Front Row

Ben Okri's new play Changing Destiny is an adaptation of one of the world's oldest known stories, the ancient Egyptian Tale of Sinuhe. Tonight marks not only its opening night at London's Young Vic theatre, but the first time the venue has opened its doors since last year. Artistic director Kwame Kwei-Armah, who directs the play, talks to Tom live from the Young Vic just a few minutes before the curtain goes up.This evening, Sir James MacMillan has a new piece being premiered at the First Night of the Proms, alongside Vaughan Williams's Serenade to Music. He tells Tom why it will be such a special occasion, and the pressure of writing a piece to accompany a masterwork."Paint me, Joan," the children of the tenements of Townhead in Glasgow used to say to Joan Eardley. And she did. The people of Townhead and scenes of the fishing village of Catterline in northeast Scotland became the focus of her art. This is celebrated in her centenary year with two exhibitions in Edinburgh, where the Art Festival opened yester

Geeta Pendse visits the new Museum of Making in Derby - an £18 million redevelopment that celebrates the city's 300-year industrial heritage. Jamie Thrasivoulou, Derby County Football Club's Poet-In-Residence, shares what it's like to perform a poem to a stadium of roaring football fans.The writer Mahsuda Snaith discusses her flash fiction written in response to Kedleston Hall as part of the National Trust's Colonial Countryside project.BBC Derby's Martin Williams learns how to create a Map of Curiousity at the Museum of Making.Presenter: Geeta Pendse Producer: Ekene Akalawu

Tokyo: Art & Photography at The Ashmolean in Oxford is a celebration of the city currently hosting the Olympics. The exhibition’s curator Lena Fritsch discusses the show which spans the arts of the Edo period (1603-1868) when the country was officially closed to the outside world, to today, and considers the sprawling metropolis’s appetite for the new and innovative. Comedy series Ted Lasso revolves around the eponymous American football coach who, fish-out-of-water, comes to London to coach a fictional football team. Its uncynical, warm-and-fuzzy feel has resounded with audiences, and writer Brett Goldstein, who stars as footballer Roy Kent, and co-star Nick Mohammed (kit-man Nathan) join Tom to discuss the show’s slow burn with audiences, the meaning of football, and how to avoid mawkishness in a show which makes a feature of “niceness”.Returning for its third year, the Wellcome Photography Prize tells provocative visual stories about the health challenges of our time, combatting taboos, bringing comple

As a 3.5 metre tall puppet called Little Amal begins an 8,000km journey from Turkey to Manchester to highlight the difficulties faced by refugee children, Samira talks to theatre director and producer David Lan live from Gaziantep on the Turkish-Syrian border about ambitious artistic project The Walk.The longlist for the 2021 Booker Prize has been announced and we discuss the 13 chosen novels with Sameer Rahim from Prospect Magazine and Claire Armitstead from The Guardian. Are these the right titles? And who might be the eventual winner of the £50,000 prize?Tomorrow the David Livingstone Birthplace re-opens following a £9.1m regeneration plan. The museum has not been simply refurbished, the story it tells of the famous explorer, the first European to see the Victoria Falls, has been revised. Zimbabwean novelist Petina Gappah, who spent years researching and writing about Livingstone, tells Samira Ahmed how she has given voice to those who worked with him and whom he met on his expeditions.Presenter: Samira

Five years after Prince's death, the musician's music director of over 20 years, Morris Hayes, discusses Prince's posthumous new album Welcome 2 America. Recorded in 2010 and archived in the singer's legendary vault of unreleased material, it is released this week. Freya McClements, Northern Correspondent with The Irish Times, joins John to discuss the decision from the Northern Ireland Executive to reopen the nation's theatres and concert halls.Ben Sharrock's new film Limbo follows a group of men as they await the results of their asylum claims on a remote Scottish island. The film earned two BAFTA nominations and eight nominations at the British Independent Film Awards, including one for lead actor Amir El-Masry. Amir talks to John about playing Syrian musician Omar in the film, as well as being inspired to act by Omar Sharif, and his work to improve representation of Arab and Muslim people on screens.Presenter: John Wilson Producer: Oliver Jones

