FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS 2: Terry Waite Photo: Gemma Levine Gemma Levine Photo: Neda Navaee Photo: 1: Harriet Harman 1 2 3 3: Lars Vogt 4 4 Mitchell Paul Marc Photo: 4: Damon Hill

THE SPEED OF LIFE

5: Russell Foster 8: Viv Albertine 6: Miranda Sawyer 9: The Choir - Voices of Hope Photo: Photo: Writtle Matt 5 7: Denise Mina 6 Ollie Grove Photo: 7 8 9 Nick Rutter Photo: 10: Battany Hughes 10

Listen on BBC Radio 3

Find all the programmes at bbc.co.uk/freethinking 11: Richard Hawley 12: Emmy the Great 14: George Saunders Photo: Mike Urwin Mike Photo: 11 12 Alex Lake Photo: 13 13: Simon Armitage 14 15 15: Jim Al-Khalili 16 16: Louise Robinson Photo: Webster Photo: Paul Wolfgang Photo: Chloe Aftel Photo:

WELCOME FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

Welcome to BBC Radio 3’s Free Thinking 4.10pm – 6.30pm 10.15am – 11.15am 2.05pm – 3.10pm 7.45pm – 9.00pm (Saturday) 11.00am – 12.00pm (Sunday) 3.55pm – 4.55pm festival – a packed weekend of debates, NORTHERN ROCK NORTHERN ROCK NORTHERN ROCK NORTHERN ROCK SAGE TWO interviews and live music at Sage Gateshead. FOUNDATION HALL FOUNDATION HALL FOUNDATION HALL FOUNDATION HALL FASTER, FASTER, FASTER? We’re bringing together writers, artists, IN TUNE HOW SHORT IS A NEW GENERATION THINKERS 2017 THE VERB politicians, sportspeople and scientists to SHORT STORY? Can the steady tortoise still beat the rapid hare in Suzy Klein hosts live performances from pianist The New Generation Thinkers is an annual competition Ian Macmillan presents two editions of Radio 3’s today’s world? Anne McElvoy chairs a debate with grapple with ‘The Speed of Life’: how a Lars Vogt with members of Royal Northern Sinfonia, Acclaimed American short story writer George run by BBC Radio 3 and the Arts and Humanities poetry and spoken word programme. Saturday’s Pinky Lilani, Denise Mina, John Gallagher and Jay rapidly transforming world is changing our Newcastle based Diachronicx (the jazz singer and Saunders talks to Radio 3 presenter Matthew Sweet Research Council to select 10 researchers at the start recording celebrates the 800th anniversary of the Griffiths as they compare experiences of life in the ideas of time. There’s a great selection of guitar duo Gabriele Heller and Steve Glendinning) about travelling in time to explore Abraham Lincoln’s of their careers who can turn their fascinating research Charter of the Forest and features Richard Hawley, fast lane with taking the slow route – in business, live performances to hear how composers and pianola expert Rex Lawson. life during the American Civil War. He compares notes into stimulating programmes. In this event, the 2017 Emmy the Great and William Fiennes. Sunday’s writing and leisure time. on the art of fiction long and short withPaul McVeigh, selection make their first public appearance together: Jacob and musicians have been inspired by time – 6.15pm – 7.15pm recording invites you to hear guests including 4.00pm – 5.00pm Jenn Ashworth Kirsty Logan. their topics include music and health and Shakespeare from renaissance to jazz. SAGE TWO and Polley, Rahul Kohli and Scott Tyrell, who explore in Arabic. and interpret the ancient, rich and contested national RADIO 3 POP UP STUDIO Across the weekend, we’ll broadcast live LATE NIGHT WOMAN’S HOUR THE CHOIR from our pop up studio in the concourse 3.45pm – 4.45pm identity, Englishness. Lauren Laverne talks to Viv Albertine, guitarist in 10.30am – 11.30am Radio 3’s Sara Mohr-Pietsch – come and see Radio 3 in action. You SAGE TWO introduces a varied pioneering all-female punk band The Slits for the first SAGE TWO selection of choral music, with locally based choir THE SPEED OF REVOLUTION 12.10pm – 1.20pm can even try hosting a programme in our Late Night Woman’s Hour in front of a live audience. Voices of Hope performing live on the Concourse QUICK REACTIONS Bettany Hughes, Richard J. Evans training booth! The festival features almost Leading historians and SAGE TWO by Radio 3’s pop up studio. 