Theatre

S01 E01 • Wednesday, Oct 1, 1975 • Oct 1

Premiere. Ronald Eyre reviews what's going on in the theatre, Kenneth Tynan talks to Laurence Olivier about Lilian Baylis and The Old Vic, and a film about David Hockney's sets for The Rake's Progress.

Art and Design

S01 E02 • Wednesday, Oct 8, 1975 • Oct 8

George Melly looks at how they sold the 70's and a report on the opening of the Space Studios.

Theatre

S01 E03 • Wednesday, Oct 15, 1975 • Oct 15

An interview with Howard Barker, author of 'Stripwell', and an extract from same; commentary by Kenneth Tynan; and an investigation of 'Birds of Paradise'.

Art and Design

S01 E04 • Wednesday, Oct 22, 1975 • Oct 22

Cartoonist Mel Caiman on the New Yorker magazine and its artists, Richard Hamilton at the Serpentine Gallery, and a new documentary exhibition from Jarrow.

Theatre

S01 E05 • Wednesday, Oct 29, 1975 • Oct 29 • 1h 30m

Peter Hall talks about the history and new South Band location of the National Theater, where he is artistic director.

Art and Design

S01 E06 • Wednesday, Nov 5, 1975 • Nov 5 • 1h 30m

Features Observer critic William Feaver on Painting the End of the World, Bill Brandt's selection of landscape photography at the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the best of science fiction illustration.

Theatre

S01 E07 • Wednesday, Nov 12, 1975 • Nov 12 • 1h 30m

Extract from a contemporary play and Kenneth Tynan opines.

Art and Design

S01 E08 • Wednesday, Nov 19, 1975 • Nov 19 • 1h 30m

Shirley Conran is the guest columnist; fashion photographer Barry Lategan is filmed working; and Victorian painter Edward Burne-Jones' London exhibition.

Theatre

S01 E09 • Wednesday, Nov 26, 1975 • Nov 26 • 1h 30m

Deborah Norton reviews British stage events, a play extract, and Kenneth Tynan opines about the theatre.

Art and Design

S01 E10 • Wednesday, Dec 3, 1975 • Dec 3

Guest columnist Terry Measham; a look into the work of painter and poet Charles Tomlinson.

Theatre

S01 E11 • Wednesday, Dec 10, 1975 • Dec 10

Mikhail Baryshnikov and Natalia Makarova rehearse for a BBC New Year Gala Performance; Kenneth Tynan draws a portrait of Albert Finney.

Art and Design

S01 E12 • Wednesday, Dec 17, 1975 • Dec 17

Filmmaker Roger Graef and journalist Simon Jenkins discuss the destruction of historical buildings, in light of a recent SAVE campaign report and the conclusion of the European Architectural Heritage Year.

Theatre

S01 E13 • Wednesday, Jan 7, 1976 • Jan 7

Deborah Norton returns with reports, interviews and extracts from what is liveliest and best in the British theatrical scene.

Art and Design

S01 E14 • Wednesday, Jan 14, 1976 • Jan 14

Theatre

S01 E15 • Wednesday, Jan 21, 1976 • Jan 21

Jonathan Miller introduces this week's look at what is most stimulating and enjoyable on the theatrical scene.

Art and Design

S01 E16 • Wednesday, Jan 28, 1976 • Jan 28

A look at American photographer Paul Strand and recent trends in British photography.

Theatre

S01 E17 • Wednesday, Feb 4, 1976 • Feb 4

Arena goes to Scarborough for the British premiere of a new Alan Ayckbourn play "Just Between Ourselves".

Art and Design

S01 E18 • Wednesday, Feb 11, 1976 • Feb 11

Arena looks at aspects of community art and the work of painter Keith Grant, artist-in-residence at the New Charing Cross Hospital.

Theatre

S01 E19 • Wednesday, Feb 18, 1976 • Feb 18

Claire Bloom and Kenneth Tynan discuss extracts from Samuel Beckett's 'Happy Days', George Bernard Shaw's 'Too True to be Good', and Tennessee Williams' 'Sweet Bird of Youth'.

