The Essay Episodes Available now
Andrea Dunbar—Women of Substance
At 18 Andrea Dunbar was the youngest playwright ever at the Royal Court Theatre, London.
Anna Kavan—Women of Substance
Legally prescribed heroin by a psychiatrist, Anna Kavan鈥檚 writing reveals her addiction.
Billie Holiday—Women of Substance
Billie Holiday sang about alcohol and broken hearts and went to prison for drug use.
Frida Kahlo—Women of Substance
What does the art of Frida Kahlo reveal about her addictions?
The Essex Smack—A Circumnavigation of the British Isles in Five Traditional Boats
Malcolm 'Mac' MacGregor on the Essex Smack, boats he built and fished with under sail.
The Coble—A Circumnavigation of the British Isles in Five Traditional Boats
Poet Katrina Porteous on the coble, the beach-launched working boat of the northeast coast
Shetland Whillies, Yoals and Sixerns—A Circumnavigation of the British Isles in Five Traditional Boats
Brian Wishart in Lerwick on Shetland's traditional boats, still influenced by the Vikings.
The Curach—A Circumnavigation of the British Isles in Five Traditional Boats
The poet Keith Payne on the curach, the ancient, but still used, Irish skin boat.
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Pilot Gig—A Circumnavigation of the British Isles in Five Traditional Boats
Annamaria Murphy on the gig, which rowed out to approaching ships to get pilots aboard.
How Did They Do That? Magic and Mesmerism—That's Entertainment...? Variety and Me
Traditional Variety through the lens of a writer鈥檚 childhood fascination.
