Front Row

Diverse casting in historical dramas, Roots returns, Beyonce's pregnancy portrait, John Burnside


Listen Later

Chichester Festival Theatre's production of Half a Sixpence has been criticised for casting all-white actors. Julian Fellowes wrote the book and addresses this on tonight's Front Row. Then to discuss the issue of diverse casting in historical drama, Samira is joined by Talawa Theatre Company producer, Gail Babb, and writer and critic Ekow Eshun.

It's nearly 40 years since the TV mini-series Roots shook America with its portrayal of slavery and the brutal civil war. Now a new series has been made. Writer and critic Ekow Eshun explores whether this version can have the same impact on audiences today.

The picture that Beyoncé released announcing that she's pregnant with twins has become an internet sensation. As the numbers of views and likes continues to rise, art critic Laura Freeman discusses the long history of images that Beyoncé's photograph draws upon.

John Burnside is a prolific award-winning poet and novelist. As his new novel, Ashland & Vine, and new collection of poems, Still Life with Feeding Snake, are published, he talks to Samira Ahmed about these stories, and his different approaches to telling them.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Front RowBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4

4.4

118 ratings


More shows like Front Row

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,821 Listeners

Ask Penguin by Penguin Books UK

Ask Penguin

147 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,074 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,475 Listeners

In Our Time: History by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: History

1,881 Listeners

In Our Time: Philosophy by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Philosophy

872 Listeners

In Our Time: Culture by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Culture

613 Listeners

In Our Time: Science by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Science

736 Listeners

Arts & Ideas by BBC Radio 4

Arts & Ideas

304 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,833 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,048 Listeners

World Book Club by BBC World Service

World Book Club

375 Listeners

Desert Island Discs by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs

2,058 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

483 Listeners

Last Word by BBC Radio 4

Last Word

46 Listeners

Backlisted by Backlisted

Backlisted

595 Listeners

Start the Week by BBC Radio 4

Start the Week

163 Listeners

Bookclub by BBC Radio 4

Bookclub

243 Listeners

Private Passions by BBC Radio 3

Private Passions

43 Listeners

The TLS Podcast by The TLS

The TLS Podcast

183 Listeners

The Waterstones Podcast by Waterstones

The Waterstones Podcast

39 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,216 Listeners

This Cultural Life by BBC Radio 4

This Cultural Life

117 Listeners

Take Four Books by BBC Radio 4

Take Four Books

7 Listeners

A Good Read by BBC Radio 4

A Good Read

40 Listeners