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Li Cunxin, Playing William Shakespeare, How art responded to the atomic bomb

Former ballet star Li Cunxin on growing up in Mao's China, the art of playing William Shakespeare and how popular culture has responded to the atomic bomb. With Samira Ahmed.

Former ballet star and stockbroker Li Cunxin discusses growing up during Mao's Cultural Revolution in China, and bringing his Australian ballet company to the Coliseum in London to perform La Sylphide.

This week marks 70 years since the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where more than 200,000 people were killed. To consider how popular culture has responded to the atomic bomb, Front Row brings together documentary maker Simon Guerrier, science-fiction novelist Kim Newman, and journalist Jon Savage to discuss work from ranging from Stanley Kubrick's film Dr Strangelove, to Frankie Goes to Hollywood's song Two Tribes.

Plus actor and writer Gareth Somers discusses creating a new one-man show opening at the Attic Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon, in which Shakespeare re-lives his own life story.

Presenter Samira Ahmed
Producer Ella-mai Robey.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • Li Cunxin

    Duration: 10:10

  • How art responded to the atomic bomb

    Duration: 09:40

  • Playing William Shakespeare

    Duration: 08:03

Queensland Ballet

Queensland Ballet

performed by the Australia's Queensland Ballet is at the London Coliseum until Saturday 8 August.


1616: The Secrets and Passions of William Shakespeare

1616: The Secrets and Passions of William Shakespeare

is at The Attic Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon until 23 August 2015


Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Samira Ahmed
Interviewed Guest Li Cunxin
Interviewed Guest Simon Guerrier
Interviewed Guest Kim Newman
Interviewed Guest Jon Savage
Interviewed Guest Gareth Somers
Producer Ella-mai Robey

Broadcast

  • Tue 4 Aug 2015 19:15

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