50 events – most can be booked in advance Does the rush of adrenaline make us think better? John Hall join Free Thinking presenter Philip Dodd to DOING TIME / CONFINEMENT It brings us an increase in our strength, heightened consider tumultuous times and how we make sense of 5.10pm – 6.45pm and some tickets will be available on the day. 7.45pm – 9.00pm Terry Waite, who spent five years as a hostage mostly senses, a lack of pain and a burst of energy. Damon Hill, sweeping change from classical times, through empire ST MARY’S HERITAGE CENTRE Tickets are free. SAGE TWO held in solitary confinement, and the writer Erwin Lincoln Jopp, Rachel Brown-Finnis and Dr Ian Walshe building and the industrial revolution to the present day. Next to Sage Gateshead James, Alan Davey THE FREE THINKING LECTURE: discuss adrenaline’s connection to handling crises and who served 20 years of a life sentence in prison BBC Radio 3 Controller 3.55pm – 4.55pm WORDS AND MUSIC SLEEP – FREEDOM TO THINK its aftermath with Rana Mitter. before his release in 2004, discuss the experience NORTHERN ROCK of isolation with Dr Cleo Van Velsen, a Consultant Music by Schubert, Satie and Bach is performed Professor Russell Foster’s research shows how our FOUNDATION HALL Psychiatrist in Forensic Psychotherapy, and Free by violinist Bradley Creswick and members of bodies, honed by 3 million years of evolution, follow a INTERVIEW Thinking presenter Anne McElvoy. Royal Northern Sinfonia; and Samuel West and natural clock and not the man-made one in daily use 12.00pm – 1.00pm with Haemin Sunim Kim Gerard read Auden, Proust and Yeats. which has led to increased insomnia. Professor Foster NORTHERN ROCK explains the neuroscience of sleep and sets out the FOUNDATION HALL ‘Is it the world that’s busy or my mind?’ The multi-million 2.15pm – 3.15pm Haemin Sunim case for a change in approach. THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE selling writer and meditation teacher SAGE TWO and New Generation Thinker Christopher Harding FREE CONCOURSE The former Health Minister Edwina Currie, the discuss Buddhism in the 21st century. WRITING LIFE journalist and broadcaster Miranda Sawyer and the ACTIVITIES 9.30pm – 11.30pm The award winning poet Simon Armitage’s latest English teacher and columnist Lola Okolosie discuss 7.45pm – 8.45pm collection explores life against a backdrop of economic Come and hear your favourite Radio 3 NORTHERN ROCK the different times of our lives with Free Thinking ST MARY’S HERITAGE CENTRE FOUNDATION HALL recession. His work includes books exploring the South programmes being made in the Pop-Up Studio. presenter Anne McElvoy. Next to Sage Gateshead EXPOSURE West’s coast path and the Pennine Way. He joins the Come and learn new skills with a series of 12.15pm – 1.15pm THE EARLY MUSIC SHOW writer Alexandra Harris, author of a book on the Radio 3’s programme which brings listeners gigs from craft events from the BBC’s Get Creative SAGE TWO Performer, writer and Radio 3’s early music specialist history of English weather, to discuss time and place. THE SPEED around the UK, exploring the local alternative and campaign in association with Voluntary Arts. Lucie Skeaping introduces a performance of that OF LIFE underground music scene, comes to Sage Gateshead POLITICS FAST AND SLOW quintessential musical depiction of the changing year, Come and try out presenting in the for the first time. Harriet Harman was first elected a Labour MP in 1982 Four Seasons Avison Ensemble. Radio 3 Presenter Pod. and has served as the acting leader of her party twice Vivaldi’s from the Verity Sharp introduces performances by Midnight in her career. She talks to Free Thinking presenter Philip Named after Charles Avison, the Newcastle-born Come and vote for the best ideas from Doctors, Nathalie Stern and Swarm Front. Dodd about championing women’s rights and sustaining composer, conductor and organist (1709-1770), young academies in ‘Speed Dating’ with a FESTIVAL OF IDEAS the group have performed and provided musical a political career in a fast-changing political landscape. New Generation Thinker. 17 – 19 MARCH 2017 training in the North East for 30 years. SAGE GATESHEAD TICKETS FREE FREE TICKETS visit sagegateshead.com/freethinking 0141 443 4661 bbc.co.uk/freethinking For full programme and to book or call @BBCRadio3 To guarantee your ticket book in advance. Some tickets are available on the day. 1: Pinky Lilani

