April De Angelis, Tokyo Olympics, Jordan Tannahill, Neil Mendoza

Playwright April De Angelis joins Tom to talk about her new musical Gin Craze! Described as 'a booze soaked love ballad from the women of Gin Lane.'

The Tokyo Olympics 2020 Opening Ceremony took place earlier today, a year later than planned, in the wake of a number of controversies, not least the sacking of the Artistic Director the day before the event. For our Friday Review, Japan specialists Sakiko Nishihara and Christopher Harding give their views on the background to the ceremony and the event itself.

Novelist Jordan Tannahill tells ue about his new novel exploring the fine lines between faith, conspiracy and mania in contemporary America, The Listeners. While lying in bed next to her husband one night, Claire Devon hears a low hum that he cannot. And, it seems, no one else can either. This innocuous noise begins causing Claire headaches, nosebleeds and insomnia, gradually upsetting the balance of her life.

And a new report, Boundless Creativity, is intended as a roadmap for cultural and creative recovery, renewal and growth after the pandemic. What lessons have been learnt about how the arts can reach audiences both online and off? What do the arts need to bounce back? We talk to Lord Neil Mendoza, Commissioner for Cultural Recovery and Renewal about this collaboration between the DCMS and the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Jerme Weatherald

Main image: Gin Craze! at the Royal & Derngate Theatre, Northampton Image credit: Ellie Kurttz