Playwright April De Angelis joins Tom to talk about her new musical Gin Craze! Described as 'a booze soaked love ballad from the women of Gin Lane.' The Tokyo Olympics 2020 Opening Ceremony took place earlier today, a year later than planned, in the wake of a number of controversies, not least the sacking of the Artistic Director the day before the event. For our Friday Review, Japan specialists Sakiko Nishihara and Christopher Harding give their views on the background to the ceremony and the event itself.Novelist Jordan Tannahill tells ue about his new novel exploring the fine lines between faith, conspiracy and mania in contemporary America, The Listeners. While lying in bed next to her husband one night, Claire Devon hears a low hum that he cannot. And, it seems, no one else can either. This innocuous noise begins causing Claire headaches, nosebleeds and insomnia, gradually upsetting the balance of her life.And a new report, Boundless Creativity, is intended as a roadmap for cultural and creative recovery

Susannah Clapp, theatre critic of The Observer reviews the new age-blind production of Hamlet starring Ian McKellen, which officially opened up at the Theatre Royal Windsor last night, 50 years since the 82-year-old actor first played the part.The Mercury Prize nominees were announced today. Laura Snapes gives us her thoughts on the list, what it tells us about music over the past year, and makes her prediction for who will win.The historian and screenwriter Alex von Tunzelmann has turned her attention to the deeply contested subject of statues. She joins Samira to discuss her new book, Fallen Idols, which shows that the erection and toppling of statues has been a perennial hot topic across the world.

American musician Jon Batiste has many strings to his bow – he’s an activist, recording artist, band leader for a daily TV late night chat show, a singer, pianist and an Oscar-winning film composer. Batiste discusses his new album, We Are, as well as his Broadway musical about Jean-Michel Basquiat, and An American Symphony being performed at Carnegie Hall next year. Art critic Louisa Buck assesses this year's Art Fund Museum of the Year 2021 shortlist which was announced today. Despite being closed for most of the year, five galleries and museums across the UK have been rewarded as contenders for the prestigious £100,000 award, the world's largest museum prize. Yesterday in Berlin saw the opening of The Humboldt Forum, the largest cultural development in Europe and the most ambitious in Germany this century. It has cost 700m Euros, covers 44,000 square metres, and even before the foundation stone was laid in 2013, it’s been mired in controversy. We speak with Rüdiger Schaper, Head of Culture for Tagesspieg

Ivorian director Philippe Lacôte talks about his film Night of the Kings, set in a notorious Abidjan prison run by the inmates, in which he explores the West African tradition of the griot or storyteller. Every year the Best Film Oscar is hotly contested and often the source of much debate and consternation. We speak to two podcasters from “Best Pick” which is aimed squarely at movie lovers and has reviewed and assessed every Best Film winner from the very first in 1929 to the most recent -Parasite. What have they learned on the course of their mammoth undertaking? The artist Tirtzah Bassel wants to reimagine art history. She talks to Kirsty about her painting project – Canon in Drag - which recasts and repurposes famous artworks by swapping male figures with female figures, and makes childbirth a subject worthy of the artist’s eye.Presenter: Kirsty Lang Producer: Harry Parker

Chart-topping New York post-punk group Blondie have more than 40 years of chart success under their belts and in 2019 they decided to travel to play some concerts in Havana Cuba. We speak with singer Debbie Harry about the warmth of the reception they received, about integrating local styles and musicians in their set and much more. A new EP is about to be released which shows the fruits of their labour.This Friday marks 10 years since Amy Winehouse died. In a new film 'Reclaiming Amy' to be shown on BBC Two, director Marina Parker spoke to her friends and her mum Janis to get their side of her story, and how Amy's life and death affected them. She explains to John about working with them and showing the world a different side of the singer.Natalie Williams and Troy Miller both worked with Amy Winehouse. They delve into her musicianship and reassess her legacy as a singer, jazz musician and song writer.

Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino is a Hollywood veteran and it was the ending of Hollywood’s golden age that was the subject of his last film – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. He’s now returned to the story of that film for his debut novel. In his only UK broadcast interview, he explains why he wanted to create a novelisation of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.It’s 25 years since Melvin Burgess wrote Junk, a story about heroin addiction. It was an early title in what’s become known as YA and showed the fearlessness to take on challenging topics that has become typical of the genre. His book, Three Bullets, is out this week: it imagines a Britain somewhat like our own but that has been torn apart by war and extreme ideology. It has a mixed-race Trans girl, Marti, as its first person narrator. Melvin Burgess talks about his new book and YA more generally, alongside Sarah Ditum, as part of our series this week looking at the publishing industry. Has fearfulness taken over or is caution a necessary corrective? What stori

This summer Somerset House in London will be home to a new work by composer Anna Meredith, Bumps Per Minute, which has a distinctly fairground feel. It uses the random interactions of dodgem cars to create a new piece of music. And members of the public are invited to take part in the composition as dodgem drivers. Anna Meredith talks about what inspired her to create a work which mixes fun, frivolity and musical experimentation.The British Podcast Awards have been created to highlight the best podcasts of the year in the UK. Laura Grimshaw, presenter of Podcast Radio Hour on Radio 4 Extra, takes a look at a selection of this year’s 29 winners – from 1600 entries - which includes two new categories; best documentary and best lockdown podcast.We continue our exploration of debates within the publishing industry. Tonight we consider different generational attitudes around ideas of censorship, the moral role of publishing houses and the responsibilities of individual employees when it comes to which works ge

A new documentary Witches Of The Orient' looks back at the last time that Tokyo acted as host. Volleyball made its debut in The 1964 Summer Olympics. And the success of the home team in women’s volleyball became one of the most watched domestic TV events ever. French film director Julien Faraut discovered this now-largely-forgotten event and was captivated by it. The historical biographer Lady Antonia Fraser reveals an unknown aspect of her writing life as four of her poems are set to music by Stephen Hough. Two were written in and about lock-down, one wittily recalls a whirlwind American book tour book and the last is a tender memory of Harold Pinter. Just after their premiere today she told Elle Osili-Wood about them and her lifelong habit of writing verse.We continue this week’s series around debates in the book world. Tonight: reviews. Is the traditional media giving readers what they want? Does getting your book reviewed in the broadsheets matter any more? And how might the way books are reviewed be

Uberto Pasolini made his name in the film industry as a producer with the international success of his film - The Full Monty. He’s continued to produce but in recent years he’s also turned his hand to writing and directing. As the third film that he’s helmed in this way, Nowhere Special, is released in cinemas, he talks to Samira about why he felt the true story of a father with a terminal illness looking for a new family for his four year old, was the foundation for a film he wanted to create himself.From Chaucer, heralding spring in his Canterbury Tales, to Hockney's digital landscapes artists have always celebrated the rich variety of Britain's flora and fauna. Art about nature is crucial to our culture. But last month the House of Commons Environment Audit Committee reported that 'of the G7 countries, the UK has the lowest level of biodiversity remaining.' Front Row investigates this anomaly with George Monbiot, who tomorrow will be streaming Rivercide, a live documentary about the terrible state of our r

The mural of footballer Marcus Rashford which was defaced with racist graffiti after England lost the Euro 2020 final last night was part of Withington Walls, a community street art project in the suburbs of southern Manchester. Its head, Ed Wellard, discusses the art work, the British-based Vietnamese street artist Akse who created it, and the role art can play in the community.Late last week Front Row asked Ian McMillan, poet in residence at Barnsley FC, to write a poem in response to the European Cup Final. He talks to John Wilson about his approach to this tricky commission this evening, and reads his poem, 'This Sporting Life'. We start a new series today exploring current debates within book publishing, beginning with a look at the gender split in current literary tastes. Is it harder for young male writers to get published, win prizes and make a splash now? And if so, after millennia of male dominance, does it matter? John talks to Nesrine Malik who is judging the Women’s Prize for Fiction this year, a

