The South Bank

 

The South Bank of the River Thames is a cultural centre for London with its theatres, art galleries, cinema and music venue. 

In this edition of London Life we talk to Jude Woodward who is the adviser on culture to the Mayor of London and she tells us more about what kind of entertainment is on offer at the South Bank. 

Before you listen to the programme, look at these comprehension questions. You can hear the answers in the programme. Check your understanding by trying the quiz from the Extras section below. You can also download this programme in mp3 format and follow it with a transcript. 

1: Does Jude think that the South Bank is the cultural heart of London? 
2: What is the Tate Modern? 
3: Which famous English playwright had plays performed at the Globe theatre? 

Vocabulary: 

in the heart of 
to be in the centre of somewhere 

to challenge (ideas or people) 
to question truth, values or authority 

unique 
the only thing of its kind 

authentic 
real and genuine 

an incredible range 
a very wide choice 

You can download here

Anna: Hello, I'm Anna Jones and this is London Life. And today we’re looking at the cultural side of London life and one area in particular which has many cultural events on offer.

Our Learning English colleague, John Escolme recently met Jude Woodward who is the adviser on culture to the Mayor of London. John asked Jude if the area of London we are talking about today is “the cultural heart” of London – is it the most important part of London for cultural events and activities? As you listen try to catch the name of the area of London we are talking about?

JUDE WOODWARD

Can we really say this is London’s cultural heart this area that we’re talking about – the South Bank?

Well I imagine some other areas might feel challenged by that but I think it’s true.

Anna: Well the name of the area is the South Bank which as its name suggests is situated on the south side of the River Thames in the heart of London. Now that expression “in the heart of somewhere” means to be in the most central part of it.

Well as we heard earlier – John asks Jude if the South Bank is London’s cultural heart. What does she reply? Does she agree or disagree with John?

Listen again.

JUDE

Can we really say this is London’s cultural heart this area that we’re talking about – the South Bank? Well I imagine some other areas might feel challenged by that but I think it’s true.

Anna: Jude agrees with John – she says - “I think it’s true.” However she adds that “some other areas might feel challenged by that”. She thinks that some other “areas” or parts of London might not agree with her and John – they might feel challenged by it. If you “challenge” ideas or people then you question their truth, value or authority.

Anna: Jude goes on to talk about the South Bank area in more detail. She describes it as “quite unique.” If something is “unique” then it’s the only thing of its kind.

Jude describes the different cultural “venues” or places where cultural events happen on the South Bank. Try to listen out for them and the different kinds of cultural activity that they offer.

JUDE WOODWARD

I think it’s quite unique, particularly that combination of around the South Bank the fact that you have a music venue, the Hayward Gallery which is an art gallery, you have the National

Film Theatre which is film, you have the National Theatre – then moving along you’ve got

Tate Modern which has got one of the best collections of modern art. You’ve got the Globe which gives you authentic Shakespeare productions.

Anna: Jude mentions various venues on the South Bank: there’s a music venue which is the Royal Festival Hall and two art galleries – the Hayward and the Tate Modern. Jude says that the Tate Modern has “one of the best collections of modern art. The South Bank also has the National Film Theatre or cinema and two theatres - the National Theatre and the Globe theatre. Listen again and this time try to catch what kind of productions you can see at the Globe theatre.

JUDE WOODWARD....

Anna: Well at the Globe you can watch “authentic Shakespeare productions.” If something is described as “authentic” then it means it is real and genuine. So why is the Globe authentic? Well the new Globe theatre is built on the site of the original Globe theatre, it is the same design as the original and produces plays written by England’s most famous playwright – William Shakespeare.

So you can’t get much more authentic than that! Jude ends by saying that there is nowhere else in the world like the South Bank where you can find such an incredible “range” or wide choice of cultural events in a beautiful setting by the river. And she adds that’s “leaving aside” or not even mentioning all the other fantastic things on offer there such as shopping and restaurants.

JUDE WOODWARD

Where else in the world can you find such an incredible range of artistic and cultural things on offer leaving aside the restaurants, the other things, the shopping those sorts of things which are available there. Nowhere else in the world has that and particularly not on such a fantastic riverside setting.

Anna: That's all from this edition of London life, now I might just wander down to the

South Bank to see what’s going on …..