Michael Sheen: Margins to Mainstream

BBC Radio Wales
  • 4.4 (14)
  • ARTS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Michael Sheen introduces new writers from under-represented backgrounds on a journey to reveal truths from the margins of society.

  1. 07/08/2022

    Square Peg by Anna Maxwell

    Margins to Mainstream with Michael Sheen spotlights eleven new writers from under-represented backgrounds on a journey to reveal truths from the margins of society. In this bonus episode, Michael performs Square Peg, a dramatic monologue by Anna Maxwell. Lancastrian Anna has written since her school days but joining a creative writing group in her local library kickstarted her journey to writing this character-driven story which comes alive when Sheen inhabits the protagonist of the piece.

    20 min

  2. 06/28/2022

    We Must Slay Giants by Mayo Agard-Olubo

    Margins to Mainstream with Michael Sheen spotlights eleven new writers from under-represented backgrounds on a journey to reveal truths from the margins of society. In this bonus episode, Kofi De-Graft-Jordan performs We Must Slay Giants, a fierce and fun fantastical allegory by the writer Mayo Agard-Olubo. Mayo is a writer and poet from London hooked on the rhythms of language and the possibilities presented by the creation of other worlds.

    17 min

  3. 06/22/2022

    Call Mum Home by Stephen Tuffin

    Margins to Mainstream with Michael Sheen spotlights 11 new writers from under-represented backgrounds on a journey to reveal truths from the margins of society. In this bonus episode, Michael performs Call Mum Home, a story by the writer Stephen Tuffin about the last days of his mother's life. Over his rich and raw life, Stephen's scratched a living as everything from a butcher's boy to a builder, a care home assistant to a cabbie. He's now a creative writer teacher passionate about telling working class stories.

    23 min

  4. 05/03/2022

    Anna Maxwell

    Margins to Mainstream with Michael Sheen spotlights 11 new writers from under-represented backgrounds on a journey to reveal truths from the margins of society. In episode ten, Michael introduces Anna Maxwell, a new writer based in Lancaster, and her mentor, the playwright Siân Owen. Host Sheen explores British theatre's relationship with working class writers, before performing an extract from Anna's monologue Square Peg in front of a live audience at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.

    13 min

  5. 04/26/2022

    Elias Suhail

    Margins to Mainstream with Michael Sheen spotlights 11 new writers from under-represented backgrounds on a journey to reveal truths from the margins of society. In episode nine, Michael introduces Elias Suhail, a new writer based in Folkestone, and his mentor, Ros Wynne-Jones of the Daily Mirror. British-Moroccan, Elias hopes to use his experiences to tell stories that offer a deeper understanding of the multiplicity of Arab identity. His piece, No Regrets, hones in on a pivotal moment in his mother's life, and is performed live by the actor Raghad Chaar in front of a live audience at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.

    14 min

  6. 04/19/2022

    Tammie Ash

    Margins to Mainstream with Michael Sheen spotlights 11 new writers from under-represented backgrounds on a journey to reveal truths from the margins of society. In episode eight, Michael introduces Tammie Ash, a new writer from Bradford and her mentor Anoosh Chakelian, Britain editor at the New Statesman. Host Michael delves into how our family history foreshadows our future. Tammie's Indian heritage has inspired her writing, her grandmother's hand-me-down Hindu mythology seeping through the sentences. Armenian folk tales helped Anoosh connect with her father's side of the family. And Michael Sheen shares a story about his great-great-grandmother you'll want to hear. The episode ends with a performance of Tammie's story, The Beautiful Demon, by Michael in front of a live audience at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

    14 min

  7. 04/12/2022

    Becka White

    Margins to Mainstream with Michael Sheen spotlights 11 new writers from under-represented backgrounds on a journey to reveal truths from the margins of society. In episode seven, Michael introduces Becka White, a writer from south-east London and her mentor Ellen Peirson-Hagger of the New Statesman. The episode deals with imposter syndrome, something up to 90% of us feel. It doesn't matter if you're the first man on the moon or a new writer, like Becka. Her piece In At The Deep End deals with the fall-out of Thatcherism and you'll hear Michael Sheen perform it in front of a live audience at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

    14 min

  8. 04/11/2022

    David Clancy

    Margins to Mainstream with Michael Sheen spotlights 11 new writers from under-represented backgrounds on a journey to reveal truths from the margins of society. In episode six, Michael introduces David Clancy, a hairdressing writer from the Cumbrian festival town of Ulverston whose non-fiction prose on LGBTQ+ issues is sharper than his scissors. You’ll hear Stoned at the Hairdressers, David’s piece about a neon sign which helped reclaim his identity from childhood bullies, performed live by Michael Sheen at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. David’s mentor Brian Reade has been writing columns for the Daily Mirror since the days of Thatcher. He shares how a hairdressing Liverpudlian was part of a local scene of working class artists taking on the world, inspiring a young Brian to a career as one of our most respected newspaper writers.

    13 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.4
out of 5
14 Ratings

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Michael Sheen introduces new writers from under-represented backgrounds on a journey to reveal truths from the margins of society.

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