Programme Details

Presenter: Paul Allen
Broadcast Asst: Colette Cunningham
Producer: Stephen Hughes

Paul Allen discusses the reasons that theatre is booming outside London , while numerous shows in the West End have closed. Some regional theatres, such as the Everyman Playhouse in Liverpool and the Bristol Old Vic, have increased their box office by as much as 50% over the last few years. And the plays that people are going to see are often original and challenging rather than revivals of old favourites. So what's happening ? Why is theatre looking so healthy after years in the doldrums ? Paul Allen talks to artistic directors from Bristol , Liverpool and Nottingham .

Plus, there's a review of The Miracle Of Bern, the film about the German victory at the World Cup in 1954, which many people have regarded as the beginning of the German economic miracle. At the time, Germany was still feeling the effects of the war, many soldiers were still prisoners in the Soviet Union , and everyone expected the team to lose and lose badly. Their miraculous victory changed the morale of the country, and the film has had a similar effect: Gerhard Schroder wept when he saw it. But many critics have not been moved, describing the movie as dangerous in its depiction of German soldiers as victims.

Additional Information:
The Miracle Of Bern is in selected cinemas from Friday.

Galileo's Daughter is in rep in the Theatre Royal Bath until August 14th

The Saul Bass exhibition is at the Design Museum from Saturday until October 10 th .