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Arifa Akbar talks to Nuala McGovern

Journey into the Night

Winter Weekend 2025, 

As night falls on Hay-on-Wye, the Guardian’s chief theatre critic Arifa Akbar safely guides us through the hours after the sun goes down.

Exploring how the night shapes our bodies and minds, Akbar, whose acclaimed first book Consumed looked at art and her relationship with her late sister, delves into her new book Wolf Moon.

She intertwines personal reflections and her experiences of the night-time with tales of writers and artists who are inspired by the darkness, stories of those who work at night, and musings on the solace and serenity found in the hours when most people are asleep.

As darkness surrounds Hay and the nearby Black Mountains and Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, join Akbar – interviewed by Woman’s Hour presenter Nuala McGovern – for a new look at night. There’s no more perfect place to take in this conversation than on a dark sky reserve, where clear skies and stars can be seen above.