Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Front Row

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Live magazine programme on the worlds of arts, literature, film, media and music

BBC Radio 4 FM

John Wilson

James McAvoy

Gillian Clarke

Natalie Merchant

Andrea Rose

Dymphna Flynn

Front Row: James McAvoy; Gillian Clarke on Dylan Thomas; Natalie Merchant

front-row_james-mcavoy_120514_getty.jpg

12/05/2014

James McAvoy; Gillian Clarke on Dylan Thomas; Natalie Merchant

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, James McAvoy; Gillian Clarke on Dylan Thomas; Natalie Merchant

James McAvoy; Gillian Clarke on Dylan Thomas; and Natalie Merchant. With John Wilson.

James McAvoy on his new film X-Men: Days of Future Past; poet Gillian Clarke reviews A Poet in New York, a TV drama on the last days of Dylan Thomas; plus, singer Natalie Merchant.

With John Wilson

Actor James McAvoy (Atonement, The Last King of Scotland, Trance) discusses being one of the X-Men, and what it has in common with playing Macbeth.

To mark the centenary of Dylan Thomas' birth, Andrew Davies has written a new TV drama focusing on the poet's fourth and fatal visit to New York in 1953. Starring Tom Hollander, the story captures the last few days of Dylan Thomas' life - weaving in the memories of his childhood in Wales and his relationship with his wife, Caitlin. Gillian Clarke, National Poet Of Wales, reviews.

Natalie Merchant, the American singer-songwriter known for the poetry in her songs, talks to John about her new CD. The self-titled album is her first collection of all her own work for 13 years.

Tuesday sees the British Council unveiling its first ever photographic exhibition - their Director of Visual arts Andrea Rose travelled to North Korea with acclaimed photojournalist Nick Danziger as they collected images of people doing ordinary things, swimming, waiting for a tram, students walking down the street. Andrea describes the experience.

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Front Row

James McAvoy; Gillian Clarke on Dylan Thomas; Natalie Merchant

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4