1 2: Avison Ensemble Green Joanne Photo: 2 3 3: Lola Okolosie 4 4: Erwin James

5: Edwina Currie 6: Carlos Frenk 8: Jay Griffiths THE SPEED OF LIFE 5 6 7: Eugenia Cheng 7 8 9 M E Birkhead Photo: 9: Tim Birkhead FESTIVAL OF IDEAS 17 – 19 MARCH 2017

SAGE GATESHEAD 10: Rahul Kohli 11: Richard Evans 13: Sathnam Sanghera Photo: Steve Haywood Steve Photo:

10 11 Evans Richard Photo: 12 12: New Generation Thinkers 13 14 Braun Jochen Photo: 14: Vincent Deary DIARY OF EVENTS FRIDAY 17 MARCH SATURDAY 18 MARCH SUNDAY 19 MARCH

SAGE TWO RADIO 3 POP-UP STUDIO 2.00pm – 3.00pm 1.20pm – 1.40pm RADIO 3 POP-UP STUDIO 2.20pm – 3.20pm In Sage Gateshead Café BBC RADIO 4: Katherine Cooper In Sage Gateshead Café TAKING THE LONG VIEW 6.15pm – 7.15pm START THE WEEK THE BRITISH WRITER AND WITH THE ANIMAL KINGDOM LATE NIGHT WOMAN’S HOUR: 7.00am – 9.00am Broadcast on Radio 4: 20/3/17, 9:00am THE REFUGEE 7.00am – 9.00am Broadcast on Radio 3: 13/4/17, 10:00pm Lauren Laverne talks to Viv Albertine BREAKFAST 3.45pm – 4.45pm Broadcast on Radio 3: 23/3/17, 10:45pm BREAKFAST 3.55pm – 5.00pm Broadcast on Radio 4: 31/3/16, 11:00pm with Martin Handley THE SPEED OF REVOLUTION 3.20pm – 3.40pm with Martin Handley BBC RADIO 4’S THE LIFE SCIENTIFIC: 7.45pm – 9.00pm Broadcast Live on Radio 3 Broadcast on Radio 3: 28/3/17, 10:00pm Louisa Egbunike Broadcast Live on Radio 3 Paleontologist Dr Nick Fraser THE FREE THINKING LECTURE 9.00am – 12.15pm 5.15pm – 6.15pm IN THE SHADOWS OF BIAFRA 9.00am – 12.00pm Broadcast on Radio 4 after Easter Broadcast on Radio 3: 17/3/17, 10:00pm RECORD REVIEW THE NEVER-ENDING WORKDAY Broadcast on Radio 3: 22/3/17, 10:45pm SUNDAY MORNING with Andrew McGregor Broadcast on Radio 3: 29/3/17, 10:00pm 4.50pm – 5.10pm with Jonathan Swain THE BARBOUR ROOM NORTHERN ROCK Broadcast Live on Radio 3 7.45pm – 9.00pm Preti Taneja Broadcast Live on Radio 3 CREATING MODERN INDIA FOUNDATION HALL 12.15pm – 1.00pm THE VERB 1.40pm – 2.10pm 11.30am – 11.50am Broadcast on Radio 3: 30/3/17, 10:45pm MUSIC MATTERS Broadcast on Radio 3: 24/3/17, 10:00pm THE LISTENING SERVICE Cathering Fletcher 4.10pm – 6.30pm with Tom Service 6.35pm – 6.55pm with Tom Service FAITH, FIRE AND THE FAMILY IN TUNE Broadcast Live on Radio 3 NORTHERN ROCK Victoria Donovan Broadcast on Radio 3: 19/3/17, 5:00pm Broadcast on Radio 3: 27/3/17, 10:45pm RUSSIA’S SACRED RUINS Broadcast Live on Radio 3 1.00pm – 3.00pm FOUNDATION HALL 4.00pm – 5.00pm 12.10pm – 12.30pm Broadcast on Radio 3: 24/3/17, 10:45pm 9.30pm – 11.30pm SATURDAY CLASSICS THE CHOIR Matthew Smith 7.05pm – 