Theatre and performance
Music
idea
True musical virtuosos are minimalists who put roll before rock
Musicians like Muddy Waters and Charlie Watts played fewer notes than showoffs like Jeff Beck, but they were the right ones
by Mike Edison
Communication and language
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Here’s the truth about how to spot when someone is lying
From shifty eyes to fidgeting fingers, there are many folk beliefs about the signs of lying – but what does the science say?
by Tim Brennen & Svein Magnussen
Theatre and performance
idea
Much ado about uncertainty: how Shakespeare navigates doubt
‘I know this sure uncertainty’: how Shakespeare’s vision of an unpredictable world can help us live with doubt and error
by Lorenzo Zucca
Play
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What TikTok videos have in common with Victorian parlour games
TikTok and Insta videos are the Victorian parlour games of today, allowing us to share in the emotional benefits of play
by Kim Beil & Ryan Tacata
History of ideas
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Five timeless lessons for life from the Athenian tragedies
In a world filled with grief-fuelled rage, cultivating a tragic mindset can help you to live with grace and dignity
by Andy Owen
Identity
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Stanislavski’s revelation: we’re more than the parts we play
Stanislavski taught that performance – on stage as in life – is created by analysing a character’s feelings and objectives
by William Justice Bruehl
Dance
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Bharathanatyam dance is a living exploration of being human
With its origins in 16th-century India, Bharathanatyam remains hugely popular. Here’s a primer to kickstart your enjoyment
by Lakshmi Thiagarajan
Poetry
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Why spoken word poetry is so much more than a poetry reading
As poetry returns to its roots as a performance art, it’s providing many with a powerful source of healing and community
by Erica Fletcher
Theatre and performance
idea
Why did Ibsen put ‘philosophers in skirts’ up on the stage?
When Henrik Ibsen put ‘philosophers in skirts’ into his plays, he demonstrated a different way of thinking about the world
by Kristin Gjesdal