Arena
Arena is a documentary on BBC2. The gold standard for arts documentaries, from 1975 to the present day. A cultural map of the world’s greatest artists and musicians, as captured by exceptional film-makers. The program has been available since 2024. A total of 13 episodes have been broadcast, most recently in December 2024.
Last episode
Arena
1983 reunion concert by the Everly Brothers following their ten-year split. They chose the Royal Albert Hall as they had treasured memories of playing there with their father Ike.
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1984 film about the Everly Brothers, among the most successful and revered of the early rock 'n' roll giants, who influenced The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and The Beach Boys.
August 2024
Profile celebrating the centenary of the famous author Agatha Christie’s birth. Looking at her life, her character and the key moments in her childhood that influenced her writing.
Through the words of James Baldwin, this film touches on the lives and assassinations of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr and Medgar Evers.
June 2024
Alan Yentob interviews TV dramatist Dennis Potter about his work through the years, touching on subjects such as why and how he started writing and his attempt to enter politics.
May 2024
Documentary about Casa Verdi, a rambling mansion in the city of Milan that once belonged to the composer Guiseppe Verdi but is now a home for retired musicians.
March 2024
Adrian Thrills investigates 2 Tone, the exhilarating musical blend of reggae, rock, soul, ska, blue beat and punk, which took the country by storm in the late 70s and early 80s.
February 2024
Documentary looking at the short but brilliant career of legendary rock 'n' roll star Buddy Holly. Features interviews with contemporaries and fans including Paul McCartney.
Peggy Sue Gerron Rackham, the inspiration behind two Buddy Holly songs, tells how they both came to be written and provides some fresh insights into Holly's tragically short career.
January 2024
Painter and author John Byrne's diverse and inventive autobiography, in which he travels from his youth, through his art school years, his stage and TV plays and on to his death.
Profile of Orson Welles, looking at films including The Trial, Chimes at Midnight, The Immortal Story and F for Fake and discussing his unfinished projects, including Don Quixote.
Profile of Orson Welles, looking at his life and career in theatre, radio and particularly film. This part deals with his work up to Touch of Evil.