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Fiona Shaw and Mark Ravenhill on Brecht, John Knox, Joanne Paul

Philip Dodd explores the history of speaking truth to power with New Generation Thinker Joanne Paul. Plus dramas about the beliefs and ideas of John Knox and Galileo.

As dramas about John Knox and Galileo open at theatres in Edinburgh and London, Philip Dodd talks to Fiona Shaw and Mark Ravenhill about performing and staging Brecht and to Edinburgh Lyceum artistic director David Greig. He's also joined by 2017 New Generation Thinker Joanne Paul, from the University of Sussex, who researches the idea of parrhesia or 'speaking truth to power'. And satirist Nev Fountain and stand-up comedian Simon Evans explore the impact that comedy can have in deflating the powerful.

Bertold Brecht's Life of Galileo directed by Joe Wright in a translation by John Willlett runs at the Young Vic Theatre in London from May 6th - July 1st.
Glory on Earth runs at the Royal Lyceum Edinburgh from May 20th to June 10th. Written by Linda McLean the drama is directed by David Greig and stars Jamie Sives.

New Generation Thinkers is a scheme run by the 麻豆社 with the Arts and Humanities Research Council to work with academics to turn their research into radio and television. You can find more broadcasts and films on the Free Thinking website.

Producer: Torquil MacLeod.

Available now

45 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Philip Dodd
Interviewed Guest Fiona Shaw
Interviewed Guest Mark Ravenhill
Interviewed Guest David Greig
Interviewed Guest Joanne Paul
Producer Torquil MacLeod

Broadcast

  • Thu 18 May 2017 22:00

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