Night Waves

5 December 2005

Monday 5 December 2005 21:30-22:15 (Radio 3)

The Catholic Church has let it be known that it intends to abolish limbus infantium - the limbo for the souls of infants who die unbaptised. Night Waves looks at why the idea of limbo was created, and why the Church no longer needs it.

Duration:

45 minutes

Programme details

The film adaptation of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", the first book in the C.S. Lewis Narnia series is about to open around the world - the result of a collaboration between Walden Media and Disney. Disney hope the film will spawn sequels to rival Harry Potter. Walden Media hope to encourage a growing taste in film audiences - who flocked in surprising numbers to see "The Passion of Christ" - for more moral family fare in the cinema. Father Peter Malone assesses the result.

Meanwhile Michael Billington weighs up the merits of Benjamin Britten's opera "Billy Budd", based on Herman Melville's novella about a stammering sailor who is wrongfully executed and makes an apparent Christ-like return. This is first in a cycle of Britten operas proposed for the ENO by artistic director Sean Doran - who has just announced his resignation. Turbulent times for the ENO.

Woody Harrelson returns to the West End in Tennessee William's steamy story of a defrocked priest - "The Night of the Iguana" - starring alongside Jenny Seagrove and Claire Higgins. Night Waves critic Susannah Clapp will be reporting on the first night.

The Catholic Church has let it be known that it intends to abolish limbus infantium - the limbo for the souls of infants who die unbaptised. Clifford Longley looks at why the idea of limbo was created, and why the Church no longer needs it.

Presenter: Paul Allen Producer: Ian Willox

Further Information

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, is on general release from Thursday 8th December, certificate PG.

The Turner Prize exhibition runs at the Tate Britain until 22nd January 2006.

Billy Budd is at the London Coliseum. Click here for further information.

Night of the Iguana is at the Lyric Theatre, London, until 25th March 2006.

Night Waves

Episode and Playlist Information

• 14 December 2005
• 13 December 2005
• 9 December 2005
• 8 December 2005
• 7 December 2005
• 6 December 2005
• 5 December 2005
• 2 December 2005
• 30 November 2005
• 29 November 2005