Program List

Free Thinking
Summary : Matthew Sweet presents an evening of programmes from BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking festival of ideas in Liverpool. 8.30pm Drama on 3. 9.40pm Sunday Feature. 10.30pm Words and Music.
Details : Matthew Sweet presents an evening of programmes from BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking festival of ideas in Liverpool. 8.30pm Drama on 3. 9.40pm Sunday Feature. 10.30pm Words and Music.Matthew Sweet presents an evening of programmes from BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking festival of ideas in Liverpool. Matthew and guests discuss some of the issues which have arisen during the weekend of debates, interviews, drama and lectures. He introduces reaction and commentary from the audience at the festival, recordings from some of the main events and the response from his studio panel to the new ideas and intellectual exchanges that have been aired. 8.30pm Drama on 3 Yesterday an Incident Occurred By Mark Ravenhill. Specially commissioned for Free Thinking and recorded in front of a live audience in the atmospheric Victorian civil court of St Georges Hall. The play looks at our relationship with the War on Terror and takes the moral temperature of a nation unsure of itself. What do the mostly totally normal citizens have to do to protect themselves? 9.40pm Sunday Feature Backwash Liverpudlian writer Gavin Scott Whitfield goes on a journey of self discovery and attempts to decode his city's cultural DNA and find the source of its creative vitality as the city races towards 2008 and Capital of Culture status. Interviewees include Terence Davies, Brian Patten, Ken Dodd, and Rogan Taylor. 10.30pm Words and Music A special event from St George's small concert room in Liverpool where Dickens gave his legendary Penny Readings. Liverpudlian actor Cathy Tyson reads a selection of poetry and prose on the theme of freedom. With music from Ensemble 10/10, the saxophonist Tim Whitehead, pianist Gwilym Simcock and singer Jennifer John. Including new improvisations on the Beatles' Free as a Bird and the Declaration of Human Rights.

Starts 2007-11-11 20:00:00, Ends 2007-11-12 00:00:00 and is on for 240 minutes and on BBC Radio 3

Free Thinking
Summary : On stage in Liverpool, Philip Dodd chairs one of the keynote debates recorded at Radio 3's Free Thinking festival of ideas, asking 'Are we freer than we think?'.
Details : On stage in Liverpool, Philip Dodd chairs one of the keynote debates recorded at Radio 3's Free Thinking festival of ideas, asking 'Are we freer than we think?'.Philip Dodd chairs one of the keynote debates recorded at Radio 3's Free Thinking festival of ideas, asking 'Are we freer than we think?' On stage in Liverpool, Philip is joined by Tony Blair's former chief speechwriter Philip Collins, ANC activist and now South Africa's Constitutional Court Justice Albie Sachs, and Chief Constable of Merseyside Police Bernard Hogan-Howe. Are our traditional freedoms in peril from smoking bans, CCTV and anti-terror laws? Or, in an individualistic and deference-free age, are we freer than we've ever been before?

Starts 2007-11-12 21:45:00, Ends 2007-11-12 22:30:00 and is on for 45 minutes and on BBC Radio 3

Free Thinking
Summary : From this year's Radio 3 Free Thinking festival of ideas in Liverpool, Tim Smit, co-founder of the Eden Project in Cornwall, outlines his vision for 'Inspiration in Education'.
Details : From this year's Radio 3 Free Thinking festival of ideas in Liverpool, Tim Smit, co-founder of the Eden Project in Cornwall, outlines his vision for 'Inspiration in Education'.More highlights from this year's Radio 3 Free Thinking festival of ideas in Liverpool. Tim Smit, co-founder and Chief Executive of the multi-award winning Eden Project in Cornwall, outlines his bold vision for 'Inspiration in Education', tackling what he sees as Britain's education crisis. There's a report from Free Thinking's student debate 'What's the point of university?' which pitches students, academics and businessmen against each other at Liverpool University. Plus we hear one of the specially commissioned Free Thinking dramas.

Starts 2007-11-13 21:45:00, Ends 2007-11-13 22:30:00 and is on for 45 minutes and on BBC Radio 3

Free Thinking
Summary : From Radio 3's Free Thinking festival of ideas in Liverpool, Roger Philips of Radio Merseyside hosts a debate which asks 'Have we destroyed the dream of equality?'.
Details : From Radio 3's Free Thinking festival of ideas in Liverpool, Roger Philips of Radio Merseyside hosts a debate which asks 'Have we destroyed the dream of equality?'.From Radio 3's Free Thinking festival of ideas in Liverpool, Roger Philips of Radio Merseyside asks 'Have we destroyed the dream of equality?'. The gap between the rich and poor gets wider, Nobel prize-winning scientists make claims about the inferiority of different races, and today's fragmented culture seems to value differences as much as shared experience. In these circumstances, is there any hope left for the dream of equality? Bishop of Liverpool James Jones, bio-ethicist Tom Shakespeare, and writer Munira Mirza are on the platform to discuss. Plus a report from Free Thinking's 'Freedom of the City' history walk around Liverpool.

