Night Waves - Ulysses/Gay Identity/Omega Workshops/South African Theatre

Bidisha introduces the arts and ideas programme. With a discussion on whether James Joyce's epic 20th century classic novel Ulysses is an elitist literary tome or the true novel for the common man. Bidisha is joined by writer and scholar Declan Kiberd, as well as literary critic Brenda Maddox to ask whether Ulysses is really a self-help guide in disguise. As Harvard University establishes its first professor of gender and sexuality, and the National Portrait Gallery in London puts on a gay icons exhibition, the programme asks whether the establishment has finally reconciled itself to gay identity, and if the term mean anything any more? Bidisha is joined by social researcher Gerard Lemos, academic Peggy Reynolds, and novelist and commentator Paul Burston. There is a look at the Bloomsbury Group's Omega workshops, an experimental design co-operative that sprung out of the famous circle of artists and writers. In what way were they and their founder Roger Fry significant? Bidisha talks to design critic Kieran Long. And to coincide with the opening in Britain of a series new plays from South Africa, writer Lindsay Johns talks about the current state of theatre there. He examines the vacuum left by playwright Athol Fugard and asks how the output is changing in the age of Jacob Zuma.