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Peter Nichols, Darian Leader, Politics in Architecture

Presented by Rana Mitter. With playwright Peter Nicholls on his Passion Play, psychoanalyst Darian Leader on increases in bipolar disorder, and debating meaning in architecture.

Rana Mitter talks to the playwright Peter Nichols as his 1981 Passion Play opens again in the West End with Zoe Wanamaker as the betrayed wife Eleanor and Samantha Bond as her alter ego Nell. The author of Privates on Parade, A Day in the Death of Joe Egg and The National Health among many others talks about a life in writing for theatre and television, National Service in Malaya and India, and a new play in progress.

Rates of diagnosis of bipolar disorder have increased by dramatically in the last decade, along with prescriptions for the 'mood stabilising' drugs used to treat it. How should we understand this rise? In his latest book Strictly Bipolar, psychoanalyst Darian Leader looks at the cultural setting for bipolar disorder, and suggests a new way of making sense of the condition.

And the architect Sunand Prasad and critic Rowan Moore discuss meaning in architecture and the role of the audience, or as we call them when discussing buildings rather than plays the public, in creating that meaning.

That's Night Waves this evening with Rana Mitter.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Tue 7 May 2013 22:00

Chapters

  • Peter Nichols

    Rana Mitter talks to playwright Peter Nichols

    Duration: 19:48

  • Architecture in Politics

    The architect Sunand Prasad and critic Rowan Moore discuss meaning in architecture

    Duration: 14:16

  • Darian Leader

    Psychoanalyst Darian Leader looks at the cultural setting for bipolar disorder

    Duration: 10:30

Darian Leader

Darian Leader
Strictly Bipolar written by is published by Penguin.

Passion Play

Passion Play

written by Peter Nichols is on at the Duke of York's Theatre, London until Saturday 3 August 2013.

Picture credit: Johan Persson.

Rowan Moore

Why We Build written by Rowan Moore is published by Picador.

Broadcast

  • Tue 7 May 2013 22:00

Free Thinking

Free Thinking

Radio 3’s new home for arts and ideas.