Main content

Hey Presto

Naomi Paxton, Will Houston and Kate Newey share their research into the Magic Circle, what conjuring tricks can teach surgeons, and a history of pantomime with Lisa Mullen.

Magic in medicine, surgery, and business; cross-dressing on the panto stage; the history of pantomime and magic, and updating these for today. To hear about new research, Lisa Mullen is joined by Kate Newey, Will Houston, and Naomi Paxton.

Naomi Paxton is at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, a magician and performer as Ada Campe, a member of the Magic Circle and their first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, and was a magician's assistant. She has researched popular entertainment and the suffragettes for her book Stage rights! The Actresses’ Franchise League, Activism & Politics 1908–58, and she is a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ/AHRC New Generation Thinker http://www.naomipaxton.co.uk/

Will Houston is a magician and historian of magic, who looks at how magic can be used in medicine, surgery, and business. He is Honorary Research Associate in the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London, and is the Imperial College/Royal College of Music Centre for Performance Science's Magician in Residence. He is also a member of the Magic Circle http://drhoustoun.co.uk/

Kate Newey is Professor in Drama at the University of Exeter who researches pantomime and is looking at theatre and visual culture in the 19th century https://theatreandvisualculture19.wordpress.com/

You can find more conversations about new research here: /programmes/p03zws90

This playlist focuses on discussions, essays and features involving New Generation Thinkers, including Naomi Paxton's on Suffragette Punch & Judy: /programmes/p08zhs35

Playing God in medieval drama: /programmes/m0000v24

Ice, including the use of stage effects in 17th century drama: /programmes/m0001jzq

Producer: Emma Wallace

Available now

44 minutes

Last on

Wed 9 Dec 2020 22:00

Broadcast

  • Wed 9 Dec 2020 22:00

The Arts & Ideas Podcast

The Arts & Ideas Podcast

You can download all the past episodes of Radio 3's Free Thinking

Discussions and talks from the Free Thinking Festival 2019

Discussions and talks from the Free Thinking Festival 2019

Angry politics, what we can’t say, being diplomatic, weeping, emotion in music, film & TV

Click to listen to discussions, talks and music as the Free Thinking Festival 2019 Gets Emotional

Click to listen to discussions, talks and music as the Free Thinking Festival 2019 Gets Emotional

Angry politics, what we can’t say, being diplomatic, weeping, emotion in music, film & TV

CLICK to LISTEN & SEE programmes from the Free Thinking Festival 2018: The One & the Many

CLICK to LISTEN & SEE programmes from the Free Thinking Festival 2018: The One & the Many

We examine the fast-changing relationship between the individual & the crowd

CLICK to LISTEN & SEE all programmes, images, clips & features from 2017's festival

Free Thinking Festival 2017: The Speed of Life