Modern Productions in a Roman Theatre, the Art of the Prequel, the Pandemic and Redundancies in the Arts Industries

As novelist John Connolly publishes a prequel to his hugely successful Charlie Parker thriller series, he and critic Suzi Feay discuss the art of creating a prequel, both in books and on screen, from Endeavour to Hannibal Rising to The Wide Sargasso Sea.

From the Minack Theatre, nestled in the cliffs of west Cornwall, to Cirencester’s Barnfest, and Brighton Open Air Theatre, many theatre-goers have turned to the great outdoors as indoor theatres remain shuttered due to Covid-19 restrictions. The Maltings Theatre in St Albans has just kicked off its 6th annual outdoor festival, set in a Roman Theatre built in 140AD, with a programme that includes The Merry Wives of Windsor, Henry V and HMS Pinafore. Its Artistic Director, Adam Nichols, joins John Wilson to discuss the joys, challenges and opportunities of outdoor theatre.

Around the UK, the pandemic has caused arts venues, organisations and establishments to have to make dramatic cuts to their output and costs just to stay afloat. With no definite end in sight when they can start generating income again, redundancies seem inevitable.

Plus Suzi Feay comments on the publication of 25 books by female authors who will be known, for the first time, by their real names. All of them are women who wrote under male pen-names - including George Eliot, whose Middlemarch will now be republished with the name Mary Anne Evans on the cover.

Presenter: John Wilson Producer: Dymphna Flynn Studio Manager: Giles Aspen