored by Stravinsky, choreographed by Balanchine and with costumes designed by Matisse. It premiered in Paris in June 1925. After Diaghilev's death in 1929 she returned to England and became a leading figure of the emerging English ballet scene, dancing with the Ballet Rambert and Vic Wells Ballet, as well as at Sadlers Wells. Dame Alicia danced the leading roles in Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Giselle, which became her trademark, illustrating her unique style of fragility and strength. In 1950, together with her dancing partner Anton Dolin, Dame Alicia founded The London Festival Ballet which eventually became the English National Ballet. She was still dancing Giselle at the age of 48 and had her last dance on stage in the early 1960s. Subsequently she has worked as director, patron and teacher and was awarded the CBE for services to dance in 1958. Her memory for dance steps has proved invaluable for dance historians, pupils and teachers alike. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Softly Awakes my Heart from Samson & Deliah by Camille Saint-Saëns Book: Speaking of Diaghilev by John Drummond Luxury: The perfume Knowing by Estee Lauder

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the ballerina, Dame Beryl Grey. When she joined Sadlers Wells at 14 she quickly took on leading roles and became Britain's first 'Baby Ballerina'. In the late 1950s she left the Royal Ballet to pursue a glittering freelance career - becoming the first Western ballerina to perform at the Bolshoi. In conversation with Sue Lawley, she talks about her life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]Favourite track: The Beginning of the Third Movement by Jean Sibelius Book: This Sceptred Isle by Christopher Lee Luxury: Box of watercolour paints

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the ballerina, Dame Beryl Grey. When she joined Sadlers Wells at 14 she quickly took on leading roles and became Britain's first 'Baby Ballerina'. In the late 1950s she left the Royal Ballet to pursue a glittering freelance career - becoming the first Western ballerina to perform at the Bolshoi. In conversation with Sue Lawley, she talks about her life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: The Beginning of the Third Movement by Jean Sibelius Book: This Sceptred Isle by Christopher Lee Luxury: Box of watercolour paints