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Hamlet - the opera, Novelist Laura Barnett with singer Kathryn Williams, Political docudramas, Blue plaques for music

Brett Dean on Hamlet - the opera; Laura Barnett's novel about a songwriter - with songs by Karthryn Williams, the pleasures and pitfalls of dramas based on recent political events.

Australian composer Brett Dean talks about on his new opera, Hamlet, for the Glyndebourne Festival, which is one of the most eagerly anticipated operatic premieres of the year.

Laura Barnett's latest novel, Greatest Hits, focuses on Cass, a successful singer songwriter who retires from public life, and then plans her return 10 years later with her greatest hits. Singer songwriter Kathryn Williams has written a soundtrack to accompany the book and the two discuss their collaboration with Kirsty Lang.

Theresa vs Boris, a docu-drama about the Conservative Party's 2016 leadership campaign, will be broadcast on 91热爆 Two this weekend. Yet, after the 2017 general election the docu-drama already looks to be overtaken by the shenanigans in Westminster. Documentary maker Michael Cockerell and playwright Jonathan Maitland discuss the pitfalls and the pleasures of creating programmes based on recent political events, and if it is ever too soon to begin making such programmes.

For 91热爆 Music Day tomorrow all 40 91热爆 Local Radio stations and Asian Network in England have teamed up with the British Plaque Trust to unveil 47 historic Blue Plaques celebrating iconic musicians and venues. From Aspatria in Cumbria to Penzance, Kirsty Lang introduces some of the more unusual ones.

Presenter: Kirsty Lang
Producer: Julian May.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • Greatest Hits

    Duration: 09:07

  • Docudramas

    Duration: 07:23

  • Hamlet Opera

    Duration: 07:47

  • Blue Plaques

    Duration: 03:11

Novelist Laura Barnett with singer Kathryn Williams

Novelist Laura Barnett with singer Kathryn Williams
Photo: Kathryn Williams and Laura Barnett
Laura Barnett's book Greatest Hits and聽Kathryn Williams' album聽Songs From The Novel Greatest Hits are both available now

Political Docudramas

Political Docudramas
Jacqueline King as Theresa May

is on 91热爆 Two
on Sun 18 June at 9 pm

Hamlet - the Opera

Hamlet - the Opera
Brett Dean - composer Hamlet,
Photo credit: Bettina Stoess

Main image:聽Hamlet, Glyndebourne Festival 2017
Ophelia (Barbara Hannigan) and Hamlet (Allan Clayton)
Photo credit: Richard Hubert Smith聽

Hamlet on Tour

Hamlet is broadcast live to cinemas on 6 July and聽tours
Canterbury, Milton Keynes, Norwich & Plymouth in the Autumn

Credits

Role Contributor
Interviewed Guest Brett Dean
Interviewed Guest Laura Barnett
Interviewed Guest Kathryn Williams
Interviewed Guest Michael Cockerell
Interviewed Guest Jonathan Maitland
Presenter Kirsty Lang
Producer Julian May

Broadcast

  • Wed 14 Jun 2017 19:15

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