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Midsummer Night Dreams

on BBC Radio 3

Fiona Talkington and Ian McMillan host an evening of drama, music, commissioned poetry, reportage and listener contributions in celebration of the summer solstice.
With studio sessions from Finnish folk band
Varttina and English singer June Tabor.
Mendelssohn Overture: A Midsummer Night's Dream BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conductor Richard Hickox
6.45 A Midsummer Night's Dream
ByWilliam Shakespeare. Another chance to hear a star-studded production of one of Shakespeare's best-loved comedies, first broadcast in 1999. Introduced by Richard Eyre.
Music composed and performed by Robin Rimbaud Director Susan Roberts
Midsummer Serenades and Renga
During the three intervals, updates on work in progress at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, near
Wakefield, where Alec Finlay is leading the creation of a 100-verse poem in the Japanese renga tradition. Plus seasonal music by Haydn, Paul Patterson and Grainger performed by the Galliard Ensemble.
9.45 The Posthumous Life of Pagan England 1/2. Historian Ronald Hutton takes Ian McMillan around Solsbury Hill near Bath, where a fiery wheel-rolling tradition persisted.
10.00 Midsummer in Midsomer Norton
Ian McMillan visits the Somerset town to see if its romantic name makes summers special there.
10.15 The Land of Giving In Lavinia Greenlaw 's poetic account of midsummer bathed in 24-hour sunlight on the Lofoten Islands, Norway.
10.30 A Midsummer Light's Nighthouse
WN Herbert reads a poem from his lighthouse.
10.45 The Posthumous Life of Pagan England 2/2. Ronald Hutton tours the ancient stone circles atStanton Drew, near Bristol.
11.00 Of Fowls and Foula Poet Kathleen Jamie and musician Don Paterson share the midsummer light on the Shetland island of Foula.
11.25 Magic Meadow Drums Novelist and poet James Lasdun calls in from Woodstock in New York state, still a hippy gathering-place.
11.30 Midsummer Legumes and Brass Ian McMillan finds out what's going on at his brother John's allotment.
11.50 Midsummer Renga
An update on the progress of Alec Finlay 's communal poetry creation.
11.55 The Nights Are Drawing In Ian McMillan performs his own countdown poem for midnight. Email throughout the evening with your midsummer moments and memories to radio3midsummer@bbc.co.uk
Producers Tim Dee , Lyndon Jones and Susan Roberts

Contributors

Unknown:
Fiona Talkington
Unknown:
Ian McMillan
Conductor:
Richard Hickox
Unknown:
Bywilliam Shakespeare.
Introduced By:
Richard Eyre.
Unknown:
Robin Rimbaud
Director:
Susan Roberts
Unknown:
Alec Finlay
Unknown:
Paul Patterson
Unknown:
Ronald Hutton
Unknown:
Ian McMillan
Unknown:
Midsomer Norton
Unknown:
Ian McMillan
Unknown:
Lavinia Greenlaw
Unknown:
Ronald Hutton
Unknown:
Kathleen Jamie
Musician:
Don Paterson
Unknown:
James Lasdun
Unknown:
Brass Ian McMillan
Unknown:
Alec Finlay
Unknown:
Ian McMillan
Producers:
Tim Dee
Producers:
Lyndon Jones
Producers:
Susan Roberts
Theseus/Oberon:
David Threlfall
Titiania/Hippolyta:
Sylvestra Le Touzel
Lysander:
Samuel West
Hermia:
Amanda Root
Demetrius:
Nick Bagnall
Helena:
Kathryn Hunt
Bottom:
Richard Griffiths
Snug/Egeus:
Donald McBride
Peter Quince:
Peter Sallis
Philostrate/Robin Starveling:
Derek Walmsley
Flute:
Andy Cryer
Snout:
Malcolm Hebden
Puck:
Becky Simpson
Peaseblossom:
Thomas Pinnock
Cobweb/Lead Fairy:
William Haigh
Mustard Seed/Moth:
Holly Grainger

BBC Radio 3

About BBC Radio 3

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

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