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Tom Odell, Ove Arup, Theatre's response to the Battle of the Somme

Wrong Crowd is singer-songwriter Tom Odell's new album, he talks about his inspiration. And from the penguin pool at London Zoo, we assess the structural engineer Ove Arup.

Wrong Crowd is Tom Odell's second album, the follow-up to his number one album Long Way Down. The singer-songwriter talks about avoiding writing about luxury hotel rooms since his success, and drawing more on childhood memories for inspiration.

The structural engineer Ove Arup is the subject of a new exhibition at the V&A in London. The co-curators discuss the work of the philosopher and designer, who was responsible for the construction of a number of high-profile buildings including the Penguin Pool at London Zoo and Sydney Opera House.

July marks the hundredth anniversary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme. It's an event that playwrights have often grappled with and there are three plays on stage now; Frank McGuinness's Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, Furious Folly, an immersive, outdoor piece, co-created by Mark Anderson, and First Light which tells the story through the lives of two young soldiers shot at dawn for deserting. The writers and directors explain how they approached this the bloodiest battle in history.

Presenter: John Wilson
Producer: Angie Nehring.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • The Battle of the Somme

    Duration: 10:56

  • Ove Arup

    Duration: 08:14

  • Tom Odell

    Duration: 08:16

Tom Odell

Tom Odell
Tom Odell's new album, Wrong Crowd, is out now.
Image credit: Joel Cox

Ove Arup

Ove Arup
Engineering the World: Ove Arup and the Philosophy of Total Design opens at the V&A, London on 18 June.
Image copyright: Jerome Weatherald

The Battle of the Somme

The Battle of the Somme
First Light runs at the Chichester Festival Theatre until 2nd July. 
Image credit: Manuel Harlan
Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme by Frank McGuiness is playing at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin from 6 August to 24 September. 
Furious Folly by Mark Anderson is playing in Oxford, Birmingham and Stockton-on-Tees from 17 June until 5 August.

Credits

RoleContributor
Interviewed GuestTom Odell
Interviewed GuestFrank McGuinness
Interviewed GuestMark Anderson
PresenterJohn Wilson
ProducerAngie Nehring

Broadcast

  • Mon 13 Jun 201619:15

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