Read all about it! Arena, the Â鶹ԼÅÄ’s art strand, provides a unique cultural perspective on the rolling news agenda. Using its archive of over 500 films, which spans much of the last 50 years and beyond, the Arena blog chronicles the characters, places and stories behind today’s headlines. 2013-10-23T17:09:27+00:00 Zend_Feed_Writer /blogs/arena

2013-10-23T17:09:27+00:00 2013-10-23T17:09:27+00:00 /blogs/arena/entries/61c1f04c-be54-37b6-bda5-4e11ac83cf66 Arena <div class="component"> <div id="smp-0" class="smp"> <div class="smp__overlay"> <div class="smp__message js-loading-message delta"> <noscript>You must enable javascript to play content</noscript> </div> </div> </div><p> <em>On the 50th anniversary of the National Theatre, the Queen visits to pay tribute</em> </p></div><div class="component prose"> <p>To mark the 50th anniversary of the National Theatre, the Queen visited the iconic building on the South Bank to pay tribute. During the visit, the Queen and Prince Philip were given a tour by outgoing director Sir Nicholas Hytner.</p><p>After a series of false starts and conflict surrounding the building of a new National Theatre on London's South Bank, the theatre finally opened its doors to the public in 1976. The Queen officially opened the building, before settling down to watch a performance of Goldoni's comedy Il Campiello accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh. The opening night saw Sir Laurence Olivier give a speech in the Olivier Theatre - this was the first and last time he stepped foot in the theatre that had been named after him, after Peter Hall took over from him as Director of the National Theatre. As part of the birthday celebrations, Arena has charted the history of this iconic insitution in 'Arena: The National Theatre' - first transmitted on Thursday 24th October 2013. </p><p>(This clip is fresh off the press as it still features the director's guide commentary)</p><p></p> </div> <div class="component"> <div id="smp-1" class="smp"> <div class="smp__overlay"> <div class="smp__message js-loading-message delta"> <noscript>You must enable javascript to play content</noscript> </div> </div> </div><p> <em>The Queen opens the National Theatre after a series of false starts in 1976</em> </p></div><div class="component prose"> <p> Arena: The National Theatre (2013) - Directed by Adam Low, Produced by Martin Rosenbaum and David Sabel, Series Editor - Anthony Wall</p> </div>

2013-10-03T14:26:45+00:00 2013-10-03T14:26:45+00:00 /blogs/arena/entries/819e2e5f-9bd2-3f9e-bbbb-7e64367e0f22 Arena <div class="component"> <div id="smp-2" class="smp"> <div class="smp__overlay"> <div class="smp__message js-loading-message delta"> <noscript>You must enable javascript to play content</noscript> </div> </div> </div><p> <em>Prince Charles reads Dylan Thomas poem 'Fern Hill' for National Poetry Day</em> </p></div><div class="component prose"> <p>Prince Charles has recorded one of his favourite Dylan Thomas poems 'Fern Hill' for a special broadcast to mark National Poetry Day. "I was very glad, if somewhat hesitant - to be able to record a reading of one of my personal favourites, <em>Fern Hill</em>, with its poignant and moving evocation of a rural west Wales Childhood" says the Prince of Wales, who is the Royal patron of the Dylan Thomas 100 Festival, marking the centenary of the poets birth in 2014.</p><p>In 2003, Arena traced Dylan Thomas back to his roots in <em>Dylan Thomas: Grave to Cradle, </em>a film unearthing the life and death of the legendary poet. In this clip Dylan Thomas reads his poem 'Fern Hill' as director Nigel Williams returns to the quiet suburban street in the Uplands district of Swansea - Thomas's first home - where his life and writing first began. </p><p></p> </div> <div class="component"> <div id="smp-3" class="smp"> <div class="smp__overlay"> <div class="smp__message js-loading-message delta"> <noscript>You must enable javascript to play content</noscript> </div> </div> </div><p> <em>Arena profiles the life and death of legendary poet Dylan Thomas in 2003 documentary.</em> </p></div>