In the Black Fantastic is a four-part podcast series inspired by the Hayward Gallery exhibition of the same name.

This series brings together artists, musicians and writers in conversations that draw on the themes of the exhibition – curated by Ekow Eshun – including myth, science fiction, spiritual traditions and the legacy of Afrofuturism.

This first episode brings together artist Rashaad Newsome, whose works featured in In the Black Fantastic include Isolation (2020) and Ansista (2019), and producer, composer and DJ, The Twilite Tone.

This podcast series is hosted and co-produced by Chrystal Genesis, produced by Jaja Muhammad, researched by Zara Martin, mixed by Carmela DiClemente, and was conceived by Glen Wilson.

In the Black Fantastic, the exhibition, is at Hayward Gallery, London until 18 September 2022. Find out more about the exhibition at southbankcentre.co.uk/venues/hayward-gallery

In the Black Fantastic: Rashaad Newsome x The Twilite Tone

In the Black Fantastic is a four-part podcast series inspired by the Hayward Gallery exhibition of the same name.

This series brings together artists, musicians and writers in conversations that draw on the themes of the exhibition – curated by Ekow Eshun – including myth, science fiction, spiritual traditions and the legacy of Afrofuturism.

This second episode brings together artist Lina Iris Viktor whose works featured in In the Black Fantastic include a number from her 2017-2018 portrait series ’A Haven. A Hell. A Dream Deferred’, and poet and essayist Salena Godden.

This podcast series is hosted and executive produced by Chrystal Genesis, produced by Jaja Muhammad, researched by Zara Martin, mixed by Carmela DiClemente, and was conceived by Glen Wilson.

In the Black Fantastic, the exhibition, is at Hayward Gallery, London until 18 September 2022. Find out more about the exhibition at southbankcentre.co.uk/venues/hayward-gallery

In the Black Fantastic: Lina Iris Viktor x Salena Godden

In the Black Fantastic is a four-part podcast series inspired by the Hayward Gallery exhibition of the same name.

This series brings together artists, musicians and writers in conversations that draw on the themes of the exhibition – curated by Ekow Eshun – including myth, science fiction, spiritual traditions and the legacy of Afrofuturism.

This third episode brings together interdisciplinary filmmaker Cauleen Smith, whose works featured in In the Black Fantastic include the drawings BLK FMNNST Loaner Library 1989–2019 (2019) and the installation Epistrophy (2018), and composer and cellist Ayann Witter-Johnson.

This podcast series is hosted and executive produced by Chrystal Genesis, produced by Jaja Muhammad, researched by Zara Martin, mixed by Carmela DiClemente, and was conceived by Glen Wilson.

In the Black Fantastic, the exhibition, is at Hayward Gallery, London until 18 September 2022. Find out more about the exhibition at southbankcentre.co.uk/venues/hayward-gallery

In the Black Fantastic: Cauleen Smith x Ayanna Witter-Johnson

In the Black Fantastic is a four-part podcast series inspired by the Hayward Gallery exhibition of the same name.

This series brings together artists, musicians and writers in conversations that draw on the themes of the exhibition – curated by Ekow Eshun – including myth, science fiction, spiritual traditions and the legacy of Afrofuturism.

This fourth and final episode brings together sculptor and visual artist Hew Locke, and sculptor and performance artist Nick Cave, both of whom have work featured in the exhibition. Locke’s works in In the Black Fantastic include portraits from his series ‘How Do You Want Me?’ (2007) and a number of his sculptural statues, whilst the work of Cave on display includes a trio of his famous Soundsuits, and Chain Reaction (2022), a sculpture of interlocking hands.

This podcast series is hosted and executive produced by Chrystal Genesis, produced by Jaja Muhammad, researched by Zara Martin, mixed by Carmela DiClemente, and was conceived by Glen Wilson.

In the Black Fantastic, the exhibition, is at Hayward Gallery, London until 18 September 2022. Find out more about the exhibition at southbankcentre.co.uk/venues/hayward-gallery

In the Black Fantastic: Hew Locke x Nick Cave

Out of the Kiln: From Technique to Concept presents Aaron Angell and Serena Korda - two artists who featured in the Hayward Gallery exhibition, Strange Clay: Ceramics in Contemporary Art - in conversation with exhibition curator Cliff Lauson and Isabella Smith, Deputy Editor at Crafts. They discuss working with ceramics, and explore how their clays, glazes and firing techniques give form to their creative vision.

Recorded on 26 November 2022, this talk was presented in partnership with Crafts magazine and was edited by Shivani Dave.

Image Credit: Aaron Angell, Pie #1, 2020 © Aaron Angell. Courtesy of Rob Tufnell, London/Venice. Photo: Andy Keate.