Starts 2007-11-14 21:45:00, Ends 2007-11-14 22:30:00 and is on for 45 minutes and on BBC Radio 3

Free Thinking
Summary : A keynote lecture delivered before an audience at BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking festival of ideas. Professor of Space Science John Zarnecki asks 'Space. Why are we there?'.
Details : A keynote lecture delivered before an audience at BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking festival of ideas. Professor of Space Science John Zarnecki asks 'Space. Why are we there?'.A keynote lecture delivered before an audience at BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking festival of ideas. Professor of Space Science John Zarnecki asks 'Space. Why are we there?'. The 21st century has brought renewed vigour to space exploration, there's even been serious talk of Britain sending an astronaut to the moon. But have we yet answered the fundamental questions of why we want to be there in the first place? John Zarnecki draws on over 30 years of involvement in space missions to attempt an answer.

Starts 2007-11-15 21:45:00, Ends 2007-11-15 22:30:00 and is on for 45 minutes and on BBC Radio 3

Free Thinking
Summary : Isabel Hilton talks to South African Justice Albie Sachs in an interview recorded before an audience in Liverpool for BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking festival.
Details : Isabel Hilton talks to South African Justice Albie Sachs in an interview recorded before an audience in Liverpool for BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking festival.Isabel Hilton talks to Justice Albie Sachs in an interview recorded before an audience in Liverpool for BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking festival. Albie Sachs came to prominence as one of the most influential members of the ANC in the days of apartheid. After solitary confinement and exile, he was the victim of an assassination attempt by South African security agents which cost him an arm and an eye. He now sits as Justice Sachs in South Africa's Constitutional Court. He talks about his remarkable past and his hopes for the future, and discusses his understanding of freedom with the audience.

Starts 2007-11-22 21:45:00, Ends 2007-11-22 22:30:00 and is on for 45 minutes and on BBC Radio 3

Free Thinking
Summary : As part of BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking festival of ideas, Academy Award-nominated film director Mike Figgis delivers a lecture entitled 'Is There Too Much Culture?'.
Details : As part of BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking festival of ideas, Academy Award-nominated film director Mike Figgis delivers a lecture entitled 'Is There Too Much Culture?'.As part of BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking festival of ideas, film director Mike Figgis delivers a lecture entitled 'Is There Too Much Culture?'. Mike Figgis is the Academy Award-nominated director of films such as Leaving Las Vegas and Timecode, and one of the most innovative and successful British film-makers working today.

Starts 2007-11-29 21:45:00, Ends 2007-11-29 22:30:00 and is on for 45 minutes and on BBC Radio 3

Free Thinking
Summary : Matthew Sweet is joined in Liverpool by a roundtable of guests to argue over the continuing relevance of Aldous Huxley's famous 1930s novel Brave New World.
Details : Matthew Sweet is joined in Liverpool by a roundtable of guests to argue over the continuing relevance of Aldous Huxley's famous 1930s novel Brave New World.Matthew Sweet introduces a special edition of Night Waves' Landmarks monthly exploration of a classic work of culture, recorded in front of an audience as part of BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking festival of ideas in Liverpool. Aldous Huxley's famous 1930s novel Brave New World foresaw a disturbing future society where unhappiness has been eliminated by technology. Set in London in 2540, it anticipates developments in reproductive technology and biological engineering that change society. Humanity is carefree, healthy and technologically advanced. So now, 70 years later, have we finally surpassed Huxley's predictions? Matthew is joined in Liverpool by a roundtable of guests to argue over the book's continuing relevance.

Starts 2007-12-05 21:45:00, Ends 2007-12-05 22:30:00 and is on for 45 minutes and on BBC Radio 3

Free Thinking
Summary : Tony Blair's former speech writer Philip Collins discusses the apparent decline in rhetoric in a speech given at Radio 3's Free Thinking festival earlier this year.
Details : Tony Blair's former speech writer Philip Collins discusses the apparent decline in rhetoric in a speech given at Radio 3's Free Thinking festival earlier this year.Tony Blair's former speech writer Philip Collins discusses the apparent decline in rhetoric in a speech given at Radio 3's Free Thinking festival earlier this year. Isabel Hilton and guests respond to his remarks about Aristotle, Cicero, Tony Blair, David Cameron, Gordon Brown and the art of political oratory.

