Free Thinking

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Free Thinking: The Troubles in Northern Ireland

The Troubles in Northern Ireland

BBC Radio 4 - Free Thinking, The Troubles in Northern Ireland

As an Imperial War Museum show opens, Anne McElvoy and guests discuss art and the Troubles

An opera film and a new composition with poetry reflect on hopes for the future, whilst novelist Louise Kennedy and an exhibition at IWM London look back at 1970s Belfast.

The Imperial War Museum in London is putting on display recently collected objects and new first-hand testimony describing life in Northern Ireland during the Troubles in its first show to look at this topic. Anne McElvoy explores what it means to explore this history in writing, music and museum displays.  The author Louise Kennedy's novel Trespasses is a 1970s love story.  Poet Maria McManus and composer Keith Acheson have collaborated on a piece called Ellipses, which they describe as being about "doubling back and reclaiming the sense of wonder, awe and timelessness that came before all the grimness". And Maria Fusco has worked on a new opera film which highlights the experiences of working class women in Belfast. 

Producer: Robyn Read
Louise Kennedy's books include the short story collection The End of the World is a Cul de Sac and a novel set during 1970s Belfast called Trespasses which is now out in paperback.

Northern Ireland: Living with the Troubles is a free exhibition at the IWM London curated by Craig Murray.

Ellipses is being performed at the Belfast International Arts Festival in November.  

History of the Present, an opera film, was made on 35mm and SD video in the streets of Belfast, the Ulster Museum and the Royal Opera House in London. It was co-directed by Maria Fusco and Margaret Salmon with music by composer Annea Lockwood and will be screened 24.06.23 at Art Night, Dundee, 02.07.23 The Royal Opera House, London and 11.08.23 for the Edinburgh Art Festival [live version]

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