Hey Presto

Available for over a year

Magic in medicine, surgery, and business; cross-dressing on the panto stage; the history of pantomime and magic, and updating these for today. To hear about new research, Lisa Mullen is joined by Kate Newey, Will Houston, and Naomi Paxton. Naomi Paxton is at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, a magician and performer as Ada Campe, a member of the Magic Circle and their first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, and was a magician's assistant. She has researched popular entertainment and the suffragettes for her book Stage rights! The Actresses’ Franchise League, Activism & Politics 1908–58, and she is a BBC/AHRC New Generation Thinker http://www.naomipaxton.co.uk/ Will Houston is a magician and historian of magic, who looks at how magic can be used in medicine, surgery, and business. He is Honorary Research Associate in the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London, and is the Imperial College/Royal College of Music Centre for Performance Science's Magician in Residence. He is also a member of the Magic Circle http://drhoustoun.co.uk/ Kate Newey is Professor in Drama at the University of Exeter who researches pantomime and is looking at theatre and visual culture in the 19th century https://theatreandvisualculture19.wordpress.com/ You can find more conversations about new research here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03zws90 This playlist focuses on discussions, essays and features involving New Generation Thinkers, including Naomi Paxton's on Suffragette Punch & Judy: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08zhs35 Playing God in medieval drama: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0000v24 Ice, including the use of stage effects in 17th century drama: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001jzq Producer: Emma Wallace