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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

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

Main image:Β 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

Β 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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