Strange Clay – Out of the Kiln: From Technique to Concept

On 15 September 2023, the Southbank Centre hosted a cross-cultural takeover by the fashion designer Nicholas Daley.

Renowned for his intricate, colourful knitwork and interplay with music and culture, Daley has used fashion as a means to explore ideas around identity, heritage, and memory, intertwined with wider Black British and diasporic themes.

Nicholas Daley Presents Woven Rhythms saw a number of events curated by Daley take place across the Southbank Centre, beginning with this panel discussion. Intersecting reggae, punk and alternative soundscapes, four trailblazing and rule-breaking musicians from two generations came together for a conversation about music, DIY culture, politics and identity.

In conversation were Pauline Black, lead singer of iconic two-tone band The Selecter, DJ and dub master Dennis Bovell, South London musician and producer Wu Lu, and Delilah Holliday of alternative punk band Skinny Girl Diet.

The conversation is introduced, and hosted, by BBC broadcaster and NTS Radio host, Zakia Sewell.

Woven Rhythms: a discussion

Hear the unabridged Moby-Dick by Herman Melville being read aloud over four days at the Southbank Centre in London as part of the London Literature Festival.

The epic work is being performed by writers, actors, comedians, members of the public – and Herman Melville’s great-great-great-granddaughter.

This live reading also includes newly commissioned work from illustrators, artists and musicians, providing surprising contributions every day.

Chapter 32 - Cetology

Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw - the academic who coined the term 'intersectionality' and co-founder of the African American Policy Forum - gives a keynote on the unique challenges facing women and girls of colour when it comes to the struggle for gender equality, racial justice and wellbeing.

WOW 2016 | Intersectionality: Kimberlé Crenshaw on race, gender, identity and activism

Two world-renowned authors: Nobel prize winning Kazuo Ishiguro and novelist, David Mitchell appear together for the first time in an intimate exploration of the writing process.

Kazuo Ishiguro with David Mitchell

This is an interview from WOW - Women Of The World Festival, 2017, at London's Southbank Centre. 

Angela Davis is known internationally for her ongoing work to combat all forms of oppression in the USA and beyond. A writer, scholar, teacher and activist/organiser, Davis is a living witness to the historical struggles of the contemporary era. She is the author of many books, including Angela Davis: An Autobiography; Women, Race, and Class; and Blues Legacies and Black Feminism: Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Billie Holiday.

In this podcast, Angela talks to Southbank Centre’s Artistic Director, an founder of the WOW Festival, Jude Kelly about women, race and class in the post-Trump era.

Angela Davis: women, race and class in the post-Trump era

This podcast is one of a series from the WOW - Women Of The World Festival, 2017, at London's Southbank Centre.

In this podcast, Hannah Azieb Pool talks to journalist Reni Eddo-Lodge about the frustrations, discomfort and social implications of talking about race.

Reni explores whose responsibility is it to upturn racism, and presents an exclusive extract from her forthcoming book, “Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race”…

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race.

To mark the 70th anniversary of the publication, on 30 April 2017 A.L. Kennedy and Philippe Sands led a live reading of Primo Levi’s powerful account of survival at Auschwitz, If This Is A Man at Southbank Centre.

A remarkable insight into one of history's darkest chapters, Levi's book offers an unflinching portrait of life, death and survival in a concentration camp.

The performance was directed by Nina Brazier and the cast included Niklas Frank, son of Hans Frank, the Nazi Governor General of occupied Poland and lawyer of Adolf Hitler; actor Henry Goodman; Patrick Lawrence QC, grandson of Sir Geoffrey Lawrence who was the presiding judge at Nuremberg; actor Emma Pallant; broadcaster Robert Peston; survivor of the Omarska death camp Kemal Pervanic; survivor of Auschwitz, Susan Pollack; Professor of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham Sir Martyn Poliakoff; former editor of The Guardian, Alan Rusbridger; playwright Tom Stoppard; Rwandan Genocide survivor Liliane Umubyeyi; actor Samuel West; and featuring music by Bloch, Haas, Klein, Krasa, Mendelssohn, Mahler, Schubert, Laks, Puccini, Shostakovich, Liszt, Bartok, Ullman and Ben-Haim, under the direction of Tomo Keller, leader of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.

Performers
Raphael Wallfisch cello
Tomo Keller violin
Robert Smissen viola
Simon Wallfisch baritone, cello
Lada Valesova piano

Is This A Man - Live Reading Podcast 01

Is This A Man - Live Reading Podcast 02

Is This A Man - Live Reading Podcast 03

Is This A Man - Live Reading Podcast 04

Is This A Man - Live Reading Podcast 05

In an exclusive London event, internationally acclaimed journalist, activist and bestselling author Naomi Klein, delivered a keynote talk on the surreal political upheavals of recent months and discussed the art of resistance in a time of Trump.

