The National Theatre is 50 in October 2013 and has given the BBC unprecedented access to make two Arena documentaries for BBC Four. 　　The films ask why it took until 1963 to create a National Theatre, and Dame Joan Plowright talks frankly to director Adam Low about the appointment of her husband Laurence Olivier, the greatest actor of his generation, as the National's first artistic director. The films uncover the life of the Theatre's early golden period at the Old Vic, the National's first home, under the towering presence of Olivier; the commissioning and construction of the controversial and now iconic Denys Lasdun building on the South Bank; and the turbulent succession of Peter Hall at the end of Olivier's reign. 　　Through the personal anecdotes of those who wrote, directed and performed on the National's many stages the films reveal the stories behind the greatest hit productions, from Olivier's Othello to War Horse, under artistic directors Peter Hall, Richard Eyre, Trevor Nunn and up to and including the latest great successes under Nicholas Hytner. Other contributors include Maggie Smith, Derek Jacobi, Alan Bennett, Judi Dench, Francis de la Tour, David Hare, Alan Ayckbourn and Adrian Lester.

The National Theatre is 50 in October 2013 and has given the BBC unprecedented access to make two Arena documentaries for BBC Four. 　　The films ask why it took until 1963 to create a National Theatre, and Dame Joan Plowright talks frankly to director Adam Low about the appointment of her husband Laurence Olivier, the greatest actor of his generation, as the National's first artistic director. The films uncover the life of the Theatre's early golden period at the Old Vic, the National's first home, under the towering presence of Olivier; the commissioning and construction of the controversial and now iconic Denys Lasdun building on the South Bank; and the turbulent succession of Peter Hall at the end of Olivier's reign. 　　Through the personal anecdotes of those who wrote, directed and performed on the National's many stages the films reveal the stories behind the greatest hit productions, from Olivier's Othello to War Horse, under artistic directors Peter Hall, Richard Eyre, Trevor Nunn and up to and including the latest great successes under Nicholas Hytner. Other contributors include Maggie Smith, Derek Jacobi, Alan Bennett, Judi Dench, Francis de la Tour, David Hare, Alan Ayckbourn and Adrian Lester.

(from夏末秋字幕组)从哥特式大教堂宏伟的雕塑杰作，到教堂唱诗班座椅下俏皮的横木，英国中世纪的雕塑作品总是那样的令人过目难忘。在那个还不存在“雕塑家”这个概念的年代，无以计数的流动工匠们完成了教堂中众多的雕塑，他们的名字却湮没在了历史的长河中。 　　英国雕塑史的首个黄金时代在那场声势浩荡的亨利八世教堂改革中终结，改革带来的浩劫，必将耗时数个世纪才能得以平复。

(from夏末秋字幕组)从哥特式大教堂宏伟的雕塑杰作，到教堂唱诗班座椅下俏皮的横木，英国中世纪的雕塑作品总是那样的令人过目难忘。在那个还不存在“雕塑家”这个概念的年代，无以计数的流动工匠们完成了教堂中众多的雕塑，他们的名字却湮没在了历史的长河中。 　　英国雕塑史的首个黄金时代在那场声势浩荡的亨利八世教堂改革中终结，改革带来的浩劫，必将耗时数个世纪才能得以平复。

Castles: Britain's Fortified History' is a series by historian Sam Willis who traces the story of Britain's castles and their unique role in our history from art and literature.

城堡，尤其是在英国，始终具有浪漫色彩。它们总是与民间传说，血腥战争和伟大而善良的故事联系在一起，一直是优秀作家们笔下的主题。城堡壮观的外形总能让它们显得卓尔不群，而它所扮演的角色，从垒石而建起，已经持续了数个世纪 - 从征服的利器逐步成为想象的空间。从征服者威廉到维多利亚女王，本系列片对英国城堡的故事和它们在历史、艺术和文学中独一无二的角色进行了追溯，为观众提供了关于城堡建筑以及它们在英国文化和精神中地位的有趣见解。

Britain, is an island. Surrounded by a cold and unforgiving sea. For centuries it protected us from attack. But to prosper and thrive, we would need to do more than hide behind her salt water shield. Britain needed brave men, willing to venture out into the unknown and she needed good boats to take them there. I've spent my life at sea. Now I'm going to take passage on six boats that together, tell the story of modern Britain. Built for exploration, war, fishing, industry and our very survival. These are the boats which built Britain, and changed the way we live - forever.

Britain, is an island. Surrounded by a cold and unforgiving sea. For centuries it protected us from attack. But to prosper and thrive, we would need to do more than hide behind her salt water shield. Britain needed brave men, willing to venture out into the unknown and she needed good boats to take them there. I've spent my life at sea. Now I'm going to take passage on six boats that together, tell the story of modern Britain. Built for exploration, war, fishing, industry and our very survival. These are the boats which built Britain, and changed the way we live - forever.

Historian Dominic Sandbrook takes us back to the strange years of the Cold War.

Historian Dominic Sandbrook takes us back to the strange years of the Cold War.