Sir Gawain And The Green Knight - BBC Production - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lalwendë · 12-07-2006, 04:39 PM

I've just got a Radio Times for the week before Christmas (16th-22nd issue, Doctor Who on the cover) and there was an article about a new production of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Not the Tolkien version, but a new one by Simon Armitage (should be good, he's a great guy), and narrated by Ian McKellen.

This will be on Radio 4 at 2:15pm on Thursday 21st, but should also be available afterwards to all via the 'listen again' web feature.

Here.

There's a bit about Tolkien in the Radio Times article too.

Fordim Hedgethistle · 12-07-2006, 04:56 PM

Oooooooooooooooooooooooo....thank you so much for alerting me to this.

*drools over keyboard*

Lalwendë · 12-17-2006, 06:23 AM

Long and interesting (and entertaining) article by Simon Armitage himself about Gawain in the Guardian here.

Now he mentions the place in Derbyshire I have another expedition to go on - I think I know where he means. Some very interesting stuff about the language and how some is retained today in modern dialect too; it maybe explains why I don't have a lot of trouble reading this kind of thing in the 'original'.

Anguirel · 12-21-2006, 09:32 AM

Just listened to this. A couple of jarring moments, where words like "adolescents" or "feisty" are put into play, but also some beauty - amazing stuff like "entwined and twinned"...

I recommend Armitage's full text - the radio production missed out a few of my favourite bits.

Lalwendë · 12-21-2006, 01:15 PM

Yes I listened in too, and it was good. It's made me want to go and search out the Green Chapel now, as I think I know exactly where it is supposed to be.

Did you notice them using the word 'Nithering'? I'm wondering now if that's in the original...

I also liked how the accents fitted in really well. Ian McKellen has not gone wholly RP and has lovely clear diction for reading.

Lalaith · 12-21-2006, 04:47 PM

Listening right now and enjoying greatly. Know what Ang means....eg "megablow"....but there's lots of really excellent poetry there, too.

***Thenamir*** · 12-21-2006, 07:30 PM

If there's any way to "listen again" as was mentioned in post #1, please send along a link -- I can't find it on the BBC website. Thanks!

Lalwendë · 12-22-2006, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lalaith

Listening right now and enjoying greatly. Know what Ang means....eg "megablow"....but there's lots of really excellent poetry there, too.

Dang! I knew there was one word which stood out to me as 'odd' yesterday when Anguirel was talking about that, and there it is...'megablow'! That jolted me out of the story for a moment. Of course, it could be there for good reason, in order to 'jolt' us, as poets tend to do that. However, it's a bit of an Armitage-ism to chuck in colloquialisms and incongruous words as he writes in his vernacular quite a lot.

i would've liked to have heard him read it himself actually, though I'm sure he might do a reading somewhere local at some point as he does a lot of appearances.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thenamir

If there's any way to "listen again" as was mentioned in post #1, please send along a link -- I can't find it on the BBC website. Thanks!

OK, here's the
Radio 4 home page. If you look on the right hand side of the page, it lists the programme under 'Listen Again'. I tried to bring up the actual broadcast selection but it brings up a gadget thing you can't link to. I;d suggest listening again soon, lest it disappears off the page. And anyway, it's good pre-Christmas listening!

12-17-2006, 06:23 AM	#3
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Long and interesting (and entertaining) article by Simon Armitage himself about Gawain in the Guardian here. Now he mentions the place in Derbyshire I have another expedition to go on - I think I know where he means. Some very interesting stuff about the language and how some is retained today in modern dialect too; it maybe explains why I don't have a lot of trouble reading this kind of thing in the 'original'. __________________ Gordon's alive!

12-21-2006, 09:32 AM	#4
Anguirel Byronic Brand Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The 1590s Posts: 2,778	Just listened to this. A couple of jarring moments, where words like "adolescents" or "feisty" are put into play, but also some beauty - amazing stuff like "entwined and twinned"... I recommend Armitage's full text - the radio production missed out a few of my favourite bits. __________________ Among the friendly dead, being bad at games did not seem to matter -Il Lupo Fenriso

12-21-2006, 01:15 PM	#5
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Yes I listened in too, and it was good. It's made me want to go and search out the Green Chapel now, as I think I know exactly where it is supposed to be. Did you notice them using the word 'Nithering'? I'm wondering now if that's in the original... I also liked how the accents fitted in really well. Ian McKellen has not gone wholly RP and has lovely clear diction for reading. __________________ Gordon's alive!

12-21-2006, 04:47 PM	#6
Lalaith Blithe Spirit Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,779	Listening right now and enjoying greatly. Know what Ang means....eg "megablow"....but there's lots of really excellent poetry there, too. __________________ Out went the candle, and we were left darkling

12-21-2006, 07:30 PM	#7
*Thenamir* Spectre of Capitalism Join Date: May 2001 Location: Battling evil bureaucrats at Zeta Aquilae Posts: 987	If there's any way to "listen again" as was mentioned in post #1, please send along a link -- I can't find it on the BBC website. Thanks! __________________ The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. ~~ Marcus Aurelius

12-07-2006, 04:39 PM	#1
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Sir Gawain And The Green Knight - BBC Production I've just got a Radio Times for the week before Christmas (16th-22nd issue, Doctor Who on the cover) and there was an article about a new production of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Not the Tolkien version, but a new one by Simon Armitage (should be good, he's a great guy), and narrated by Ian McKellen. This will be on Radio 4 at 2:15pm on Thursday 21st, but should also be available afterwards to all via the 'listen again' web feature. Here. There's a bit about Tolkien in the Radio Times article too. __________________ Gordon's alive!

12-07-2006, 04:56 PM	#2
Fordim Hedgethistle Gibbering Gibbet Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Beyond cloud nine Posts: 1,844	Oooooooooooooooooooooooo....thank you so much for alerting me to this. drools over keyboard