The Human at Play

Farrah Jarral asks who gets to play in our society.

Starting with a question about why it's more acceptable for adults to play, she explores the often hidden linguistic, social, economic and political battles over the right to play.

Starting at the London Toy Fair, Farrah travels to Bristol to find out why it became the centre of a play revolution, and she speaks to play advocates, activists and academics.

At the end she comes back to where she began: with the final battle over the right to play, and whether adults can give ourselves permission to play.

Producer: Giles Edwards

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2017.