Welcome back to the home of the oxymoron. Evil genius. He asked the newspaper to print his obituary early so he'd enjoy it. That's like hiding at your own funeral. Yeah, a big, great gig. I'm Russell Kane. Join me to weigh in on whether the biggest players in history are more evil or genius. Becoming that rich, I'd say that is some level of genius. It also helps that it's a long time ago, right?

It's like the podcast version of telling your kids

the ice cream van plays music when it's out of ice cream.

Listen to Evil Genius on BBC Sounds.

This is the BBC.

I'm Philip Dodd.

Thank you for downloading this edition of the Radio 3 Arts and Ideas programme, Free Thinking.

A man walks onto a stage on his own. He talks to the audience as if the performance has not begun.

It has. A woman walks onto the stage, mocks herself. The audience laughs and will now follow her wherever their laughter takes them.

Two interviews with two performers, both Canadians, part of Radio 3's Canada 150 season, marking the anniversary of the Confederation of Canada,

when the British colonies were united into one dominion of Canada.

Later, I joust with Catherine Ryan, comedian, writer, performer, and actor.

The town that I'm from the weather was apocalyptic, so I have to cite that,

because as soon as you say, you'll never go back to Canada, I considered it for a minute,

and then I went, no, the winter, 30 below, no.

Catherine Ryan later, but first Robert LaPage, for some people,

one of the great contemporary theatrical figures.

Drama is a house with many mansions for him.

He's directed Wagner at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York,

Cirque du Soleil, films for the cinema,

and writes for, and performs in the theatre.

His most recent work is entitled 887, a one-person drama shown last month in London and now touring

...