Free Thinking Episodes Episode guide
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Pantomime: Professor Jeffrey Richards; Bryony Lavery; EO Wilson
Matthew Sweet and panto with Jeffrey Richards. Bryony Lavery on stage craft. E O Wilson.
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Slavoj Zizek, Protest, Anonymous and City of Angels
Philip Dodd presents. With Slavoj Zizek, City of Angels and debating protest movements.
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Wim Wenders on Peace, Richard King on Taking Offence
Film director Wim Wenders and philosopher Mary Zournazi discuss peace with Philip Dodd.
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Sarah Waters, TV Drama: Jed Mercurio, Dominic Savage, Caryn Mandabach
Sarah Waters talks to Anne McElvoy about creating a play. Plus a discussion about TV drama
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Rebecca Solnit, Wonder Woman, Submarine Films
Matthew Sweet on the powers of Wonder Woman and the claustrophobia of submarine films.
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Mona Siddiqui, Ziauddin Sardar, Navid Kermani
Philip Dodd explores Islam, Mecca and the Quran with Mona Siddiqui and Ziauddin Sardar.
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British Monarchy Past and Present
Philip Dodd and a panel including Deborah Orr and Philip Ziegler explore British monarchy.
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Theatre in South Africa and the Czech Republic: Janet Suzman and Roger Scruton
Philip Dodd, Roger Scruton and Janet Suzman reflect on Czech and South African theatre.
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Landmark - 2001: A Space Odyssey with Brian Cox, Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood and Chris Frayling
A special discussion recorded at the BFI to mark the re-release of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
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Global Crisis with Geoffrey Parker, Kieslowski's The Decalogue, Conflict Time Photography Exhibition
Geoffrey Parker talks to Anne McElvoy about the relationship between weather and war.
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Marilynne Robinson, Jane Smiley, Richard Ford
In a special edition, Matthew Sweet explores depictions of American life and history.
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Antarctica: Testing Ground for the Human Species
Ben Saunders, Meredith Hooper, Hugh Broughton and Jonathan Bamber join Rana Mitter.
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Akram Khan, Images of Witchcraft, Eileen Atkins in the Witch of Edmonton
WIth conversation from choreographer Akram Khan, plus witchcraft on stage and in prints.
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Artists' Mannequins, Mike Leigh, Guy Fawkes Traditions
With Matthew Sweet. Mike Leigh on his new film, plus an exhibition of artists' mannequins.
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Margaret Atwood
Anne McElvoy is joined by celebrated Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood.
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Peter Carey, A History Manifesto
With Peter Carey's novel Amnesia and debating whether history can rescue public policy.
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Landmark: Proust's A la recherche du temps perdu
A landmark edition celebrating Proust's great novel In Search of Lost Time.
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William Morris, Our Town, The Roosevelts
With two William Morris exhibitions, the play Our Town and the documentary The Roosevelts.
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David Baddiel, Shlomo Sand, Julie Burchill
Rana Mitter is joined by David Baddiel, Shlomo Sand and Julie Burchill.
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Man Booker Prize, Sherlock Holmes, Plato and Aristotle
Mark Gatiss and Matthew Sweet discuss Sherlock Holmes. Plus the 2014 Man Booker Prize.
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Anselm Kiefer and Sigmar Polke, Henry IV, Patrick Modiano
Anne McElvoy discusses Phyllida Lloyd's all-female production of Shakespeare's Henry IV.
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Tim Minchin, Shami Chakrabarti, David Cronenberg
Matthew Sweet is joined by Tim Minchin, Shami Chakrabarti and film-maker David Cronenberg.
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Matthew Barzun, Speed-the-Plow Review
Anne McElvoy is joined by the US ambassador to Britain. Plus a review of Speed-the-Plow.
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Kristin Scott Thomas as Electra, Ai Weiwei at Blenheim Palace
Rana Mitter with a first-night review of Sophocles' Electra, starring Kristin Scott Thomas
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Neel Mukherjee, Images of China
Matthew Sweet talks to novelist Neel Mukherjee, shortlisted for the 2014 Man Booker Prize.
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Thomas Ostermeier, Joseph O'Neill, Ali Smith
Thomas Ostermeier's Ibsen adaptation, Joseph O'Neill and Man Booker nominee Ali Smith.
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Howard Jacobson, Francis Fukuyama
Philip Dodd is joined by political scientist Francis Fukuyama and author Howard Jacobson.
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Language
Matthew Sweet discusses language with Steven Pinker and Will Self.
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Figuring out Abstract Art
From Tate Modern, London, Anne McElvoy leads a debate about abstract art past and present.