Front Row

Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

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

BBC Radio 4 LW

Front Row: Michael Kiwanuka, Boys in the Band film, the future for arts freelancers

Boys in the Band film; the future for arts freelancers

Michael Kiwanuka, Boys in the Band film, the future for arts freelancers

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, Michael Kiwanuka, Boys in the Band film, the future for arts freelancers

Mercury Prize winner Michael Kiwanuka, The Boys in the Band film; freelancers in the arts.

Mercury Prize winner 2020 Michael Kiwanuka, director Joe Mantello on renewing the film The Boys in the Band, plus we discuss the future for freelancers working in the arts.

Michael Kiwanuka said he was seriously surprised when he won the 2020 Mercury Prize last week. Tom Sutcliffe talks to the singer-songwriter about dropping out of his music degree, hanging out in Hawaii with Kanye West and asks why such modesty when his self-titled album had rave reviews on release, and reached number 2 in the charts.  

Director Joe Mantello on his new film version of The Boys in the Band, Mart Crowley’s ground-breaking 1968 play about a group of gay friends at a birthday party in New York. 

As the Covid crisis continues, last week Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced viable jobs will receive support. As the creative industries rely on freelance workers Front Row discusses what this means for them, first talking to set designer Rebecca Brower, who has lost most of her work this year because theatres are closed. Plus Philippa Childs, head of the union Bectu, to which many freelance creatives belong, explains why so many won’t qualify for help. And director Fiona Laird offers an overview, suggesting ways to create future work for freelancers in the industry.      

Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe
Producer: Julian May
Studio Manager: John Boland

Main image: Michael Kiwanuka
Image credit: Olivia Rose

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

Michael Kiwanuka, Boys in the Band film, the future for arts freelancers

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4