Main content

MIA, Man Booker Shortlist, Short Story Award nominee Nell Stevens, Playwright Stephen Jeffreys remembered.

Matangi/Maya/MIA, a documentary on political rapper MIA, The Man Booker Prize shortlist, National Short Story Award nominee Nell Stevens and playwright Stephen Jeffries remembered

New documentary Matangi/Maya/MIA about the political rapper MIA, uses self-filmed archive footage of the outspoken and ‘controversial’ Sri Lankan immigrant artist who took up the Tamil cause. So how does the film by director and friend Stephen Loveridge help us understand her life and music? Journalist Kieran Yates reviews.

The Man Booker Prize 2018 shortlist of six books has just been announced and features two debuts, the youngest ever writer to make the list, a novel in verse and four women authors. Toby Lichtig of the Times Literary Supplement and critic Arifa Akbar give their thoughts on a list which includes some notable omissions - Sally Rooney and Michael Ondaatje for example.

Nell Stevens is the final shortlisted writer for this year’s National Short Story Award. She joins Kirsty to talk about The Minutes, her darkly funny and mysterious tale which follows a group of students captivated by an enigmatic stranger as they protest against the demolition and gentrification taking place in their neighbourhood.

Roy Williams pays tribute to fellow playwright Stephen Jeffreys, who has died aged 68. He is best-known for writing The Libertine, about the hedonistic Restoration poet and courtier - the Earl of Rochester. Jeffreys also long championed the work of young, new dramatists, including Roy, offering them support and advice.

Presenter: Kirsty Lang
Producer: Harry Parker

Available now

30 minutes

M.I.A.

M.I.A.

The documentary film is released on 21 September 2018, certificate 18.

Images:

Main image above: M.I.A. in the film MATANGI/MAYA/M.I.A.

Image to the left: still from the film

Images credit: Cinereach Productions

Man Booker shortlist

Man Booker shortlist

The 6 books shortlisted for the are:

Milkman by Anna Burns (UK)ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
Washington Black by Esi Edugyan (Canada)ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
Everything Under by Daisy Johnson (UK)ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner (USA)ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
The Overstory by Richard Powers (USA)ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
The Long Take by Robin Robertson (UK)ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

The winner is announced on 16 October 2018.

Image: the Man Booker 2018 judging panel.Ìý From Left: Jacqueline Rose, Leanne Shapton, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Leo Robson and Val McDermid. Head judge Kwame Anthony Appiah holds the 6 shortlisted novels. ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Image credit: Janie AireyÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Listen to Rachel Kushner being interviewed by Samira Ahmed and Esi Edugyan speaking to John Wilson on previous editions of Front Row.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

National Short Story Award nominee Nell Stevens

National Short Story Award nominee Nell Stevens

The Minutes, Nell Stevens' NSSA shortlisted storyÌýis read by Tuppence Middleton on Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4 on Friday 21 September 2018

Image:

Image credit: Juliana Johnston

Broadcast

  • Thu 20 Sep 2018 19:15

Â鶹ԼÅÄ Arts Digital

The best of British culture live and on demand.

Inspire

Inspire

A season discovering where artists find inspiration and helping listeners get creative.

Podcast