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A man wearing glasses and a brown jacket who is Charlie Watts playing drums in a TV studio.

Music

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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

A couple enjoying a cosy moment, the woman holds a pink mug while the man, in a striped shirt, leans in closely, both smiling softly.

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

Photo of two men in dark clothing sitting and smiling at a round table in a dimly lit room with glasses.

Stories and literature

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How to tell a better story

Personal stories have the power to connect, entertain, persuade. Use a pro storyteller’s tips to pick and prepare a great one

by Micaela Blei

Dance

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How the acrobat and choreographer Yoann Bourgeois plays with gravity and time

Directed by Raphael Wertheimer

Photo of three men in jackets and beanies looking intently, with a group of people in the background on a cloudy day.

Theatre and performance

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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

Black and white photo of a man in a top hat with a watering can seated, woman standing in period attire, vintage interior.

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

Photo of a person in vibrant traditional attire with an orange headwrap singing on stage, another in shadow to the side.

Music

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How to get hooked on opera

Aspects of opera can seem strange. But give it a try and you’ll soon find yourself absorbed in a truly magical experience

by Alexandra Wilson

A woman in a black swimsuit is submerged underwater, with her head down and hair floating gently around her.

Dance

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Exquisite subaquatic choreography stretches the limits of mind and body

Directed by Julie Gautier

Photo of a war-torn street with a destroyed tank, damaged buildings and a person walking on a muddy path during snowfall.

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

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

Monichrome drawing of a bearded man with a hat, holding a pole, facing a striped lighthouse on an island, both reflected on a calm body of water.

Poetry

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Sail through Shakespeare’s melancholic soliloquy on life’s seven stages

Directed by Jérémie Balais and Jeffig Le Bars