Elegy inspires thought-provoking discussions, including a feature on Radio 4's Woman's Hour tomorrow

5 May 2016 18:15

Elegy, the powerful new play in which Zoë is starring at London's Donmar Warehouse, will be discussed during BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour tomorrow, 6 May (10am). As the programme is well-known for its sensitive handling of a wide range of subjects, the feature about Elegy is highly likely to be both informative and compelling.

The play's fascinating exploration of medicine, memory, love and loss has also prompted thought-provoking articles by people within and beyond the theatre industry. For example, arts writer Terri Paddock explores Elegy's dilemma with real couples: what if saving your lover's life meant erasing his/her memory? What would you do?

Neuroscience expert Dr Catherine Loveday examines the play in the light of her clinical experience, for The British Psychological Society's The Psychologist. Loveday remarks that 'the effects of amnesia rang true in many ways and were very movingly portrayed by Wanamaker', while the dialogue displays clear evidence of '[the playwright Nick] Payne's close collaboration with neuroscientists'.

Loveday also reflects on the ways in which Elegy 'raises such important issues' about science and the workings of the human brain as part of the 3 May edition of BBC Radio 4's All in the Mind (the feature begins about 13 minutes into the programme).

In addition, Carole Woddis praises the 'tenderness, wit and spontaneity' of this 'terrific' play in her thoughtful review.

If all that has whetted your appetite for intellectual debate, you'll be pleased to hear that the Donmar is planning to host two pre-show discussions about Elegy's themes, for which tickets are available.

The first Q&A will take place on 17 May (6pm) and feature the play's director, Josie Rourke, and bioethics expert Prof. Deborah Bowman talking about selfhood. For the second Q&A, on 14 June (also at 6pm), Nick Payne will discuss the relationship between neuroscience and morality with Dr Rowan Williams, the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, and Prof. Murray Shanahan, a cognitive robotics expert.

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