The Archive & The Studio

Can music transform communities, shape social change, and give voice to histories that might otherwise be forgotten? In this episode Sarah Sayeed from Queen Mary University of London explores the role of music in East London communities through the historical People’s Palace and the contemporary work of Spitalfields Music.Her research examines how music and the arts have been used across time to shape community life. It also considers how Victorian philanthropists used art and leisure as tools for social improvement, and at times as a means of diverting working-class communities from political engagement.Using archival research, newspaper analysis, and oral history interviews, Sarah seeks to uncover the voices of diverse communities, including immigrant groups whose experiences are often underrepresented in historical records.The conversation also explores how her work connects to wider themes of intersectionality and post-colonialism, as well as the role of music in supporting community wellbeing. Sarah reflects on her commitment to public engagement, including plans to share her research through podcasts, documentaries, and local history projects.This is a Research Podcasts production. You can access a transcript of this conversation here.Episode Credits:Presenter and Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research PodcastsGuests: Sarah Sayeed, Queen Mary University of LondonEditor: Anton Jarvis, Research PodcastsMusic: Podcast Interview Intro Music by Dmitrii Spis, Pixabay

Why have women so often been portrayed as monsters in literature, and what do those representations reveal about historical ideas of gender, power, and morality?Sandra Huaringa from University College London explores monsters in early modern Spanish theatre, examining how female characters were frequently represented through monstrous imagery and compared to mythological figures such as sirens and Lamia.Focusing on plays from the 16th and 17th centuries, Sandra combines classical theory with post-structuralist approaches to better understand how ideas of gender, power, and morality were constructed within these works.The conversation also explores how these historical portrayals continue to resonate today, and how Sandra hopes her research can support new interpretations and performances of early modern Spanish theatre for contemporary audiences. She reflects on the importance of making these plays more visible in both Spanish-speaking and English-speaking contexts, while encouraging wider discussion around the representation of women as “monstrous” figures in art and literature.This is a Research Podcasts production. You can access a transcript of this conversation here.Episode Credits:Presenter and Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research PodcastsGuests: Sandra Huaringa Niño, University College LondonEditor: Anton Jarvis, Research PodcastsMusic: Podcast Interview Intro Music by Dmitrii Spis, Pixabay