Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics

Join Natalie Haynes and guests for half an hour of comedy and the Classics from the BBC Radio Theatre in London. Natalie is a recovering comedian who is a little bit obsessive about Ancient Greece and Rome. Each week she takes a different figure from the Ancient World and tells their story through a mix of stand-up comedy and conversation.Today she stands up in the name of Phryne, the Greek courtesan famed for her extraordinary wit and beauty. Glossy of skin and a model for statues of the goddess Aphrodite, Phryne was as clever as they come and minted to boot. Outrage, outrageousness and as always, a lot of gossip from a couple of thousand years ago. With special guests comedian Katy Brand and classicist Professor Edith Hall. Producer...Mary Ward-Lowery.

Join Natalie Haynes and guests for half an hour of comedy and the Classics from the BBC Radio Theatre in London. Natalie is a recovering comedian who is a little bit obsessive about Ancient Greece and Rome. Each week she takes a different figure from the Ancient World and tells their story through a mix of stand-up comedy and conversation.Today she stands up in the name of Horace, the Roman poet who made friends of his enemies through the beauty of his writing, whom we all still quote today, often without realising. You know that bit of Latin in the Wilfred Owen poem? That's Horace. The son of a freedman, Horace was a master at avoiding political controversy. He was no looker, being by his own account short and fat, but he definitely had a racy side (think mirrors on the ceiling).A town mouse, a country mouse, and a lot of gossip from a thousand years ago. With special guests novelist and poet Ben Okri and classicist Professor Llewelyn Morgan. Producer...Mary Ward-Lowery.

Join Natalie Haynes and guests for half an hour of comedy and the Classics from the BBC Radio Theatre in London. Natalie is a reformed comedian who is a little bit obsessive about Ancient Greece and Rome. Now she standing up in the name of Greek writer Lucian. Expect to hear about the possible origins of 'The Life of Brian', the possible inspiration for Mickey Mouse and a trip to the moon about a thousand years before NASA. With special guests:Professor Edith Hall Writer and broadcaster Matthew Sweet. Producer: Mary Ward-LoweryFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2017.

Join Natalie Haynes and guests for half an hour of comedy and the Classics from the BBC Radio Theatre in London.Natalie is a reformed comedian who is a little bit obsessive about Ancient Greece and Rome.This time Natalie stands up in the name of Greek writer Lucian. Expect to hear about the possible origins of 'The Life of Brian', the possible inspiration for Mickey Mouse and a trip to the moon about a thousand years before NASA.With special guests Professor Edith Hall and Matthew Sweet. Producer: Mary Ward-LoweryFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017.

Dive into the intriguing world of Sappho, the mysterious Greek poet whose life and work continue to captivate. Discover the emotional depth of her poetry and the societal constraints she faced. Explore how her fragments resonate with modern themes of love and identity. Guests share their personal connections to Sappho’s work, highlighting her lasting legacy. The discussion also critiques translations that miss the essence of her identity, inviting listeners to reconsider the stories of historical female writers.

Dive into the antics of Aristophanes, the master of old comedy. Explore the hilarity of 'Lysistrata,' where women declare a sex strike against war. Delight in the quirky chorus of frogs and how it mirrors gender dynamics, connecting ancient issues to modern movements. Discover the sharp political satire that critiqued contemporary figures like Cleon, featuring absurd trials and family feuds. Finally, reflect on how Aristophanes' legacy intertwines with philosophy, showcasing the timelessness of comedy's exploration of societal woes.

Dive into the powerful world of Agrippina the Younger, a formidable figure in Ancient Rome. Explore her incredible family ties, from Emperor Augustus to her son, Nero. Discover how she wielded financial prowess to shape the Empire and survived an assassination attempt involving a collapsible boat. The podcast critiques historical biases against ambitious women while examining Agrippina's ruthless strategies and complex relationship with Nero. It also draws intriguing parallels between her life and portrayals of maternal figures in 1960s cinema.

In this engaging discussion, Llewelyn Morgan, a literary expert, unveils the bold world of Ovid, a trailblazer of love poetry in ancient Rome. They dive into Ovid's playful subversion of romance, revealing his complex portrayal of women and the intertwined themes of beauty and violence. Morgan also sheds light on Ovid's dramatic exile, connecting it to the deep yearning found in his poetry. From metamorphosis tales to the artistic legacies that sprung from his work, this conversation is a captivating journey through Ovid's timeless influence on literature and art.

In this engaging discussion, Edith Hall, a Professor of Classics at King’s College London and expert in ancient Greek literature, delves into the complexities of Plato. She humorously reveals Plato’s imperfections, like his bad eyesight and weight, while celebrating his wrestling prowess. The conversation explores his distinctive prose and the intriguing theory of Forms using relatable examples, such as chairs. Hall also examines how societal standards of perfection, shaped by Platonic thought, impact modern self-worth and happiness.