Art and Design

S01 E20 • Wednesday, Feb 25, 1976 • Feb 25

Arena talks with Robert Janz and Dante Leonelli about incorporating time into sculpture.

Theatre

S01 E21 • Wednesday, Mar 3, 1976 • Mar 3

Arena brings extracts from Paris' contemporary theatre season, including Frank Wedekind's 'Lulu' and Marguerite Duras' 'Days in the Tree', and an interview with Delphine Seyrig.

Art and Design

S01 E22 • Wednesday, Mar 10, 1976 • Mar 10

Arena presents the work of British and American video artists.

Theatre

S01 E23 • Wednesday, Mar 17, 1976 • Mar 17

Barbara Jefford, Laurence Olivier, Joan Plowright, Kenneth Tynan Billie Whitelaw and many of the people behind the scenes say goodbye to the Old Vic building.

Art and Design

S01 E24 • Wednesday, Mar 24, 1976 • Mar 24

Liverpool poet and painter Adrian Henry visits 'The Face of Merseyside'; Boyd and Evans use photographs as the basis of their explorations of everyday life.

Theatre: Happy Birthday Royal Court

S01 E25 • Wednesday, Mar 31, 1976 • Mar 31

Alumni of the Royal Court celebrate its 20th anniversary.

Art and Design: Art for Money's Sake?

S01 E26 • Wednesday, Apr 7, 1976 • Apr 7

Barrie Penrose investigates a multi-national art empire and the artists and methods that created it.

Edinburgh International Festival 1976: Part 1

S01 E27 • Wednesday, Aug 25, 1976 • Aug 25

Features Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Galina Visnevskaya in the Scottish Opera's production of Macbeth, The Kantor Theatre Company from Poland, and Fenella Fielding in a late-night revue.

Edinburgh International Festival 1976: Part 2

S01 E28 • Wednesday, Sep 1, 1976 • Sep 1

Features the La Mama Theatre Company from New York; Bunraku, traditional Japanese Puppet Theatre; a recital by Frederica Von Stade; and Judith Blegen as Susanna in 'The Marriage of Figaro'.

Edinburgh International Festival 1976: Part 3

S01 E29 • Wednesday, Sep 8, 1976 • Sep 8

Writer Germaine Greer and her god-daughter Ruby take a look at a child's Edinburgh Festival and some of the fringe activities, including Gruppo Teatro Libero from Rome and Quentin Crisp.

Theatre: A Dream Come True

S01 E30 • Wednesday, Sep 15, 1976 • Sep 15

A look at the opening of the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester.

Robert Altman

S01 E31 • Wednesday, Sep 22, 1976 • Sep 22

Gavin Miller interviews the director Robert Altman on "M*A*S*H", "Nashville", "Buffalo Bill and the Indians" and more.

Art and Design: After Samuel Palmer

S01 E32 • Wednesday, Sep 29, 1976 • Sep 29

David Gould, the expert who discovered Tom Keating's Samuel Palmer imitations, shows the process of identifying and analyzing suspected pictures.

Frank Westmore

S01 E33 • Wednesday, Oct 6, 1976 • Oct 6

Gavin Millar talks with Frank Westmore, whose family has dominated the make-up departments of American cinema for decades.

Theatre

S01 E34 • Wednesday, Oct 13, 1976 • Oct 13

Peter Shaffer, writer of 'Equus', talks about his plays, his life and the theatre with an excerpt from the 1976 stage production of 'Equus'.

Cinema: Eric Rohmer

S01 E35 • Wednesday, Oct 20, 1976 • Oct 20

Gavin Millar interviews director Eric Rohmer about 'Die Marquise von O', 'Claire's Knee' and 'Love in the Afternoon'.

