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Joan Bakewell, 2017 Proms, The Zookeeper's Wife

Arts news. Joan Bakewell discusses her play, Keeping in Touch; David Pickard announces the 2017 Proms season; and Larushka Ivan-Zadeh reviews The Zookeeper's Wife.

In 1978 Harold Pinter sent Joan Bakewell a copy of his new play Betrayal. Upon reading it she discovered that it was based with vivid accuracy on an affair they'd had years earlier and which had remained a secret. Shocked and bewildered she wrote her own play in response. Keeping In Touch has been hidden away ever since, but is now being broadcast on Radio 4, reworked. Joan Bakewell talks to Kirsty about the play, Betrayal and her changing relationship with both.

Yesterday Emma Rice, the Artistic Director of Shakespeare's Globe in London, posted an open letter on the theatre's own website addressed to the future Artistic Director. The post is being advertised after Emma Rice announced her departure last October - a decision which was apparently sparked by her use of artificial lights and sound. The open letter is just the latest in an ongoing saga that's been evolving off-stage at the theatre so, with the Bard's birthday just days away, literary critic Matt Thorne helps us to untangle a drama that Shakespeare himself might have been proud of.

David Pickard took up his role as Director of the 大象传媒 Proms last year. He joins Kirsty to announce highlights of this year's season, including the first Front Row commission, and to discuss the intricacies of putting on the world's largest classical music festival.

New film The Zookeeper's Wife is a based on a true story of Antonina 呕abi艅ska and her husband Jan who ran the Warsaw Zoo and who during the Nazi occupation helped save hundreds of people and animals. The film stars Jessica Chastain and is directed by Niki Caro. Larushka Ivan-Zadeh reviews.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • Joan Bakewell

    Duration: 09:19

  • Matt Thorne on Shakespeare's Globe

    Duration: 05:22

  • 2017 Proms

    Duration: 08:07

  • The Zookeeper's Wife

    Duration: 04:20

Joan Bakewell

Joan Bakewell

play is on 大象传媒 Radio 4 on 22 April 2017 at 1545, and on the 大象传媒 iPlayer.

Images: Main image above and to the left: Joan Bakewell

大象传媒 Proms 2017

大象传媒 Proms 2017

The 大象传媒 Proms runs from 14 July - 09 September 2017.听 Click here for more information.

The Zookeeper's Wife

The Zookeeper's Wife

The Zookeeper's Wife open in UK cinemas on 21 April 2017, certificate 12A.

Image: Jessica Chastain as Antonina, the Zookeeper's wife.

Image credit: Universal

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Kirsty Lang
Interviewed Guest Joan Bakewell
Interviewed Guest Matt Thorne
Interviewed Guest David Pickard
Interviewed Guest Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

Broadcast

  • Thu 20 Apr 2017 19:15

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