"This panopticon state; all seeing and all knowing, cannot see the most basic of human needs."
NAOMI KLEIN

Naomi Klein: No Is Not Enough

Zadie Smith: one of the most influential authors of the 21st century came to Southbank Centre to talk about her new novel 'Swing Time', the inspiration behind her characters and reflected on the thought process of being a writer.

"I think a certain amount of humiliation is a good thing: to accept that you can never be in this role of righteousness." 
ZADIE SMITH

Zadie Smith is in conversation with Ted Hodgkinson, Southbank Centre's Senior Programmer of Literature and Spoken Word.

Zadie Smith: Swing Time

Join award-winning comedian, author and lifelong male Robert Webb for a frank and funny conversation about not living by the rules of masculinity.

"Would it surprise you to hear that I'm a virgin?' she said 'I won't say I'm surprised, I won't say I'm unsurprised but you'll catch them up.' So yeah, that was a good chat. Then we carried on watching Dallas."
ROBERT WEBB

Why are boys not supposed to cry or talk about their feelings? Do all men actually like sport and beer? Are you the Luke Skywalker of your life, or are you in fact Darth Vader? These are just some of the questions that have plagued Robert Webb, from a boyhood being insistently told not to cry, to his roles in That Mitchell & Webb Sound and the BAFTA award-winning That Mitchell & Webb Look, and as permanent man-boy Jeremy in the acclaimed Peep Show.

This podcast is part of Being A Man festival 2017 at Southbank Centre www.southbankcentre.co.uk/being-a-man

Listen to more Southbank Centre podcasts https://soundcloud.com/southbankcentre


Highlights video - https://youtu.be/nbEOpwXH3DU

Soundcloud playlist - https://soundcloud.com/southbankcentre/sets/being-a-man-festival-2017

Being A Man 2017 is supported by Gillette, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Pure​ Land Foundation.

Robert Webb: How Not To Be A Boy

Hear from Man Booker Prize-winning author Alan Hollinghurst as he discusses his latest novel, The Sparsholt Affair and reflects candidly on the new-found freedom and openness in the gay scene in recent decades, and what obstacles still need to be overcome.

"I remember when I was an undergraduate getting hold of a copy of Gay Times which said that the back bar of the Black Horse in Cirencester was gay on Saturday lunchtimes."
ALAN HOLLINGHURST

This podcast is part of Being A Man festival 2017 at Southbank Centre www.southbankcentre.co.uk/being-a-man

Listen to more Southbank Centre podcasts https://soundcloud.com/southbankcentre

Highlights video - youtu.be/nbEOpwXH3DU

Soundcloud playlist - soundcloud.com/southbankcentre/sets/being-a-man-festival-2017

Being A Man 2017 is supported by Gillette, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Pure​ Land Foundation.

Alan Hollinghurst: The Sparsholt Affair

*WARNING: This podcast contains references and language that some may find offensive.*

Hear Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie talk to Reni Eddo-Lodge about today’s most pressing cultural issues.

"There's a sense that, when being asked to talk about race, after you've written a book, you're supposed to have the answers,  you're supposed to have the solution; and while you're having the solution, you're supposed to cater for the emotional needs of the people listening to you."
CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE

You can hear more talks, see photos and watch video from other events at this year's WOW at SouthbankCentre.co.uk/wow and join the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #WOWLDN
To hear more podcasts from us, search for Southbank Centre on SoundCloud or iTunes

WOW - Women of the World festival, London, is supported by Bloomberg.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Reni Eddo-Lodge in Conversation

*WARNING: This podcast contains references and language that some may find offensive.*

Nina Brochmann and Ellen Støkken Dahl, Oslo-based medical students, educators in sexual health and founders of the blog The Genital Area explore everything from female erections (yes - it’s a thing) and tips for the top orgasm 

You can hear more talks, see photos and watch video from other events at this year's WOW at SouthbankCentre.co.uk/wow and join the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #WOWLDN
To hear more podcasts from us, search for Southbank Centre on SoundCloud or iTunes

WOW - Women of the World festival, London, is supported by Bloomberg.

The Wonder Down Under

In January 2017, legendary physicist Stephen Hawking shared his thoughts about the most rewarding achievements of his career, in an exclusive broadcast, marking his 75th birthday for Southbank Centre.

He talked about some of his proudest accomplishments as a theoretical mathematician and physicist.

"Every new day became a bonus and I began to appreciate everything I had; where there is life, there is hope."
STEPHEN HAWKING

Broadcaster Michael Buerk hosted the evening, and he was joined by Lord Martin Rees, the Astronomer Royal, to respond live to Professor Hawking's keynote.

Due to health reasons, Professor Stephen Hawking was unable to appear in person at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall; his keynote speech was pre-recorded from his home in Cambridge and broadcast for audience members.

