The history of the female matchmaker and why she's still important today
The play Celestina has been a pivotal work in European culture since 1499, when it was first performed. And the character of the ever resourceful procuress Celestina has inspired artists from Goya to Picasso.
Judi Herman finds out more about the role of the procuress in both literature and art and talks to Kathryn Hunter who plays the title role inCelestina at at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
And Jenni speaks to Bella Sharer, a part-time Orthodox Jewish matchmaker and Mary Balfour, dating guru and author of Smart dating: How to Find Your Man about why they do it and how their role is viewed in today's society.
Celestina opens at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre on 16 September and runs until 25 September
Smart Dating: How to Find Your Man by Mary Balfour is published by Element Books, ISBN 0007170793