Starts 2007-12-06 21:45:00, Ends 2007-12-06 22:15:00 and is on for 30 minutes and on BBC Radio 3

Free Thinking
Summary : As part of BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking 07, Matthew Sweet introduces a debate which asks 'Are you a prisoner of yourself?' and looks at the freedom we possess inside our own heads.
Details : As part of BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking 07, Matthew Sweet introduces a debate which asks 'Are you a prisoner of yourself?' and looks at the freedom we possess inside our own heads.Matthew Sweet introduces a debate recorded in front of an audience in Liverpool as part of BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking 07. In an age when the political agenda is often pre-occupied with debates over civil liberties and the meaning of human rights, have we forgotten that the most powerful freedom we possess is in our heads? Why do so many people feel that the main obstacle to their personal freedom is, quite simply, their own outlook? Psychoanalyst and writer Adam Philips and motivational speaker Jane Kenyon join the Rev Richard Coles, Chaplain to the Royal Academy of Music, to ask 'Are you a prisoner of yourself?'

Starts 2007-12-13 21:45:00, Ends 2007-12-13 22:30:00 and is on for 45 minutes and on BBC Radio 3

Free Thinking
Summary : Matthew Sweet presents a special programme from the Free Thinking festival in Liverpool, with debates, interviews, dramas and lectures as well as audience reaction and commentary.
Details : Matthew Sweet presents a special programme from the Free Thinking festival in Liverpool, with debates, interviews, dramas and lectures as well as audience reaction and commentary.Matthew Sweet presents an evening of programmes recorded for BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking festival of ideas in Liverpool. Including: 8.00pm Live from BBC Radio Merseyside, Matthew and a panel of guests discuss some of the issues which have arisen during the weekend of debates, interviews, dramas and lectures. The 21st Century Brain, the Value of Experience, Privacy and Public Space are the main topics of the festival, in Liverpool for its third year. Matthew also introduces reaction and commentary from the audience at the festival, highlights from some of the events and reflections from his studio panel to the new ideas which have been aired as well as the intellectual exchanges that have taken place over the weekend. 8.20pm In front of an audience at Liverpool's FACT centre, brain scientist and bestselling author Susan Blackmore explores the notion of free will, asking whether the choices we make really are free. Many scientists now believe that there can be no such thing and that our genes, biology and inheritance are in control. 9.15pm 24 Weeks A new play about abortion by award-winning TV dramatist Tony Marchant, recorded yesterday in front of an audience in the Bluecoat arts centre. 10.30pm Words and Music: The Seven Ages of Man Liverpudlian actors Annabelle Dowler and Kevin Harvey read poetry, prose and drama on the theme of the Seven Ages of Man monologue from Shakespeare's As You Like It. They are joined by pianist Ashley Wass, the Elias String Quartet, folk singer Belinda Sykes and cutting-edge rock and jazz percussionist Bill Bruford. The music ranges from Merseybeat to Kipling, folk ballads to Bartok, Marlowe to Pinter and percussion improvisations to Bach. Including a newly commissoned work by Liverpudlian writer Angela Clarke.

Starts 2008-11-02 20:00:00, Ends 2008-11-03 00:00:00 and is on for 240 minutes and on BBC Radio 3

Free Thinking
Summary : Matthew Sweet presents more highlights from this year's Free Thinking Festival in Liverpool, including debates on the drawbacks of computers and learning to change one's bad habits.
Details : Matthew Sweet presents more highlights from this year's Free Thinking Festival in Liverpool, including debates on the drawbacks of computers and learning to change one's bad habits.Matthew Sweet presents highlights from the Free Thinking Festival of ideas that took place last weekend in Liverpool, including a debate on schools, entitled Do Computers Make You Stupid? BBC Radio Merseyside's Roger Phillips is the moderator as two teams of young debaters from Liverpool schools discuss whether computers and calculators are making us lose ground to previous generations who could spell and do arithmetic themselves. In collaboration with the English Speaking Union. Plus highlights from the workshop Thought Into Action with Eugenie Harvey from the movement We Are What We Do, and psychologist and behavioural expert Prof Ben Fletcher. Focusing on changing habits, they explore how to convert thoughts into action in an open session devoted to the ideas, problems, questions, frustrations and ambitions of the Free Thinking audience.

Starts 2008-11-06 21:15:00, Ends 2008-11-06 22:00:00 and is on for 45 minutes and on BBC Radio 3

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