7.25pm EXPOSURE with Richard Sisson 10.15am – 11.15am with Sara Mohr-Pietsch THE MAGIC YEARS Seb Falk Broadcast on Radio 3: 30/3/17, 11:00pm Broadcast Live on Radio 3 HOW SHORT IS A SHORT STORY? Broadcast Live on Radio 3 Broadcast on Radio 3: 28/3/17, 10:45pm MONKS, MODELS AND 3.00pm – 4.00pm Broadcast on Radio 3: 22/3/17, 10:00pm MEDIEVAL TIME 1.50pm – 2.10pm SOUND OF CINEMA: SAGE TWO John Gallagher SAGE ONE 12.00pm – 1.00pm Broadcast on Radio 3: 20/3/17, 10:45pm FRENCH CINEMA THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE ENGLAND’S FIRST EUROPEAN: with Matthew Sweet 12.10pm – 1.20pm 7.30pm – 9.45pm Broadcast on Radio 3: 30/3/17, 10:00pm THE CURIOUS VOYAGE OF Broadcast Live on Radio 3 ST MARY’S HERITAGE CENTRE DOING TIME/CONFINEMENT FYNES MORYSON RADIO 3 IN CONCERT 2.05pm – 3.10pm 4.00pm – 5.00pm Next to Sage Gateshead Broadcast on Radio 3: 27/3/17, 10:00pm Broadcast on Radio 3: 29/3/17, 10:45pm Royal Northern Sinfonia: Beethoven Double NEW GENERATION THINKERS Tickets from £12.90 JAZZ RECORD REQUESTS Broadcast on Radio 3: 4/4/17, 10:00pm 2.15pm – 3.15pm 3.25pm – 3.45pm with Alyn Shipton 7.45pm – 8.45pm WRITING LIFE Chris Harding Broadcast Live on Radio 3 3.55pm – 4.55pm Broadcast Live on Radio 3 EARLY MUSIC SHOW Broadcast on Radio 3: 9/4/17, 10:00pm KILLING TIME IN IMPERIAL JAPAN INTERVIEW WITH HAEMIN SUNIM Broadcast on Radio 3: 26/3/17, 2:00pm Broadcast on Radio 3: 31/3/17, 10:45pm Broadcast on Radio 3: 5/4/17, 10:00pm 3.55pm – 4.55pm SAGE TWO FASTER, FASTER, FASTER? 5.30pm – 6.30pm SAGE GATESHEAD CONCOURSE Broadcast on Radio 3: 20/3/17, 10:00pm SAGE GATESHEAD CONCOURSE MY BODY CLOCK IS BROKEN 10.30am – 11.30am Broadcast on Radio 3: 12/4/17, 10:00pm 5.30pm – 6.30pm QUICK REACTIONS 5.15pm – 6.15pm EDUCATION SLOW AND FAST 12.40pm – 1.35pm

Broadcast on Radio 3: 23/3/17, 10:00pm SPEED DATING WITH THE Broadcast on Radio 3: 3/4/17, 10:00pm SPEED DATING WITH THE THE BARBOUR ROOM NEW GENERATION THINKERS NEW GENERATION THINKERS 12.15pm – 1.15pm POLITICS FAST AND SLOW NORTHERN ROCK Broadcast on Radio 3: 21/3/17, 10:00pm 11.35am – 11.55am FOUNDATION HALL ST MARY’S HERITAGE CENTRE Edmund Richardson Next to Sage Gateshead ALEXANDER THE GREAT’S LOST CITY 11.00am – 12.00pm Broadcast on Radio 3: 21/3/17, 10:45pm THE VERB 5.10pm – 6.45pm Broadcast on Radio 3: 31/3/17, 10:00pm WORDS AND MUSIC Broadcast Live on Radio 3 12.45pm – 1.45pm TIME, SPACE AND SCIENCE Broadcast on Radio 3: 11/4/17, 10:00pm

FREE TICKETS For more details about all of these events, visit sagegateshead.com/freethinking In association with