Art and Design: The Illustrators: The Work of Mick Brownfield and Allan Manha

S01 E36 • Wednesday, Oct 27, 1976 • Oct 27

British illustrators Mick Brownfield and Allan Manham are documented working on their current projects; Artist Chris Orr probes the dreadful truth behind the net curtains of suburbia.

Cinema: Don Siegel

S01 E37 • Wednesday, Nov 3, 1976 • Nov 3

Don Siegel, director of 'The Shootist', 'Charley Varrick', 'Coogan's Bluff', 'Dirty Harry' and many other violent thrillers talks about the problems of the director who is typecast by his success in one specialized genre.

Theatre: The Cultural Common Market

S01 E38 • Wednesday, Nov 10, 1976 • Nov 10

A look at Theatre National Populaire, one of France's leading theaters, and Patrice Chéreau's 'La Dispute' by Marivaux and Roger Planchon's 'Tartuffe', as well as scene's from Planchon's scenes from his Blues, Whites and Reds.

Cinema

S01 E39 • Wednesday, Nov 17, 1976 • Nov 17

In light of the low proportion of British films in the 20th London Film Festival, Gavin Millar looks at what's wrong with the British film industry and distribution system.

Art and Design: Sculpture for the Blind/Linda Benedict-Jones/James Boswell

S01 E40 • Wednesday, Nov 24, 1976 • Nov 24

Sculpture for the Blind - a special Tate Gallery exhibition; Linda Benedict-Jones, photographer; James Boswell - a revival of his war pictures.

Cinema

S01 E41 • Wednesday, Dec 1, 1976 • Dec 1

Arena speaks with Spanish directors at the Madrid premiere of 'The Long Vacation of 36'.

Theatre: Brecht in Newcastle

S01 E42 • Wednesday, Dec 8, 1976 • Dec 8

20th anniversary tribute to Bertolt Brecht at Newcastle's University Theatre with scenes from 'The Good Woman of Setzuan' and prose, poetry and music.

Cinema: Christmas Special

S01 E43 • Wednesday, Dec 15, 1976 • Dec 15

A look at the Disney exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum; an interview with 'The Ritz' director Dick Lester and actress Rita Moreno; an excerpt from Buster Keaton's 'Spite Marriage'; and the results of the Titles Competition.

Cinema

S01 E44 • Wednesday, Jan 5, 1977 • Jan 5

Gavin Millar talks to Mel Brooks just before the London release of 'Silent Movie'.

Art and Design: Sam Smith: Genuine England/Arena Review

S01 E45 • Wednesday, Jan 12, 1977 • Jan 12

An introduction to the magical world of wood-sculptor Sam Smith, plus a look at one of this month's major exhibitions.

Cinema

S01 E46 • Wednesday, Jan 19, 1977 • Jan 19

Gavin Miller talks to director Martin Ritt, writer Walter Bernstein, and actors Woody Allen and Zero Mostel about 'The Front'

Theatre: Spokesong/At Home with Mole

S01 E47 • Wednesday, Jan 26, 1977 • Jan 26

An interview with Stewart Parker about his new musical 'Spokesong' with excerpt; a profile of 81 year old actor Richard Goolden with scenes from 'Toad of Toad Hall' and Tom Stoppard's 'Dirty Linen and New-Found-Land'.

Cinema

S01 E48 • Wednesday, Feb 2, 1977 • Feb 2

A fortnightly look at the big screen at home and abroad. News, views and interviews presented by Gavin Millar.

Art and Design: Ralph Steadman

S01 E49 • Wednesday, Feb 9, 1977 • Feb 9

Ralph Steadman illustrates a children's anti-war story, caricatures at his local pub, and speaks about his drawing techniques and his work, including Alice, and impressions of the Patty Hearst trial and the Watergate hearings.

Cinema

S01 E50 • Wednesday, Feb 16, 1977 • Feb 16

Gavin Miller discusses 'Network' with director Sidney Lumet and Robert Kee; Alberto Cavalcanti talks about his film career on the occasion of his 80th birthday.