londonlife_060712_southbank Lyrics

BBC Learning English
London Life
The South Bank
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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 WOODWARD
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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 its 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.
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JUDE WOODWARD
I think its 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: 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 .....