The Big Idea: Birdland

The Big Idea continues at the Royal Court Theatre, with a talk by philosopher Angie Hobbs on Saturday 10 May, Plato on Fame and Status and a new short play by Chris Thorpe, in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs on Saturday 10 May. The Big Idea: Birdland Saturday 10 May 1pm & 6pm Tickets £5 (or free with a ticket to Birdland) Tickets include Plato Talk and You're Not as Tall as You Look. Plato on Fame and Status: a talk by Angie Hobbs Professor Angie Hobbs from the University of Sheffield discusses Plato's writings on fame, status and honour and how these ideas find expression in modern society's obsession with celebrity. Followed by: You're Not as Tall as You Look by Chris Thorpe "It's not bad to copy a celebrity–god. No! That's what they're there for." Celebrity stylist, Rachel Zoe A new play inspired by Plato and Rachel Zoe about how meeting your heroes isn't the same as taking them home. We will be live streaming the 1pm talk and play. "Tune in here to watch. And don't forget to join the discussion online using #TheBigIdea.": www.royalcourttheatre.com/thebigidealive/ Angie Hobbs is Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield. Her chief interests are in ancient philosophy and literature, ethics and political theory, and she has published widely in these areas, including Plato and the Hero. She engages in a variety of public and political work in the UK, promoting the role of philosophy in schools and adult education and advising on academic public engagement. She contributes regularly to radio and TV programmes (including In Our Time with Melvyn Bragg and Private Passions on Radio 3), newspaper articles and philosophy websites; she lectures and gives talks around the world. Chris Thorpe was a founder member of Unlimited Theatre and still works and tours with the company. He is also an Artistic Associate of live art/theatre company Third Angel as well as working closely with, among others, Forest Fringe, Slung Low, Chris Goode, RashDash, Belarus Free Theatre and Portuguese company mala voadora for whom he has just completed a trilogy of new plays. He has an ongoing collaboration with poet Hannah Jane Walker, and their shows The Oh Fuck Moment and I Wish I Was Lonely are published by Oberon Books. As a playwright Chris has written radio and stage drama, as well as translating the work of Ugljesa Sajtinac (the play Huddersfield is also published by Oberon), Belarus Free Theatre, and Ze Maria Mendes.