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Front Row: Michael Simkins on acting, A Field in England, Brian Sewell's Cultural Exchange

Michael Simkins on acting, A Field in England, Brian Sewell's Cultural Exchange

04/07/2013

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, Michael Simkins on acting, A Field in England, Brian Sewell's Cultural Exchange

Arts news and reviews with Mark Lawson. Michael Simkins offers a guide for aspiring actors

Arts news. Michael Simkins offers a guide for aspiring actors, new Civil War film A Field in England, films with two or more directors, and Brian Sewell's Cultural Exchange.

With Mark Lawson.

A Field In England is the first British film to be simultaneously released in cinemas, on DVD, video on demand and terrestrial television. Directed by Ben Wheatley and starring Reece Shearsmith from The League Of Gentlemen, it's a Civil War drama about a group of soldiers who ingest some magic mushrooms and encounter a mysterious figure who may, or may not, be the devil. Professor Roger Luckhurst decides whether it's a trip worth taking.

With a CV that includes EastEnders, The Iron Lady and West End productions of Mamma Mia! and Yes, Prime Minister, Michael Simkins has a wide range of acting experience. He talks to Mark about his book which offers a practical guide to aspiring actors, including tips on what to do on stage if someone misses their cue and why you should always read the whole script.


Eagle-eyed viewers of the new film Chasing Mavericks might notice that the new surf drama is credited to two directors, because Michael Apted completed the last few weeks of photography when the original director, Curtis Hanson, had to drop out for health reasons. But it isn't the first movie to have two or more directors in the credits, as critic Catherine Bray explains.

Tonight's Cultural Exchange is by the outspoken art critic and historian Brian Sewell - who has chosen a painting by the Spanish artist Diego Velazquez (1599 - 1660) depicting Christ after the Flagellation. Called Christ Contemplated by the Christian Soul, the work is on display at the National Gallery in London.

Producer Ekene Akalawu.

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