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Hidden Figures, Dirty Dancing writer, Muslim Othello, Simon Armitage

Hidden Figures reviewed, Eleanor Bergstein on 30 years of Dirty Dancing, Simon Armitage on Branwell Bronte, Muslim Othello.

Hidden Figures tells the story of three brilliant African-American women mathematicians working at NASA during the early years of the Space programme. Science expert Sue Nelson reviews the film which stars Taraji P. Henson, Janelle MonΓ΅e and Octavia Spencer.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Dirty Dancing, the coming-of-age film starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, set in the 1960s, about a wide-eyed teen on a family holiday who discovers a forbidden underworld of sexy dancing. The film's writer Eleanor Bergstein explains how she drew on her own experiences as a teen, but also reflected the politics of the time.

To celebrate the bicentenary of Branwell BrontΓ«, the brother overshadowed by his more talented sisters - Charlotte, Emily, and Anne - the poet Simon Armitage discusses a new exhibition he has curated at the BrontΓ« Parsonage Museum, and a new series of poems he has written inspired by some of Branwell's possessions.

A new production of Othello at the Tobacco Factory in Bristol aims to emphasise Othello as an Islamic convert to Christianity rather than focusing solely on the race dimension to the play. Writer and journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown and historian Jerry Brotton discuss the impact this has on how we understand the text.

Presenter Samira Ahmed
Producer Jerome Weatherald.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • Hidden Figures

    Duration: 05:00

  • Muslim Othello

    Duration: 07:48

  • Simon Armitage

    Duration: 06:11

  • Dirty Dancing writer

    Duration: 07:29

  • Al Jarreau musical tribute

    Duration: 01:02

Hidden Figures

Hidden Figures

opens in UK cinemas on 17 February 2017, certificate PG.

Images:

Main image above: ΜύOctavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Morae in Hidden Figures

Image to the left: Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Morae in Hidden Figures

Images credit: 20th Century Fox

Muslim Othello

Muslim Othello

, Bristol from 16 February - 01 April 2017, and tours to:

Exeter Northcott 09 - 13 May 2017

Wilton's Music Hall, London 16 May - 03 June 2017

Μύ

Image: Abraham Popoola as Othello

Image credit: Camilla Adams

Μύ

Simon Armitage

Simon Armitage

Simon Armitage's poetry collection,The Unaccompanied, is out now.Μύ

at the , Haworth, West Yorks on 18 March 2017.

Image: Simon Armitage at the Bronte Parsonage Museum

Image credit: Simon Warner

Credits

Role Contributor
Interviewed Guest Sue Nelson
Interviewed Guest Simon Armitage
Interviewed Guest Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
Interviewed Guest Jerry Brotton
Presenter Samira Ahmed
Producer Jerome Weatherald

Broadcast

  • Mon 13 Feb 2017 19:15

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