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, it's 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 at 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 a download from the BBC. For more information and our terms of use, go to BBC.co.uk slash radio three.

Tonight, a hint of originality runs through the programme, like Blackpool, through a stick of rock.

We have a rumbustious interview with the award-winning playwright Simon Stevens,

whose distinctiveness, or do I mean originality,

is rooted in his love of dialogue with the work of other playwrights, Ibsen, Alfred Jari.

And with his new play Birdland, Bertolt Brecht, later we have Nicholas Penny,

the director of the National Gallery on Veronese, greatness and originality.

And as Boris Johnson brands London, Oxford and Cambridge,

a golden triangle for globally cutting-edge biotech research,

we have discussion with Geoff Moulgan and others

about originality and innovation in the economic sphere.

But first, a rather tart observation.

Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original. C.S. Lewis. So it's originality tonight. We begin with the

award Simon Stevens. His new play Birdland, which opens tonight in London, is all about money,

empathy, fame. At its heart is Paul, a phenomenally successful rock star who moves from

a hotel to dressing room, from London to Moscow to Berlin. There's a simple set which morphs

from hotel room to dressing room. Flash bulbs catch Paul in rock and roll poses,

and at moments dazzled by his own fame, Paul looks out on us, the audience, staring at us as we stare at him.

Paul thinks money can buy him anything and everything, and we watch as this autistic celebrity reeks havoc on those around him,

...