Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics

Natalie Haynes tells the stories of the handful of Roman-British women whose traces stay with us: a fierce queen, a slave woman freed for love, the so-called 'Ivory Bangle Lady' and Claudia Severa, whose invitation to her friend to her birthday party some two thousand years ago is one of the greatest historical treasures of Roman Britain. Wooden tablets, ivory (and jet) bangles and a romantic gravestone inscription from South Shields. Natalie is joined by guests Professor Llewelyn Morgan and archaeologist Dr Paul Roberts.Stand up comedy, ancient details and a lot of fascinating gossip from a couple of thousand years ago.Producer...Mary Ward-Lowery

Natalie Haynes, Dr Adam Rutherford, and Professor Edith Hall stand up for Aristotle. They explore his contributions to science and philosophy, discuss his life and teachings, find humor in his writings, and delve into his perspective on happiness and human life.

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 Roman historian Livy, who gave us Hannibal crossing the Alps and the inspiration for Shakespeare's Coriolanus. Meticulously researched facts or a damn fine story? History or myth? Mostly the latter, but priceless nonetheless.Elephants, early science and a lot of essential information from a thousand years ago. With special guests comedian - and history buff - Al Murray 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 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 playwright Euripides. Feminist, anti-war, ironic, full of subtext: his work displays strikingly modern sensibilities and his Medea still has the power to shock. With special guests playwright Mark Ravenhill 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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.