Film critic Jason Solomons brings a touch of glamour to tonight’s proceedings with his report from this year’s Cannes Film festival which opened this week.Tove Jansson was the Finnish creator of the Moomins, stories much loved by children (and adults) the world over. A new film, Tove, tells the story of her extraordinary life in post-war Helsinki, the ambivalence she felt towards the success of the Moomins, and how her ideas about freedom were challenged when she fell in love with theatre director Vivica Bandler. The film's director, Zaida Bergroth, talks about the choices she made in telling the story of this iconic author and artist.Welsh culture that is ancient, and modern: Catrin Finch, commissioned by the Llangollen Eisteddfod, plays the harp and is working with a choir - but not just male voices, a choir of singing refugees and asylum seekers. A beat boxer is involved, too. Meanwhile the artist Luke Jerram has turned to another Welsh tradition, throwing a huge, beautiful patchwork quilt over the town b

Laura Mvula’s first two albums were Mercury-Prize nominated, and now 5 years later she has returned with ‘Pink Noise’, an 80’s-inpsired-synth-inflected album full that’s perfect for dancing to. She explains the inspiration behind the music, and how this is the album she always wanted to make.Since he posted his first Room Next Door video in 2019, comedian Michael Spicer has had over 60m views. Spicer discusses the origin of the idea where he acts as an adviser feeding lines to a politician’s imaginary earpiece and intercuts his feed with the politician’s answers.The Life and Death of Alexander Litvinenko is a new opera opening for a limited run at Grange Park Opera in Surrey. It tells the story of the former KGB officer who was poisoned in the UK by Russian secret agents. We speak with its composer (former financier) Anthony Bolton about why this story deserves operatic treatment.

British director Ola Ince discusses her new stage production of Romeo & Juliet, currently on at Shakespeare’s Globe in London. Ince has given it a contemporary setting, but she doesn’t shy away from showing the play’s relevance to current societal struggles. The degree of harassment and bullying in the acting profession has been brought into the spotlight by #metoo and the recent Noel Clarke case. Radio 4's File on 4 reviewed the current situation and looked at measures being taken within the industry to combat the problem. The Cannes Film Festival opened yesterday with five films funded by the British Film Institute selected for screening. Ben Roberts was appointed the BFI’s Chief Executive just before the lockdown. He talks to Kirsty Lang about the role of the BFI, and how it has supported - and challenged - the industry in times troubled not just by the pandemic but revelations of bullying, abuse and lack of diversity. Presenter: Kirsty Lang Producer: Oliver JonesMain image: Alfred Enoch (Romeo) and

With her new sound and light installation, Arcadia, Theatre and Opera director Deborah Warner has brought the feel of the field into The Factory – the new home for MIF. The Factory is still very much a building site open to the elements, but for one weekend only the festival is providing an opportunity for visitors, to see the new construction from the inside. And once inside the concrete shell, they will enter Arcadia, Deborah’s subversive and challenging artwork to Manchester’s spirit of progress. Deborah talks to Nick about the appeal of making an installation in an unfinished venue.One of Pakistan’s most celebrated artists has used his MIF commission to explore his concept of Eart - his term to describe ways of thinking, being and acting creatively in real life. Under the title, A Manifesto of Possibilities, Rana presents an exhibition which interrogates new ways of living, and he makes real one of his ideas with the creation of his version of the essential corner shop. Nick Ahad pops in to the pop-up

The largest ever UK retrospective of the Portuguese-born artist Paula Rego opens at Tate Britain this week. Featuring over 100 works, many not seen before, the show spans Rego’s early work from the 1950s which responds to the socio-political context of Portugal at the time, to her more recent, richly-layered paintings. Critic Jacky Klein gives her response to the show.Black Widow is the long-awaited new Marvel movie starring Scarlett Johansson. Director Cate Shortland talks to Front Row about putting Johansson centre frame, her on-screen chemistry with Florence Pugh and building on the conventions of superhero and spy movies to tell a different story about female power.The £1.57 billion Cultural Recovery Fund was initiated exactly one year ago to shore up arts and cultural organisations against financial devastation caused by the loss of audiences during the pandemic. In England distribution of the cash is managed by Arts Council England and its chair Sir Nicholas Serota explains how the money has been sha