Stephen Hawking: A Brief History of Time

This month, Southbank Centre hosts 'Concrete Dreams': a celebration
the reopening of our cutting-edge brutalist buildings.

Here, Richard Battye explains what brutalist architecture is, why it came about and why it is so divisive.

Richard Battye is Project Architect, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and has been working with Southbank Centre on the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room and Hayward Gallery from 2012 – 2018.

What is 'Brutalism'?

Jess Atkinson and Chris McCabe, both from the National Poetry Library talk us through the new kids on the poetry block - instapoets. These guys have got millions of die-hard followers and many have got multiple book deals

Come along to view the world's first Instagram poetry exhibition, showcasing the best of over 1,000 Instapoetry submissions to the National Poetry Library.

The exhibition provides the perfect introduction to this emergent form of poetry.

Share your experience using #instapoetrylib.

What is an Instapoet?

For the first time ever, Kazuo Ishiguro and Michael Ondaatje appeared in an unchaired conversation about their creative processes and their inspirations growing up and how that shaped their fiction, as part of Man Booker 50 festival at Southbank Centre.

Drawing on the wide range of influences that have informed their work, especially cinema and music, their discussion was divided into three sections – ‘Envy of the Other Arts’, ‘Boyhood Thrillers’ and ‘Notebooks’ – and each section was introduced by a slideshow of photographs selected by the pair. Here in the recording, each slideshow has been replaced with a short musical interlude.

Kazuo Ishiguro & Michael Ondaatje

German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen didn't just write new music, he created music that had never before been imagined, transformed sound, influenced musicians from classical to Kraftwerk to The Beatles, all while believing he was born on a distant planet. 

Electronic musician Actress and Southbank Centre's Director of Music, Gillian Moore spoke to Harriet Fitch Little about his legacy.

"Stockhausen was the first person to open a sort of sonic box that said to me, anything is really possible with sound."
ACTRESS

Southbank Centre's exploration of Stockhausen is from 14th May to the 2nd June and you can find full details and book online at southbankcentre.co.uk/stockhausen

Think Aloud: Stockhausen – the point music changed forever

In this podcast, the painter George Shaw discusses some of the themes and influences behind his work with novelist Patrick Langley, in a conversation that ranges from post-war town planning, to punks, apocalyptic literature, woodlands and ‘the everydayness of the end of the world’.

Artist interview: George Shaw and Patrick Langley

Join poet Holly Corfield Carr, exploring human and non-human ways of looking at and listening to trees, in this podcast from Hayward Gallery's Among the Trees exhibition.

Holly considers artworks by Giuseppe Penone, Robert Smithson, Roxy Paine and Mariele Neudecker, and interweaves her own words with poems by Vahni Capildeo, Emily Dickinson, Sasha Dugdale and Alice Oswald.

A fly’s-eye-view of Among the Trees

Malala Yousafzai's activist work championing the educational rights of girls led to her being shot by a Taliban gunman in 2012, when she was just 15 – but she refused to be silenced.

She came to the Southbank Centre to launch her memoir I Am Malala on Sunday 20 October 2013, appearing in conversation with former Southbank Centre Artistic Director Jude Kelly. The following year, Yousafzai became the youngest ever Nobel laureate. 

In our recording of that talk, hear Yousafzai speak about sibling rivalry, her love for the landscape of her home in Pakistan's Swat Valley, and, of course, her belief in the power of education.

'We need to change the ideology. We need to tell people what the real power is. You are not powerful if you have a gun, because through guns you can only kill. You are powerful when you have a book, when you have a pen, because through pens you can save lives. And that's the change that we want to bring in our society.'

Malala Yousafzai In Conversation with Jude Kelly

In 2019, Jean Paul Gaultier brought his Fashion Freak Show – called a 'fabulous fiesta of fabric and flesh' by The Guardian – to the Southbank Centre. 

But before his extravaganza exploded onto the stage at Royal Festival Hall, the designer himself appeared here in conversation with TV presenter Anita Rani, reflecting on his decades in fashion.

Born in a Paris suburb in 1952, Gaultier started his career at Pierre Cardin at the age of just 18. He has gone on to rise to the top of the fashion world with his own label, ruffling industry feathers and dressing huge stars – including Madonna in the now-infamous bustier – along the way. 

Hear him discuss his childhood inspirations, his love of British eccentricity and his vision for the future of the fashion industry in our podcast.

Jean Paul Gaultier in conversation

Some of the biggest and most influential names in modern literature, art, music and performance share their stories, thoughts and ideas.

Listen to the people shaping arts and culture today in podcasts which reflect our richly diverse events, exhibitions and festivals programme from the Southbank Centre and Hayward Gallery.

Popular tracks by Southbank Centre