Matthew Sweet is joined by playwright Mark Ravenhill to excavate the lost world of Victorian drama. The novels of the 19th century still fill our TV and cinema screens, but why do we ignore the dramatists of that era? As the little-known play 'Ours' is given a new production, Mark Ravenhill puts forward the case for paying more attention to his Victorian predecessors.
Playlist
Rudolf Steiner
Matthew Sweet talks to Gary Lachman, the author of a new biography of Rudolf Steiner. Many people are familiar with Waldorf schools but Steiner was also a philosopher who wrote on Kant and Goethe, was an advocate of holistic medicine and organic foods, and became a target for the Nazis.
Rudolph Steiner by Gary Lachman is published by Floris Books.
Nineteenth Century Theatre
As a rare production of a forgotten Victorian comedy opens in London, the playwright Mark Ravenhill discusses why the theatre of the nineteenth century is long overdue a revival.
Ours by T.W. Robertson is on at the Finborough Theatre between Tues 10th July - Sat 4th August.
www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk
Il Tempo del Postino
This event - being put on for three nights at the Opera House - is intended as the grand finale of the first Manchester International Festival. Matthew talks to the curators Hans Ulrich Obrist, whose first venture involved curating an exhibition in his own kitchen, and Philippe Parreno, about what they hope will happen when a group of international artists are each given fifteen minutes on stage to show their art.
Il Tempo del Postino is on at the Opera House, Manchester between Thurs 12th - Sat 14th July. Part of the Manchester International Festival.
www.manchesterinternationalfestival.com
Lake District Sunset
In the last of this week's letters inspired by sunsets around the world, the writer Sarah Hall reflects on the sun setting in the Lake District.
