FestCast by Cheltenham Festivals

During Cheltenham Science Festival at Home, we explored six of the 17 sustainable development goals set by the United Nations with the support of UK Research and Innovation.  In this episode, we take a look at SDG 13: Climate Action with host Greg Foot, young activist Daze Aghaji and UKRI GCRF Researcher Mark Stutton.

During Cheltenham Science Festival at Home, we explored six of the 17 sustainable development goals set by the United Nations with the support of UK Research and Innovation.  In this episode, we take a look at SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing with host Greg Foot, Giles Yeo and Helen Fletcher.

During Cheltenham Science Festival at Home, we explored six of the 17 sustainable development goals set by the United Nations with the support of UK Research and Innovation.  In this episode, we take a look at SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production with host Greg Foot, Rae Stanton-Smithson from LUSH and UKRI GCRF Challenge Leader Jaideep Gupte.  

During Cheltenham Science Festival at Home, we explored six of the 17 sustainable development goals set by the United Nations with the support of UK Research and Innovation.  In this episode, we take a look at SDG 15: Life On Land with host Greg Foot, conservationist and influencer Bella Lack and UKRI GCRF Researcher Federica Di Palma.

During Cheltenham Science Festival at Home, we explored six of the 17 sustainable development goals set by the United Nations with the support of UK Research and Innovation.  In this episode, we take a look at SDG 14: Life Below Water with host, Greg Foot, Helen Czerski and UKRI GCRF Researcher Elisa Morgera.

During Cheltenham Science Festival at Home, we explored six of the 17 sustainable development goals set by the United Nations with the support of UK Research and Innovation.  In this first episode, we take a look at SDG 2: Zero Hunger with host, Greg Foot, UKRI CRF Researcher Claire Heffernan and Clinical Psychologist Lorraine Sherr.

Through Slay In Your Lane, Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinené not only created an inspirational guide to life but also started a national conversation.  How does it feel to be a black woman in a predominantly white space? How can we improve access and inclusivity? In 2019 they joined us as Guest Curators of the Literature Festival, and alongside them, we created a series of three events that celebrate powerful role models and capture their belief that, with the right tools, we can find success in every sphere of our lives. Today we look back at one event from that series where Yomi and Elizabeth were joined by Heather Melville, Director at PwC, and Head of Editorial at gal-dem, Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff. They celebrate the powerful women reshaping their industries and discuss the challenges black women face throughout their life.

In this episode, Camilla King is joined by Lucy Schaufer and Zoe Martlew to discuss creativity in lockdown, what comes next, and Zoe’s song cycle ‘Musae’, premiered at the 2019 Music Festival.

The second episode from our Composium day features a moving short talk from James Murphy, Chief Executive of the Royal Philharmonic Society, and our second panel session with speakers Hannah Kendall composer, Huw Watkins pianist and composer, Emma-Ruth Richards composer and Harriet Wybor, composer and Classical Relationship Manager from PRS for Music. Composium kindly supported by Penny McCracken & John Mumford, The John S Cohen Foundation and The Michael Tippett Musical Foundation. In partnership with PRS for Music and Wild Plum Arts.

This podcast shares highlights from our inaugural 2019 Composium. Listen to Thea Musgrave‘s inspiring keynote speech, and our first panel discussion hosted by broadcaster Katy Hamilton, with speakers Lucy Schaufer mezzo-soprano, Zoe Martlew, cellist and composer, James Murphy, Chief Executive of the Royal Philharmonic Society and Vanessa Reed, Chief Executive of the PRS Foundation. Composium was kindly supported by Penny McCracken & John Mumford, The John S Cohen Foundation and The Michael Tippett Musical Foundation. In partnership with PRS for Music and Wild Plum Arts.

From 2014, a special remembrance programme for John Tavener, performed in Gloucester Cathedral. ‘Scatter roses over my tears’ was given its premiere performance by the Cavaleri Quartet, and ‘Towards Silence’ was performed by the Cavaleri Quartet, joined by the Celan Quartet, the Gildas Quartet and Quatuor Hermes, with support from Arts Council England.

This episode features an interview with composer Judith Weir, and the 2019 world premiere performance of ‘The Prelude’, which was premiered by the Nash Ensemble at the Pittville Pump Room. This work was commissioned by the Nash Ensemble with funds provided by a friend of the Nash, Dr Shirley Ellis, and with support from Cheltenham Music Festival Society in memory of Graham Lockwood.

Three world premieres: Daniel Kidane ‘Jungle’ performed by Piano 4 Hands in 2017, ‘Gursky Landscapes’ by Gavin Higgins performed by David Cohen and the Carducci Quartet in 2018, and ‘Catching Fire’ by Jonathan Dove performed by Melvyn Tan in 2016. These works were made possible thanks to the Steel Charitable Trust, the Garrick Charitable Trust, the Britten-Pears Foundation and Cheltenham Music Festival Society.

Science Festival Chair Vivienne Parry is joined by four UCL professors to explore how we can tackle and track the virus. Professor of Biochemical Engineering Suzanne Farid,  Richard Angell, Principal Research Associate, Francois Balloux, Chair in Computational Biology Systems and Judith Breuer, Professor of Virology.

What can be learned from past pandemics to help us prepare for the future? Science Festival Chair Vivienne Parry is joined by John Sabapathy, Senior Lecturer in Medieval History, Nicola Miller, Professor of Latin-American History, Graham Hart, Professor of Sexual Health and HIV Research and Professor of Infectious Disease, Anne Johnson.

A UCL team made up of Professor of Climatology Mark Maslin, Associate Professor of Science & Technology Studies Jack Stilgoe and Professor of Virology, Deenan Pillay talk to Science Festival Chair, Vivienne Parry about our future post-coronavirus.

How can we stay sane on a planet shrouded in chaos? How do we stay human in a technological world? How do we feel happy when we are encouraged to be anxious? Matt Haig has been a pivotal figure in the conversation about mental health since Reasons To Stay Alive, a book which tells the story of how he overcame the illness that almost destroyed him. The follow-up, Notes On A Nervous Planet has been described as, ‘an honest and human guide to coping with the modern world’ and has become an essential for people all over the world. Drawing on his own experiences, he links what he felt with the world around him and shares his reflections on how we can feel happy and human in the twenty-first century. He talks to broadcaster Claudia Hammond. 

Back in the day when the country was locked in frenzied discussions over backstops, borders and all things Brexit We asked Sebastian Faulks - novelists Philip Hensher and Sarah Moss, and Sunday Times dating columnist Dolly Alderton to go head-to-head in a literary tussle over the real nature of two of the canon’s most notable romantic heroes.  

On the outskirts of war-torn Damascus, a man pushes his piano into the street and begins to play; an act of defiance that will become a beacon of hope and resistance for the people of Syria. Accompanied by a spellbinding live performance, Aeham Ahmad shares his extraordinary story of the healing power of music in the face of despair which serves as a timely reminder of the importance of not turning your back on creativity and culture in times of crisis. He talks – and sings – to international correspondent Lyse Doucet. 

We are all still getting used to the surreal way of life that comes with a lockdown. But what about people who already choose to live entirely off-grid? No running water, no phone, no electricity or any of the things it powers – just a wooden cabin on a smallholding by the edge of the forest. In today’s podcast, intrepid traveller Mark Boyle and adventurer Ben Fogle explore the hard-won joys of life without modern technology and ask what it means to be human at a time when the boundaries between man and machine are blurred.