Synopsis
Dame Peggy Ashcroft presents her personal view of Romeo and Juliet, with archive and commercial extracts. There are references to Sir John Gielgud and Dame Edith Evans. These talks were given as curtain raisers to the transmission of the BBC Television Shakespeare plays.
Shakespeare Stories | Romeo & Juliet
Professor Carol Rutter explores Shakespeare's use of literary sources for his plots.
Front Row | Ola Ince on Romeo & Juliet
British director Ola Ince discusses her new stage production of Romeo & Juliet, currently on at Shakespeare’s Globe in London. Ince has given it a contemporary setting, but she doesn’t shy away from showing the play’s relevance to current societal struggles. The degree of harassment and bullying in the acting profession has been brought into the spotlight by #metoo and the recent Noel Clarke case. Radio 4's File on 4 reviewed the current situation and looked at measures being taken within the industry to combat the problem. The Cannes Film Festival opened yesterday with five films funded by the British Film Institute selected for screening. Ben Roberts was appointed the BFI’s Chief Executive just before the lockdown. He talks to Kirsty Lang about the role of the BFI, and how it has supported - and challenged - the industry in times troubled not just by the pandemic but revelations of bullying, abuse and lack of diversity. Presenter: Kirsty Lang