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Jane Horrocks, 20 Feet From Stardom, US war vets, Tim Barrow

Arts news, including Jane Horrocks on playing Little Voice, a review of new film doc 20 Feet From Stardom, US Iraq war veterans writing fiction, and playwright Tim Barrow.

A number of former US soldiers have recently published books which focus on their time serving with US forces in the second Iraq War. Phil Klay's series of short stories - Redeployment - and Kevin Powers' debut collection of poems - Letter Composed During a Lull in Fighting - are just two books which cover the first-hand experience of war, and its physical, emotional and psychological effects. Phil Klay and Kevin Powers discuss war as inspiration for literature and their own experience of desert warfare.

20 Feet From Stardom won the Academy Award for Best Documentary at this year's Oscars. The film looks behind the stars of music to focus on their backing singers and the important contribution these singers have made to the history of pop, as well as the difficulties of breaking out into the spotlight. Jacqueline Springer reviews the film.

Union is a play by Scottish playwright Tim Barrow which explores the 1707 Act of Union with England which linked the English and Scottish Parliaments. The play examines the context of bankruptcy and political turmoil which led the Scottish politicians to accept bribes in exchange for supporting the act. Tim Barrow discusses the pertinence of the subject to the forthcoming independence referendum and explains why he thinks Scottish children should be given better education on this period of history.

To mark Radio 4's forthcoming Character Invasion Day - when fictional characters will be taking over the network - Front Row asked five of Britain's leading actors to talk about their experience of playing an iconic character. Jane Horrocks discusses playing the withdrawn LV with a talent for mimicking great singers in the award-winning play The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, and the subsequent film.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • 20 Feet From Stardom

    Jacqueline Springer reviews the film

    Duration: 04:30

  • US war vets

    Phil Klay & Kevin Powers discuss war as inspiration for literature

    Duration: 07:50

  • Chloe Dewe-Mathews

    Chloe Dewe-Mathews on her photographs, Shot At Dawn inspired by the First World War

    Duration: 03:41

  • Character Invasion: Jane Horrocks

    Jane Horrocks discusses playing the withdrawn LV with a talent for mimicking singers

    Duration: 05:38

  • Tim Barrow

    Scottish playwright Tim Barrow discusses his new play, Union

    Duration: 06:16

20 Feet From Stardom

20 Feet From Stardom

is released in UK cinemas on Friday 28 March 2014, certificate 12A.

Image: Darlene Love, Jo Lawry, Judith Hill, Lisa Fischer in 20 Feet From Stardom
Photo Credit: Graham Willoughby, Tremolo Productions

Union

Union
听is on at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh until Saturday 12 April 2014.

Redeployment

Redeployment

Redeployment written by is published by Cannongate Books.

Photo Credit: Hannah Dunphy

Letter Composed During a Lull in the Fighting

Letter Composed During a Lull in the Fighting

Letter Composed During a Lull in the Fighting: Poetry Collection written by is published on Thursday 3 April 2014 by Sceptre.

Photo Credit: Christy Whitney

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Kirsty Lang
Interviewed Guest Phil Klay
Interviewed Guest Kevin Powers
Interviewed Guest Jacqueline Springer
Interviewed Guest Tim Barrow
Interviewed Guest Jane Horrocks
Producer Jerome Weatherald

Broadcast

  • Thu 27 Mar 2014 19:15

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