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Front Row: Theatres in pink, David Pickard on the BBC Proms, Friday Review on Hamilton, Decolonising arts curriculum in school

03/07/2020

Theatres in pink, David Pickard on the BBC Proms, Friday Review on Hamilton, Decolonising arts curriculum in school

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, Theatres in pink, David Pickard on the BBC Proms, Friday Review on Hamilton, Decolonising arts curriculum in school

Theatres wrapped in pink to campaign for survival.

Designer Tom Piper on wrapping theatres in pink tape. Plans for the BBC Proms. Front Row's Friday Review watches Hamilton on screen and reflects on the week's arts news.

Some of our major theatres are wrapped in pink today as part of the #missinglivetheatre campaign.  Designer Tom Piper talks about the project.

Novelist Sara Collins and actor Daniel York Loh make up our Friday Review panel. They’ve watched the newly released recording of the smash hit musical Hamilton, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, which allows viewers to replicate the theatrical experience at home. Also on the agenda, Michaela Coel’s BBC One drama I May Destroy you, which continues to make waves; and what the cancellation of pantomimes means for theatres and actors.

The Black Lives Matter movement has thrown into sharper focus the role of schools in providing an appropriately diverse curriculum, with many saying that Black British history for example should take a greater place.  But what about the curriculum in arts subjects?   Is change needed and if so what?  Bennie Kara is the author of the upcoming A Little Guide for Teachers:  Diversity in Schools and a deputy head teacher in the East Midlands.  

BBC Proms director David Pickard discusses his plans for this year’s festival as the official guide is published, and how he’s had to adapt to the restrictions he faces for the safety of live audiences and performers.

From Fargo to The Silence of the Lambs, via James Bond, whenever someone in a film is about to meet a particularly grisly end it seems, these days, their demise has to be accompanied by the most beautiful classical music. It wasn’t always this way. Critic Theodore Gioia considers why, and what this means.

Presenter:  John Wilson
Producer:  Julian May
Studio Manager:  Matilda Macari

Main photo shows: The National Theatre on London's South Bank wrapped in bright pink barrier tape reading "Missing Live Theatre"  (c) John Wilson/BBC

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