Arts & Ideas Folgen

Colm Toibin is one of Ireland's finest writers, whose books explore issues such as Catholicism, immigration and homosexuality. His 2009 novel Brooklyn won the Costa novel of the Year, and his latest The Testament of Mary is a controversial re-imagining of the life of the Virgin Mary. In an extended interview recorded at the Radio 3 Free Thinking Festival at The Sage Gateshead on Saturday 3 November, Philip Dodd talks to Colm Toibin about his own life, his ideas, and thoughts on literature.

Matthew Sweet speaks to acclaimed director Michael Grandage whose theatre company launches with a new production of Peter Nichols's celebrated play Privates on Parade. As a new centre in Cambridge is set up to assess the dangers that might arise from progress in artificial intelligence, Matthew talks to one of its founders Sir Martin Rees and sustainability innovator Rachel Armstrong. And Jonas Mekas, film-maker, artist, poet, and a leading figure of avant-garde and experimental cinema, discusses his remarkable and prolific sixty-year career.

Samira Ahmed hosts a discussion about cross casting with Fiona Shaw and Carol Rutter as the all female production of Julius Caesar opens at the Donmar Warehouse and Susannah Clapp gives a first night review. Tim Pat Coogan talks about his new book and what he sees as the role of Britain in the Irish Potato Famine of 1845. There's a discussion about the role of violence in Buddhist history and traditions and Samira meets two up and coming Brazilian writers: Michel Laub and Tatiana Salem Levy.