Do3: Light Shining in Buckinghamshire - 28 April

[french frank]

By Caryl Churchill

"First performed in 1976, Light Shining in Buckinghamshire focuses on the millennial movements that erupted during the English civil war in the 1640s. At the heart of the play is an edited dramatisation of The Putney Debates of 1647. The radical Levellers argue for liberty and universal suffrage while the military establishment stands for security and property as the basis for electoral eligibility."

Sunday 28 April, 8.30pm (TONIGHT)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01rydqw

[Serial_Apologist]

BTW the church in question is very much still there, left hand side of Putney Bridge if you're crossing from Fulham, and much smaller than you'd think - an old school mate gave an impressive tour of the place a couple of years back.

[french frank]

BTW the church in question is very much still there, left hand side of Putney Bridge if you're crossing from Fulham, and much smaller than you'd think - an old school mate gave an impressive tour of the place a couple of years back.

A fascinating episode in English history. I shall be interested to hear what Caryl Churchill made of it, as drama.

[Serial_Apologist]

BTW Adam Nicholson's rather good 17th century series "The Century That wrote itself" is currently showing on BBC4

[aeolium]

I seem to remember some years back there was broadcast a dramatisation of the actual Putney Debates. I thought it was riveting to listen to, an intense conflict of ideas, compelling personalities and language that cannot be matched by any simulation in a historical play. I wish they would repeat that. They were certainly extraordinary times.

[french frank]

I see there was a discussion about the debates on In Our Time on 18 April. Joined up thinking? I can't see any mention of the Do3 play on the website, but perhaps a programme trail on R4 at the time?

Still available to listen to btw.

[Bryn]

Anybody have a clue as to who provided the music for the production?

[amateur51]

I see there was a discussion about the debates on In Our Time on 18 April. Joined up thinking? I can't see any mention of the Do3 play on the website, but perhaps a programme trail on R4 at the time?

Still available to listen to btw.

It was the usual Bragg trot through but I was glad to have listened to it. I'll now catch the play on iplayer

[french frank]

Anybody have a clue as to who provided the music for the production?

Mrs Trellis of N. Wales?

I fell asleep before the end and woke up to the music of World Routes - rather like Georges Méliès's discovery of trick photography, I was under the impression I was still listening to the play Will try again.

[DracoM]

It was the usual Bragg trot through but I was glad to have listened to it. I'll now catch the play on iplayer

Yes, with Bragg as usual interrupting more and more each week as he gets older and more impatient. If you hire experts, then let them do the talking. I now find myself turning the programme off every so often in exasperation as his interventions tend to lose the thread for me. Like Dimbleby on Any Questions? - now a de facto chat show with him as host intervening, questioning, challenging every other sentence too.

Presenters muscling forward to be more important than the programme.

And don't get me started on Clemency Burton Hill.......................

[amateur51]

Yes, with Bragg as usual interrupting more and more each week as he gets older and more impatient. If you hire experts, then let them do the talking. I now find myself turning the programme off every so often in exasperation as his interventions tend to lose the thread for me. Like Dimbleby on Any Questions? - now a de facto chat show with him as host intervening, questioning, challenging every other sentence too.

Presenters muscling forward to be more important than the programme.

And don't get me started on Clemency Burton Hill.......................

`I'm not as averse of you are, Draco but I tend to use the programme as a tutorial/signpost for further investigation. Whoever chooses his experts usually does a good job, I find

[DracoM]

Totally agree - the experts are invariably excellent. No quarrel with that at all.

[french frank]

Totally agree - the experts are invariably excellent. No quarrel with that at all.

We seem to have deviated on to IOT rather than Do3, but - I know people rate the programme. I thought the format was the problem, the subjects (and experts) fascinating. Nothing more irritating than getting to the end of the programme and asking people to sum up, in a couple sentences ... I'm afraid we've run out of time there...

Oh, for the well constructed talk (discussion) that fits the essentials lucidly into the allotted time.

[Serial_Apologist]

I'm afraid we've run out of time there...

This could well find a place of dishonour on the "Phrases/words that set your teeth on edge" thread, so ubiquitous has it become on radio and telly.

[amateur51]

We seem to have deviated on to IOT rather than Do3, but - I know people rate the programme. I thought the format was the problem, the subjects (and experts) fascinating. Nothing more irritating than getting to the end of the programme and asking people to sum up, in a couple sentences ... I'm afraid we've run out of time there...

Oh, for the well constructed talk (discussion) that fits the essentials lucidly into the allotted time.