Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

Episode details

Radio 3,12 Mar 2013,45 mins

Yael Farber, Kevin Fong, John Agard and Carlos Reygadas

Night Waves

Available for over a year

What does a nineteenth century Swedish play have to say about post-apartheid South Africa? Samira Ahmed talks to director Yael Farber about her re-working of Strindberg's Miss Julie. How far should we push the limits of human survival in medicine and in exploration? Samira asks why we are compelled to explore our physical and physiological limits and how it may benefit us, in a discussion with doctor of medicine Kevin Fong, and philosopher Andy Martin. We'll also hear from the poet John Agard who is being awarded the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry. Previous recipients have included W. H. Auden, John Betjeman, Philip Larkin and Stevie Smith. And Samira will also be talking to the Mexican film maker, Carlos Reygadas who won the best director award at Cannes last year. His latest film, Post Tenebras Lux, is strongly autobiographical and like his previous work is by turns both beautiful and brutal.

Programme Website
More episodes