Conceived by creative researcher Emma Gibson and art publisher at the Hayward Gallery Nadine Monem, The Butcher’s Apron is a one-hour long theme-time radio show that explores the unexpected, highlights British eccentricities and unearths hidden
Who? Conceived by creative researcher Emma Gibson and art publisher at the Hayward Gallery Nadine Monem, The Butcher’s Apron is an hour-long theme-time radio show that explores the unexpected, highlights British eccentricities and unearths hidden stories from British culture. Derived from the pejorative term for the British flag, a butcher’s apron also conjures up ideas of a story being told and evidences the blood and gore of a full day’s work.
What? A combination of the everyday and truly bizarre, Gibson and Monem seek out fascinating stories with the aim of educating listeners about something they didn’t know before whilst also keeping them entertained and excited. In their past three episodes (Darkness, Beginnings and Belief) they have been part of a gin-sprinkling death ritual at the Crossbones Cemetry, been lost and “scared shitless” in the most haunted inn in Britain, and nearly kidnapped at the Church of Scientology.
Why? Playing out the third Sunday of every month on NTS Radio (which has just celebrated its one year anniversary), their latest show Speed is available as a podcast today. Investigating the principles and motivations behind human speed, the duo interview world record holder and 100m sprinter Asafa Powell and course director of Sports and Exercise Science at the South Bank University’s Academy of Sport Dr David Cook. They speak to Rollo Hollins and Jonathan Howells part of the creative team behind the Driven documentary (the 40,000 km story of a man, a woman and old London taxi) about the adventure of a lifetime and the longevity of love; present a dramatic re-telling of Aesop's fable The Tortoise and the Hare in this month’s Storytime spot; and take a journey through time and space on the London Underground to arrive at the “Clock of the Long Now”, with a regular spot from The Butcher’s resident philosopher, Dr Daniel Barnes.
The Butcher’s Apron Speed show is available to listen to and dowbload on NTS. Their next show, The Game, continues on the great British Olympic theme and airs late May.
Suggested Reading: AnOther Olympics: Russel's of Clapton B&B, AnOther Olympics: Greenwich Royal Observatory.
Text by Lucia Davies
