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The Arts Hour

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The Arts Hour: Irvine Welsh, Billie Holiday, Des Bishop

Irvine Welsh, Billie Holiday, Des Bishop

18/04/2015

BBC World Service - The Arts Hour, Irvine Welsh, Billie Holiday, Des Bishop

We interview writer Irvine Welsh about his new novel A Decent Ride, about a political hurricane in his native Scotland.

We explore the world of stand-up comedy in China with Des Bishop.    

Nigerian super group P Square talk about the release their new album Double Trouble.   

The Zar, a traditional exorcism in Egypt, is now being performed as musical entertainment.  We hear about Mazaher’s Band, popular performers of the genre.  

Drones used in warfare is the subject of two new films, Good Kill and the documentary Drone.  We hear from both directors.  

Pop-Up Opera tell us about re-imaging classic opera in venues such as tunnels under rivers and mines.  Where does the piano go?   

Moscow’s Teatr.doc ran documentary-style plays challenging Russian culture. After a raid last year, the theatre shut down but has reopened in new premises. Lucy Ash attends re-opening night.    

Born 100 years ago last week in 1915, we bring together jazz musicians and a biographer to reflect on the music of Billie Holiday.

(Photo: Irvine Welsh (c) Ian Gavan/Getty, Billie Holiday (c) Hulton Archive, Des Bishop (c) Mark Rickards/BBC)

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