The Book of Mormon, Constitutions, Press Regulation, Lina Prokofiev

Available for over a year

On tonight's multi-volume Night Waves, Anne McElvoy will be opening with The Book of Mormon: the new musical from the writers of the controversial cartoon South Park. Susannah Clapp has a first night review. Anne will be examining the fine words and good intentions of national constitutions. As Zimbabwe votes in favour of a new one, Albie Sachs, one of the architects of South Africa's new constitution, Chibli Mallat, who has advised Iraq and Arab Spring countries on drawing up their own constitutions, and the journalist and author Simon Jenkins discuss whether constitutions aid or impede democracy. Also, in light of this week's news of a cross-party deal on press regulation established by Royal Charter, the satirist and editor of Private Eye, Ian Hislop, and British media expert James Curran discuss whether lessons can be learned by examining the historical relationship between the state and the press. And, a new biography of Lina Prokofiev - aspiring singer and wife of the composer and pianist Sergei Prokofiev - which reveals the disastrous consequences of the couple's move back to the newly established Soviet Union. The author, Simon Morrison, explains what happened. Producer: Gavin Heard.