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George C Wolfe on Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Let Him Go reviewed, Winifred Atwell celebrated

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom director George C Wolfe on the film starring Viola Davis and the late Chadwick Boseman in his final role. Plus Kevin Costner's Let Him Go reviewed

Director George C. Wolfe on his new film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, in which Viola Davis stars as the legendary β€œMother of the Blues” Ma Rainey, alongside the late Chadwick Boseman, in his final role. It’s adapted from August Wilson’s play which is part of his ten play cycle chronicling African American experience in the 20th Century.

Pianist Winifred Atwell was the first Black British artist to reach number 1 in the UK charts. She had a string of hits throughout the 50s and is still the only woman to have an instrumental International Number 1. On the day a new plaque is revealed at the site of the hair salon she founded in Brixton, we talk to music journalist and academic Jacqueline Springer about her legacy and influence.

Secret Country is the new digital theatre show from Re-Live, a company who specialise in Life Story theatre work and who are based in Cardiff. Their new show is created and performed by a nine-strong company aged from 72 to 93, and is a candid, raucous and hopeful look at what life in lockdown has meant for our elderly community. Front Row hears from Karin Diamond, artistic director of Re-Live, and participant Terri Morrow.

Kevin Costner won a heap of Oscars for his 1990 directorial debut Dances With Wolves including one for his direction. He now stars in Let Him Go, the story of a couple in their 60s who have to rescue their former daughter in law from the poisonous embrace of a violent new relationship. Playwright Daniel Ward and poet Laura Horton review the film and talk about the week's news in culture.

Presenter: Kirsty Lang
Producer: Sarah Johnson
Studio Manager: Giles Aspen

Main image: Viola Davis in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Image credit: David Lee/Netflix

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41 minutes

Last on

Fri 18 Dec 2020 19:00

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, certificate 15, is available to watch in limited UK cinemas and to stream on Netflix from 18 December 2020.Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β Β Images:Β  Main image above: Viola Davis as Ma Rainey.Β  Β  Β  Β  Β Β Image to the left, from Left: Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis and Colman Domingo in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β Β Images credit: David Lee/Netflix

Winifred Atwell

Winifred Atwell
Image: Winifred Atwell at the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ in 1957.
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Secret Country

Secret Country
Re-Live Theatre's is performed live onlineΒ  at 1.00pm on 17 and 18 December, 2020.Β  Β  Β Image: Terri, a Secret Country cast member.Β  Β  Image credit: Re-Live Theatre CompanyΒ 

Let Him Go

Let Him Go
(certificate 15) is in UK cinemas from18 December 2020.Β  Β  Β  Β Image: Diane Lane and Kevin Costner in let Him Go.Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β Image credit: Kimberley French/Focus Films

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  • Fri 18 Dec 2020 19:00

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