London’s leading arts figures reveal the books, films, TV and more they're loving in lockdown.
Michelle Terry, artistic director of Shakespeare's Globe, gives us her recommendations, from Stormzy to Desert Island Discs.
Television
Would I Lie to You? never fails to make me laugh. Especially if Bob Mortimer is appearing. The West Wing is such amazing company and sadly the issues they confront never seem to go out of date.
Books
Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes is fantastic: myths, fairy tales, folk tales and stories from different cultures to uncover the Wild Woman archetype of the feminine Psyche. Amen. I've also been re-reading some James Baldwin, which remains sadly still too relevant.
Podcasts
Living Myth uses the ancient myths to enlighten, transform and heal using the power of mythic imagination, and boy could we all use a bit of that right now. With Team Human, the clue is in the title. We’re the problem and we’re the solution and we need to work together now more than ever. It’s a podcast and a movement hosted and produced by Douglas Rushkoff, authors of Team Human. I also love Desert Island Discs - it has an amazing and inspiring back catalogue. And lastly, Outrage & Optimism is a climate change podcast with Tom Rivett-Carnac & Christian Figueres, both instrumental in negotiating the Paris Climate agreement. Appeals to anyone who like me is mostly outraged and dangerously optimistic.
Film
There are too many to pick one and being isolated with my three-year-old is dictating the viewing choices, but Trolls might be the perfect film ever made. Bring on Trolls 2!
Music
Again, there's too much to choose! Right now I'm finding that the Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood soundtrack is the usual Tarantino genius. Then Heavy Lies the Head because Stormzy is our modern day Shakespeare. And David Attenborough doing What A Wonderful World would be on a desert island with me. Pata Pata by Miriam Makeba makes us dance and smile in equal measure.
