Front Row, Front Row, Freedom of Expression in the Arts

Front Row

Front Row

Freedom of Expression in the Arts

March 31, 2025

42 minutes

Available for over a year

Front Row looks at freedom of expression in the arts. From rows about cancel culture to allegations of censorship and the charge that the arts has become 'woke', we explore what is happening.

Samira is joined by art curator, Ekow Eshun, novelist Philip Hensher, poet and author of Hounded, Jenny Lindsay and theatre critic Kate Maltby, who sits on the board of the campaign group Index On Censorship.

We hear from David Austin, British Board of Film Classification Chief Exec, about how sex and violence are classified for modern audiences.

And Shakespeares Globe Artistic Director Michelle Terry discusses her production of Richard III, which ignited a row over casting.

Presenter: Samira Ahmed

Producer: Timothy Prosser