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22/11/2012

Arts news with Mark Lawson, featuring choreographer Matthew Bourne on his new Sleeping Beauty, John Lithgow on stage in The Magistrate, and Benjamin Britten's reputation.

With Mark Lawson.

When Matthew Bourne established the dance company Adventures in Motion Pictures in 1987, his pioneering fusion of contemporary dance, classical ballet, and theatre thrilled audiences worldwide, won prizes on both sides of the Atlantic, and divided critics. He discusses his new production of Sleeping Beauty and what he's learned from Strictly Come Dancing.

It's exactly 99 years since the birth of composer Benjamin Britten, and next year's centenary celebrations include numerous concerts, operas and broadcasts. But the events of recent weeks have renewed the focus on Britten's friendships with adolescent boys, a subject covered in biographies and documentaries - although there is no evidence of criminal behaviour. Singer Ian Bostridge, Jonathan Reekie of Aldeburgh Music and writer Martin Kettle reflect on Britten's current reputation.

The American actor John Lithgow takes the title role in The Magistrate, in a new National Theatre staging of Pinero's farce about a respectable man caught up in a series of scandalous events. Sarah Crompton reviews.

Producer Nicki Paxman.

Available now

30 minutes

Clip

Chapters

  • Matthew Bourne

    Matthew Bourne

    Duration: 10:12

  • Benjamin Britten

    Benjamin Britten

    Duration: 13:35

  • The Magistrate

    The Magistrate

    Duration: 04:09

Broadcast

  • Thu 22 Nov 2012 19:15

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