Tony Harrison at 60
To mark Tony Harrison 's 60th birthday on Wednesday,
Michael Kustow explores the work of one of Britain's most versatile and challenging poets. He came to national attention with his controversial poem v, whose themes of cultural and social division, family, love, death and the fragility of culture echo through all of his work. Director Sir Richard Eyre , composer Richard Blackford , designer Jocelyn Herbert and other artists evoke his poetry. Actors Sian Thomas , Barrie Rutter and Greg Hicks perform excerpts from his plays, and Harrison reads his own poems. Other Harrison poems, read by the poet, will appear between programmes through the week. Producer Michael Kustow