32 ARTS
THE WEEK 9 April 2022The List
Showing now
In Michael Morpurgo’s haunting 2007 novella
The Mozart Question, a violinist reveals dark
secrets about his parents’ experience in a Nazi
death camp; Vicki Berwick’s stage adaptation
“brings the piece to all-engulfing life” (Daily
Telegraph). Until 30 April, Barn Theatre,
Cirencester (barntheatre.org.uk).The National Theatre of Scotland is staging an
adaptation of Orphans, Peter Mullan’s gritty,
witty 1998 film about four siblings meeting in
Glasgow to arrange their mother’s funeral. Until
30 April; touring with dates in Edinburgh and
Inverness (nationaltheatrescotland.com).The world of Stonehenge draws on
archaeological findings and other artefacts to
tell the fascinating human story behind the
neolithic stones. “A knockout epic” (Guardian).
Until 17 July, The British Museum, London
WC1 (britishmuseum.org).Book now
The writer Maggie O’Farrell, Poet Laureate
Simon Armitage and actor Derek Jacobi areamong the headliners at Stratford Literary
Festival, as it celebrates its 15th birthday. 3-8
May, various venues, Stratford-upon-Avon,
Warwickshire (stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk).Booking is now open for Opera Holland Park’s
2022 season, which includes new productions
of Carmen and Eugene Onegin, as well as the
UK premiere of Mark Adamo’s Little Women.
31 May-13 August, Holland Park, London W8
(operahollandpark.com).What is Life? by Erwin
Schrödinger, 1944 (Cambridge
University Press £14.99).
A true classic written by the
Austrian physicist of cat-in-the-
box fame. It has remained in
print because it is still highly
relevant. In it, Schrödinger asks
if life is special because it is
able to utilise the trickery of
quantum mechanics. The Emperor’s New Mind by
Roger Penrose, 1989 (OUP
£10.99). Penrose is best known
for his work with Stephen
Hawking on black holes and
the Big Bang (not to mention
winning a Nobel). But this
book inspired scientists
across many disciplines, from
quantum physics to computer
science, AI and philosophy.It is still one of my favourite
popular science books.Look to Windward by Iain
M. Banks, 2000 (Orbit £9.99).
Banks is one of the great
science-fiction authors and
I love his Culture series of ten
books. I had to choose one
though, and I have opted for
this, which is widely regarded
as one of the greatest sci-fi
novels ever written.One Hundred Years of
Solitude by Gabriel García
Márquez, 1967 (Penguin
£9.99). I first read this
classic novel about a
multigenerational family
in Colombia when I was
a student and absolutely loved
it. It is written in the “magicalrealist” style, blurring the lines
between realism and fantasy.The Usefulness of Useless
Knowledge by Abraham
Flexner and Robbert Dijkgraaf,
2017 (Princeton University
Press £7.99). This slim book is
a delight and was one of my
inspirations in writing The Joy
of Science. It lays out, very
persuasively, the importance
of curiosity-driven research.The Lord of the Rings
by J.R.R. Tolkien, 1955
(HarperCollins £22). Well, how
could I not include this on my
list. Sheer brilliance. Sure, the
film adaptations are great, but
they inevitably leave out so
much of Tolkien’s richness – I
mean, where is Tom Bombadil?Best books... Jim Al-Khalili
The quantum physicist and host of Radio 4’s The Life Scientific chooses his
favourite books. His latest, The Joy of Science (Princeton University Press
£12.99), a brief guide to leading a more rational life, is out this weekThe Week’s guide to what’s worth seeing
National Theatre of Scotland’s OrphansTelevision
Programmes
Gentleman Jack Suranne
Jones reprises her role as the
formidable industrialist Anne
Lister in season two of the
costume drama set in 1830s
Yorkshire. Sun 10 Apr, BBC1
21:00 (60mins).Alvin Ailey: A Legend of
American Dance The life of
the great African-American
choreographer, told in part
via previously unheard
audio interviews in which he
described his childhood in
Jim Crow-era Texas. Sun
10 Apr, BBC4 21:00 (90mins).Derry Girls The much-loved
comedy set in 1990s Northern
Ireland returns for a third and
final series. It’s GCSE results
day, and the girls fear the
wrath of their mammies. Tue
12 Apr, C4 21:15 (30mins).Gazza Documentary series
about the troubled footballer’s
rise and fall. Part one opens in
the late 1980s, as the young
Geordie becomes the golden
boy of British soccer. Wed
13 Apr, BBC2 21:00 (60mins).Dinosaurs: The Final Day
David Attenborough helps
bring to life the day when a
massive asteroid hit Earth and
brought about the extinction
of the dinosaurs. Fri 15 Apr,
BBC1 19:00 (60mins).Films
The Favourite (2018) Olivia
Colman and Rachel Weisz star
in the dark historical comedy
set in the court of Queen Anne.
Sat 9 Apr, C4 21:15 (145mins).Easter Parade (1948)
Evergreen musical with
a score by Irving Berlin. A
Broadway star (Fred Astaire)
plucks a dancer (Judy Garland)
from obscurity to prove he
can make a hit performer of
anyone. Sun 10 Apr, BBC2
12:20 (100mins).Titles in print are available from The Week Bookshop on 020-3176 3835. For out-of-print books visit biblio.co.ukComing up for sale
The postponed London Art
Fair finally opens with four
days of events, tours and
curated collections. More
than 100 galleries will display
work by artists from Britain
and beyond, while talks will
cover subjects including
the rise of NFTs and the
management of artists’
legacies. 21-24 April, Business
Design Centre, London N1
(londonartfair.co.uk).The Archers: what happened last week
With tensions rising over Berrow’s future, Susan orders Lilian out of the shop. After the Mothering
Sunday service, Kate confronts Alan and Amy and berates Amy for sleeping with Chris. Furious,
Alan yells at Kate and Amy flees in tears. Later, Kate tells Lilian she’s considering making an official
complaint. Jazzer and Hannah worry about their futures if Berrow closes. Lilian calls on Alan to
warn him about Kate’s complaint, and later Alan warns Chris against hurting Amy. Alice opens up to
Fallon, who confesses she knew about Chris and Amy. At the BL board meeting, members vote
to save Berrow for now, but Justin wants to discuss a mystery project with Martyn. Alan apologises
to Kate and the two make up. Alan reports this to Amy, but she believes people still think badly of
her. Later, Amy tells Chris she loves him – if he feels the same, maybe she’ll stay in Ambridge. He
says he’s not ready and so she makes up her mind to move back to Nottingham. As she and Alan
bid their farewells, Alice arrives to say she has forgiven Amy. Amy leaves with a lighter heart.
© MIHAELA BOLDOVIC