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Tomb Raider, Lisa Halliday, Immersive theatre

Is Lara Croft a feminist icon in the new Tomb Raider film? Plus author Lisa Halliday talks about how her novel Asymmetry echoes her relationship with Philip Roth.

Lara Croft remains one of the most famous gaming characters ever. Now as the film franchise of the games gets a reboot staring Alicia Vikander, film critic Kate Muir and gamer Julia Hardy discuss whether Lara Croft is a feminist icon or an object of male fantasy and what she reveals about the portrayal of women in gaming and film.

Debut novelist Lisa Halliday won the prestigious American Whiting Award for her fiction writing - previously won by Colson Whitehead and Jonathan Franzen. No surprise then that her first full length novel Asymmetry has been winning rave reviews. Lisa discusses the book which is in three parts, and reveals how the opening section is resonant with her own affair with Philip Roth.

The close interaction between actors and audience in interactive or immersive theatre has been part of its rising attraction, but that appeal is in danger of becoming a problem. Alexander Wright, director of the immersive Great Gatsby show, Maureen Beattie of the actors' union Equity, and theatre critic Sarah Hemming discuss where the lines should be drawn.

Presenter: Samira Ahmed
Producer: Harry Parker.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • Tomb Raider

    Duration: 09:17

  • Lisa Halliday

    Duration: 08:45

  • Immersive Theatre

    Duration: 10:07

Tomb Raider

Tomb Raider
Alicia VikanderΒ 
Tomb Raider is on general release from 16 March, cert 12A

Main image: Alicia Vikander in Tomb Raider
Photo credit: Warner Bros

Lisa Halliday

Lisa Halliday
Lisa Halliday
Photo credit: Vittore Buzzi

Lisa's book Asymmetry is available now

InteractiveTheatre

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Samira Ahmed
Interviewed Guest Kate Muir
Interviewed Guest Jules Hardy
Interviewed Guest Lisa Halliday
Interviewed Guest Alexander Wright
Interviewed Guest Maureen Beattie
Interviewed Guest Sarah Hemming
Producer Harry Parker

Broadcast

  • Thu 15 Mar 2018 19:15

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