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
Theatre and performance
How the acrobat and choreographer Yoann Bourgeois plays with gravity and time
Directed by Raphael Wertheimer
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
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
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
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
Exquisite subaquatic choreography stretches the limits of mind and body
Directed by Julie Gautier
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
Sail through Shakespeare’s melancholic soliloquy on life’s seven stages
Directed by Jérémie Balais and Jeffig Le Bars
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
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
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
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
The astounding performances of an artist making art and life simultaneous
Directed by Adrian Heathfield & Hugo Glendinning
Body heat illuminates a breathtaking dance of light, movement and humanity
Directed by Philippe Baylaucq
What it’s like to be an actor in the final hour before the play begins
Directed by Pinny Grylls