The Marian Consort to feature on BBC Two’s ‘Art That Made Us’

BBC Two’s new flagship arts documentary explores how works of art from Britain's past have shaped us.

Through 1500 years and eight dramatic turning points, Art That Made Us presents an alternative history of the British Isles, told through art. The series will be broadcast weekly on BBC Two from 7 April. All eight episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer from 7 April.

Rory McCleery and The Marian Consort feature in episode two, ‘Revolution of the Dead’, which examines the Black Death and its bitter – but profoundly creative – aftermath. Contemporary artists and performers, alongside historians and curators, reveal how a century of creative renewal emerged from the chaos of plague as survivors found their voice, questioning authority and challenging status and class. We look at music of the period, including John Dunstaple’s Veni Sancte Spiritus, a game changer for medieval music.

The series features leading British creatives, including Anthony Gormley, Simon Armitage, Cornelia Parker, Thomas J Price, Shani Rhys James, Lubaina Himid, Ryan Gander, Eddie Izzard, Amanda Levete, Tai Shan Schierenberg and Michael Sheen, alongside cultural historians including Clare Lees, James Hawes, Temi Odumosu, Heather Jones, Jonathan Sumption, Murray Pittock and Nandini Das. Running alongside the series through April is a nationwide festival celebrating creativity, in partnership with around 200 museums, galleries, libraries and archives.

Visit the programme webpage here.

A photo of the shoot in the Brunel Museum