Main content

Simon Armitage talks to actress Maxine Peake, known for playing a wide range of roles in TV, film and theatre - from Twinkle to Hamlet.

If the poets of the past sat in their garrets dipping their quills in ink and waiting for inspiration to strike, our current Poet Laureate Simon Armitage has a more mundane and domestic arrangement. From his wooden shed in the garden, surrounded on all sides by the Pennine Hills and the Pennine weather, he scratches away at his reworking of the comic medieval poem The Owl and the Nightingale. Any distraction is welcome, even encouraged, to talk about poetry, music, art, sheds, sherry, owls, nightingales and to throw light on some of the poem's internal themes .

Actress Maxine Peake drops into the shed to talk about taking on a role and accents, which the birds in the poem discuss. Maxine talks about her TV break as Twinkle in Dinner Ladies as well as taking on roles such as Hamlet in the theatre. The conversation ranges from accents and being cast as a brassy Northerner to communism and rave culture.

Available now

51 minutes

Last on

Sat 2 May 2020 19:15
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Guy Garvey

Next

Antony Gormley

See all episodes from The Poet Laureate Has Gone to His Shed

Broadcast

  • Sat 2 May 2020 19:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

Sir Ian McKellen: 10 things we learned when he spoke to the Poet Laureate

Sir Ian McKellen: 10 things we learned when he spoke to the Poet Laureate

Simon Armitage and Sir Ian discuss cricket, tattoos and playing Magneto and Gandalf.

Johnny Marr: 10 things we learned when he spoke to Simon Armitage

Johnny Marr: 10 things we learned when he spoke to Simon Armitage

The Smiths songwriter on the creative process, the magic of cities, and beaten-up guitars.

Chris Packham: Seven things we learned when he spoke to Simon Armitage

Chris Packham: Seven things we learned when he spoke to Simon Armitage

Poet Laureate Simon Armitage talks to naturalist Chris Packham about life, art and music.

Kate Tempest: 10 things we learned when she spoke to Simon Armitage

Kate Tempest: 10 things we learned when she spoke to Simon Armitage

Simon Armitage and Kate Tempest on rapping, writing under pressure and her pet Malamute.

Guy Garvey: Nine things we learned when he spoke to Simon Armitage

Guy Garvey: Nine things we learned when he spoke to Simon Armitage

Simon Armitage invites Guy Garvey to his shed to talk about life, bird watching and music.

Podcast