Lidos and libraries, concert halls and cottage estates: the inter-war era was a time of social engineering through architecture. Against a backdrop of the Great Depression, ‘moral uplift’ and ‘optimism’ became the buzzwords of the day. What if civic architecture could change the lives of the people? What could we learn from our European neighbours (including, whisper it, the Germans)? This talk celebrates those who – all too briefly – dared to dream. It brings to life their battles and triumphs, from the lavish Bermondsey bath house to Bexhill's De La Warr Pavilion, designed by a German Jewish escapee. An uplifting talk with great resonance for today. 

This lecture traces the origins of the Chinese Imperial Empire which was formed in 221 BC and lasted until 1911. China’s first Emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi (221-209 BC), unified China in 221 BC and proved to be an exceptional bureaucrat, creator of infrastructure and Patron of the Arts. His greatest legacy, however, was born out of his obsession with immortality and this materialised in the form of the World’s largest Necropolis. Its fame came originally from the discovery of the Terracotta Warriors in 1976 but now the site is recognised for its vast infrastructure of buildings, including the still sealed Emperor’s Mausoleum. The lecture explores the excavation and re-creation of the Terracotta Army plus the other significant ‘Finds’ at the site. In addition, there will be a review of current theories as to the purpose and construction of the Necropolis, including the risks and challenges of opening the Emperor’s Mausoleum.

The Royal Ballet was the first company to perform Tchaikovsky's ballets outside Russia.  See and hear how and why these works are so important to the company today.