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Henry V, The Sea, Black Nativity

Presented by Matthew Sweet. With a review of Michael Grandage's production of Henry V, starring Jude Law, a debate on governing the sea and a film musical of Black Nativity.

Jude Law plays Henry V in the West End directed by Michael Grandage. Matthew Sweet has a first night review from Susannah Clapp.

Are we nearing the end of the Grotian Consensus? Turner's maritime paintings are for many the nearest they'll ever get to understanding the sea and the insights they offer are opaque and mysterious. In the 21st century the sea's realities are most often painted as a flat blue space on the map but we turn our faces away from the sea at our peril. Globalisation is encapsulated by the vast freighters which move goods around the world, piracy is on the increase, international maritime boundaries are disputed from the east China Sea to the Arctic, fish stocks are depleted, there is no conservation body exclusively concerned with the health and well being of the oceans and it's predicted that the oceans are ripe for industrialisation. Matthew Sweet talks to maritime geographer Phil Steinberg and expert in international public law , Steve Haines, about what the Freedom of the Seas means now and how maritime governance may develop this century.

Langston Hughes' 1961 retelling of the nativity story has now been the inspiration for a musical film starring Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett and Jennifer Hudson with a solo from Mary J Blige. Hughes biographer Bonnie Greer and the writer Fred D'Aguiar have seen the film and talk to Matthew Sweet about Langston Hughes' enduring legacy.

Producer: Natalie Steed.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Tue 3 Dec 2013 22:00
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3

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Chapters

  • Henry V

    Matthew Sweet has a first night review from Susannah Clapp of Jude Law as Henry V

    Duration: 08:49

  • Maritime

    Phil Steinberg and Steve Haines discuss what the Freedom of the Seas means now

    Duration: 16:37

  • Langston Hughes

    Bonnie Greer and Fred D'Aiguiar review Black Nativity and discuss Langston Hughes' legacy

    Duration: 18:42

Black Nativity

Black Nativity

Black Nativity from Fox Searchlight Pictures is released in UK cinemas on Friday 6 December 2013, certificate PG.

Ìý

Image: Jacob Latimore, Angela Bassett, Jennifer Hudson & Forest Whitaker

Henry V

Henry V starring Jude Law is on at the Noël Coward Theatre, London currently booking through untilÌýSaturday 15ÌýFebruary 2014.

Aquatopia

is on at the Tate, St Ives until Sunday 26 January 2014.

Turner and the Sea

is on at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich until Monday 21 April 2014.

Bonnie Greer

Langston Hughes: The Value of Contradiction written byÌýBonnie GreerÌýis published by Arcadia Books.

Fred D'Aguiar

Children of Paradise written by Fred D'Aguiar is published by Granta Books on Thursday 6 February 2014.

Credits

Presenter Matthew Sweet
Interviewed Guest Susannah Clapp
Interviewed Guest Phil Steinberg
Interviewed Guest Steve Haines
Interviewed Guest Bonnie Greer
Interviewed Guest Fred D'Aguiar
Producer Natalie Steed

Broadcast

  • Tue 3 Dec 2013 22:00
    Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3

Free Thinking

Free Thinking

Radio 3’s new home for arts and ideas.