Read, Watch & Listen
![Photo of Jean Michel Basquiat dancing in the Mudd Club](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2017-09/basquiatdowntown_lead.jpg?itok=He9HtSSO)
Basquiat and Downtown
Tim Lawrence remembers the cultural renaissance that was downtown New York's music scene in the late 1970s and early 1980s. From SoHo warehouses to Mudd Clubb, we look at how Basquiat's passion for New York's music scene influenced his artistic style
![Basquiat bookshelves](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2019-12/IMG_1979.jpg?itok=BAenWeaB)
Basquiat and Books
Basquiat took inspiration from a dizzying array of source material - how many literary references can you spot?
![still from brighton rock](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2020-02/att-1%20%281%29.jpg?itok=Klpy4_wP)
ScreenTalks Archive: Richard Attenborough on Brighton Rock
In this conversation from 2004, Attenborough talks to Quentin Falk about the film adaptation of Graham Greene’s novel, 'Brighton Rock'.
The Malady of Death: An alternative point of view
Maddy Costa chats to Katie Mitchell and Alice Birch about gender inequality and how they worked together on 'The Malady of Death'.
![Basquiat dancing](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2019-12/basquiatmusic_gall1.jpg?itok=jAqSvS_4)
On Basquiat's Playlist
From Prince to David Byrne to Donna Summer and Bach, we listen to the music that might have been on Basquiat's playlist
![A photo showing a character called Lois Weaver in glasses, wearing a black jacket on the phone. It is a red coloured phone and is on a table with some paper. In the background there is a clip from Dr. Strangelove the film](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/Lois%20Weaver%2C%20photo%20by%20Matt%20Delbridge%20%281%29.jpg?itok=VgKOfZoJ)
In Their Words: Split Britches
Lois Weaver and Peggy Shaw of Split Britches talk to theatre writer and journalist Carole Woddis about their latest show, changing perceptions, hidden resources and hope.
![Basquiat images](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2020-06/22.%20Basquiat_Boom%20for%20Real_Barbican_Photo%20Tristan%20Fewings_Getty%20Images_The%20Estate%20of%20Jean%20Michel%20Basquiat_Artestar%20%283%29.jpg?itok=KljuZ_e-)
Basquiat: Boom For Real - A 360 Exhibition Tour
Join Barbican curator Eleanor Nairne and Gus Casely-Hayford as they look around the 'Encyclopedia' room in our Basquiat: Boom For Real exhibition and discuss the wide range of influences Jean Michel Basquiat brought into his paintings.
![Photo of a figure floating under water](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/DSC_5401-%281%29-%28c%29-Robin-Conw.jpg?h=864e9369&itok=lRn3A_Md)
A History of Transgender Performance
Following its successful debut at the Barbican last autumn, Transpose guides this year’s audience on an illuminating theatrical journey. Actor, author and singer-songwriter CN Lester takes a brief look at the history of transgender performance.
![a man in 80s nyc with a boombox](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2020-03/downtoyn.jpg?itok=eZ0pKiYx)
Listen: Downtown NYC music
Go back in time to 80s New York - a creative Mecca for artists, writers and musicians - with a small selection of tracks from those involved in the scene
![Man playing xylophone](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2019-01/barbicansessions_orphyrobinsonbasquiat.png?itok=b0bVe6sb)
Barbican Sessions: Black Top
Black Top, the duo of multi-instrumentalist Orphy Robinson and pianist Pat Thomas, perform a live concert after hours in our 'Basquiat: Boom for Real' exhibition.