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Alan Carr's Queer Icon, New Tate boss Maria Balshaw, The role of the understudy, The Sunbathers on The Southbank

Maria Balshaw on taking over The Tate and comedian Alan Carr shares his Queer Icon. Plus the art of the understudy and The Sunbathers sculpture returns to the Southbank.

A month ago, Maria Balshaw took over the role of Director of Tate from Sir Nicholas Serota, having been Director of The Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester. In one of her first interviews the only woman to hold the post discusses her plans for the future of the institution.

For our Queer Icons series, Alan Carr chooses My Father and Myself, J.R Ackerley's memoir about being gay and out in the first half of the 20th Century, and the complex relationship with his father.

We cross live to the National Theatre to speak to actress Paksie Vernon, who may get to go on stage tonight, and hear from theatre critic Susannah Clapp about the art of the understudy.

The Festival of Britain sculpture The Sunbathers, by Peter Laszlo Peri was in a terrible state of repair when John Wilson took the artist's daughter to see it in the restoration studio. Now the pair see it back where it belongs on London's Southbank.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • Maria Balshaw

    Duration: 10:30

  • Understudies

    Duration: 07:03

  • Alan Carr

    Duration: 05:27

  • Sunbathers

    Duration: 04:40

Alan Carr's Queer Icon

Alan Carr's Queer Icon
Alan Carr
Alan Carr's is My Father and Myself by J R Ackerley

Maria Balshaw

Maria Balshaw
Maria Balshaw
Director, 听
Photo credit: Johnnie Shand Kydd

Main image: John Wilson and Maria Balshaw
Photo credit: Jerome Weatherald


The Sunbathers at the Southbank

The Sunbathers at the Southbank
The Sunbathers at the Southbank
by Peter Laszlo Peri

Ann MacIntyre stands with John Wilson in front of her father's restored work

Broadcast

  • Wed 12 Jul 2017 19:15

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