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The Amen Corner; Much Ado About Nothing; Peter James; Stephen Hough

Mark Lawson reviews a new staging of James Baldwin's The Amen Corner; Joss Whedon's film of Much Ado About Nothing; crime writer Peter James; Stephen Hough's Cultural Exchange.

With Mark Lawson.

James Baldwin's play, The Amen Corner, tells the story of Margaret, the uncompromising pastor of a Harlem church, who has to face a secret from her past. Marianne Jean-Baptiste stars in a new National Theatre production, featuring a gospel choir. Writer and critic Bidisha gives her verdict.

Best-selling crime writer Peter James discusses his latest book Dead Man's Time, the ninth novel in the Roy Grace Series, and reveals the high-profile real-life inspiration for his character Amis Smallbone.

For Cultural Exchange, concert pianist Stephen Hough chooses a song called The Hurdy Gurdy Man by Franz Schubert, from his 1828 song cycle Die Winterreise.

After directing the blockbuster Avengers Assemble, Joss Whedon now releases a very different film: a modern-day version of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, shot in his own home, in black and white, and featuring a cast of his friends - most of whom appeared in his various cult TV series. Larushka Ivan-Zadeh reviews.

Producer Nicki Paxman.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • The Amen Corner

    Writer and critic Bidisha reviews the National Theatre's revival of The Amen Corner

    Duration: 05:46

  • Peter James

    Best-selling crime writer Peter James discusses his latest book, Dead Man's Time

    Duration: 10:32

  • Stephen Hough - Cultural Exchange

    Concert pianist Stephen Hough chooses the song The Hurdy Gurdy Man, by Franz Schubert

    Duration: 05:49

  • Much Ado About Nothing

    Larushka Ivan-Zadeh reviews Joss Whedon's modern-day version of Much Ado About Nothing

    Duration: 06:26

The Amen Corner

聽runs at the National Theatre in London until 14th August.

Main image:聽Lucian Msamati (Luke) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Sister Margaret). Photo by Richard Hubert Smith.

Peter James

, by Peter James, is available now, published by Macmillan.

Much Ado About Nothing

聽is released in UK cinemas on 16th June, certificate 12A.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Mark Lawson
Interviewed Guest Peter James
Interviewed Guest Stephen Hough
Producer Nicki Paxman

Broadcast

  • Wed 12 Jun 2013 19:15

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