BBC Radio 4 LW

Something of the Night

Discussion & Talk

Factual

Libby Purves presents a live, nocturnal conversation programme.

Libby Purves presents a live, nocturnal conversation programme, with a very particular connection to the night and nightlife in all its forms.

Something of the Night: Stephen Hough; Stephanie Street; Stan Todd

09/04/2018

Stephen Hough; Stephanie Street; Stan Todd

BBC Radio 4 - Something of the Night, Stephen Hough; Stephanie Street; Stan Todd

Stephen Hough and Stephanie Street join Libby Purves for live, nocturnal conversation.

Pianist and composer Stephen Hough, actor Stephanie Street and Stan Todd, Royal National Lifeboat Institution helmsman, join Libby Purves for live, nocturnal conversation.

Pianist and composer Stephen Hough; actor and writer Stephanie Street and Stan Todd, Royal National Lifeboat Institution helmsman, join Libby Purves for live, nocturnal conversation.

Actor and writer Stephanie Street plays Diana Ingram in Quiz, a new play by James Graham. The play investigates the story of Charles Ingram, who was found guilty of cheating his way to the top prize on the game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, aided by his wife, Diana, and a fellow contestant. Stephanie trained at LAMDA and her theatre work includes Behind the Beautiful Forevers at the National Theatre; Shades at the Royal Court Theatre and her own play Sisters at the Sheffield Crucible. She is a founder member of Act for Change which campaigns for representative diversity in the arts. Quiz is at the Noel Coward Theatre, London until June 16th. 

Stephen Hough is a concert pianist, composer and writer. His 2014 album In the Night features music inspired by darkness and includes works by Schumann, Beethoven and Chopin, as well as Stephen's own Piano Sonata No 2. He describes pianists as nocturnal animals. "We have to come to life, to full alertness, after dark. It's not just because our audiences finish their daytime jobs at dusk and we are there to provide entertainment, rather there is something about the dangerous emotions unlocked by great music which needs the mystery of darkness for a full impact." Stephen is artist in residence at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra with concerts coming up in May and June. 

Stan Todd is a full-time helmsman at the Tower lifeboat station next to Waterloo Bridge, London. Nicknamed Stormy Stan for his ability to helm a lifeboat in the fiercest of seas, Stan first joined Brighton Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI ) aged 21 in 1980, and was recruited to the newly-formed RNLI service on the Thames in 2001. Over the years Stan has rescued hundreds of people from the river, with many of these rescues taking place at night. "It's healthy to feel fear, or you become complacent", he says. "It's not only yourself you're looking after, but the crew and the casualty's life in your hands. Fear keeps your senses sharp.". The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Volunteers make up 95% of the workforce. 

Producer: Paula McGinley.

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Something of the Night

Stephen Hough; Stephanie Street; Stan Todd

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