Front Row: Archive 2014

As he celebrates his 70th birthday, composer Michael Nyman reveals for the first time the inspiration for his new cycle of symphonies, playwright James Graham and director Josie Rourke discuss their new play Privacy which examines how our personal data is collected and what governments are doing with it. Also tonight Catherine Bray reviews Johnny Depp in sci-fi spectacle Transcendence. Presenter: Kirsty Lang Producer: Ellie Bury.

In a special edition of Front Row, John Wilson talks to the writers of two of the biggest stage musicals of all time - Miss Saigon and Les Misérables. Composer Claude-Michel Schönberg and lyricist Alain Boublil discuss their working process and how they bring a French sensibility to a modern American artform, as their musical, Miss Saigon - now in its 25th anniversary year - is reinvented for a new production. Producer Ella-mai Robey.

Kirsty Lang presents a Front Row special celebrating the big screen's love affair with the Biblical epic. It's a genre that defined the golden age of Hollywood, but it's undergoing something of a resurrection in 2014 thanks to the release of Darren Aronofsky's Noah starring Russell Crowe, a film soon to be joined in cinemas by Ridley Scott's Exodus, and the long awaited prequel to The Passion of The Christ - Mary. And whilst general audiences seem hungry for the bible on screen, churches across America are showing Son of God, a faithful retelling of the life of Jesus Christ. In the company of Hollywood's hottest directors, Life of Brian's Michael Palin, and the British actor who played Jesus Christ himself, join Kirsty as she sets off on her own pilgrimage in search of the roots of the biblical epic. Presenter: Kirsty Lang Producer: Craig Smith.

Martin Freeman, star of The Hobbit, talks about acting in sub zero temperatures for his latest role in the television adaptation of cult Coen brothers film Fargo. And from the snow to the stage: he discusses his next project - playing Richard III. Singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini is a platinum selling artist who's now released his third album. He talks to John about his journey from 'New Shoes' to this darker, more serious work. He reveals the influence of his opera loving Italian grandfather on his career and performs for Front Row in the studio. Glasgow artist Andy Scott talks about his largest creation yet- two giant horse heads based on the mythical Celtic creatures Kelpies. The sculptures, which are in Falkirk's new Helix park, are being unveiled and illuminated as part of an inaugural festival dedicated to conservationist John Muir. The latest film from cult Swedish director Lukas Moodysson is a coming-of-age drama about three young girls in Stockholm in 1982. Klara, Bobo and Hedwig are ignored by the

Kirsty Lang discusses a new film adaptation of John Banville's Man Booker prize winning novel The Sea. With Rachel Cooke. House of Cards writer Keith Huff talks about his play A Steady Rain. A hit on Broadway in 2009 starring Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman, it receives its UK premiere at the Theatre Royal Bath. Is it ok to steal a Banksy? Lawyer Karen Sanig, from Mischon de Reya, offers legal advice. Poet Patience Agbabi on her new collection Telling Tales, an updating of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, with the pilgrims travelling on a Routemaster bus. And TV critic Boyd Hilton reviews Trying Again, the new sitcom from Thick of It duo Chris Addison and Simon Blackwell, about a couple stuggling after an affair. Presenter: Kirsty Lang Producer: Timothy Prosser.

Kirsty Lang discusses a TV adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's Jamaica Inn with novelist Sarah Dunant. Chart topping classical guitarist Milos Karadaglic talks about reinterpreating Rodrigo's famous guitar concerto, which he is touring around the country. Dr Jason Dittmer reviews Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. And The Flame Throwers author Rachel Kushner on her debut novel Telex from Cuba, which is being published in the UK for the first time.

John Wilson discusses Tate Modern's Matisse: The Cut-Outs with Matisse biographer Hilary Spurling and curator Nicholas Cullinan. Also in the programme: Val McDermid is renowned as a crime-writer, but Jane Austen isn't - so what attracted Val to the idea of updating Northanger Abbey? Plus reviews of the film Locke, starring Tom Hardy - and of two new Broadway musicals: Woody Allen's stage version of his film Bullets Over Broadway, and a new show about Billie Holiday, Lady Day. Presenter: John Wilson Producer: Rebecca Nicholson.

With Razia Iqbal. Actor Mark Strong and director Ivo van Hove discuss their new production of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge. Mark Strong explains why this play, and the role of Brooklyn longshoreman Eddie Carbone, persuaded him to return to the stage for the first time in a decade. Bernadette Peters is one of Broadway's most critically acclaimed performers, known as a key interpreter of Stephen Sondheim's musicals. In London to perform at the Olivier Awards, Bernadette Peters discusses her relationship with Sondheim and the resilience needed to maintain a long career. Best-selling author Harlan Coben talks about his latest thriller, Missing You. He discusses creating his protagonist Kat Donovan, an NYPD cop, the current "golden age" of crime writing and the impact that the internet and online dating sites have had on the police thriller. The Lunchbox, an Indian film from director Ritesh Batra, explores a mistaken delivery in Mumbai's famously efficient lunchbox delivery system that connects a you

Emma Thompson and Celia Imrie discuss their new film comedy The Love Punch; choreographer Chris Wheeldon, composer Joby Talbot and principal ballerina Lauren Cuthbertson look ahead to tonight's opening of The Winter's Tale, the Royal Ballet's first original full-length Shakespeare ballet in 50 years; Gaylene Gould reviews Simon Stephens' play Birdland starring Andrew Scott; and actor Sam West on a new arts funding campaign.

Award-winning actor Chiwetel Ejiofor talks to John Wilson about his new film Half of a Yellow Sun and his journey from filming in Nigeria to 12 Years A Slave in Louisiana. Daily Telegraph Arts Editor Sarah Crompton makes her wish-list for the new Culture Secretary, Sajid Javid. The musician Ben Watt, half of Everything But The Girl, discusses waiting 31 years to release his second solo album, falling out of love with song-writing and the events that drew him back in. And the thriving writing scene in South Korea that is taking centre stage at the London Book Fair. Producer Elaine Lester.

Kirsty Lang talks to the enfant terrible of the fashion world, designer John Paul Gaultier, as a retrospective of his work opens at the Barbican Centre in London. Gaultier discusses where the inspiration for his iconic striped t-shirts and the conical bras worn by Madonna came from and explains why he has always been inspired by London style. As Michael Palin announces his first one man show, he talks to Kirsty about going on tour at 71, trying to make audiences laugh and taking the his first lead role in a TV drama for more than 20 years. Christy Moore, the Irish folk singer, looks back over his five-decade musical career and his 25 solo albums as he prepares to perform a series of concerts in the UK. Welsh director Gareth Evans had a surprise hit with 2012's The Raid, an Indonesian martial arts film which took place in a run-down fifteen story apartment block. He's now followed it up with The Raid 2, catching up with the hero Rama, battling the enemies he made in the first instalment. Briony Hanson revie

Kirsty Lang talks to Emmy Award-winning actor Brendan Gleeson about his role in new film Calvary; as it opens at London's Apollo theatre, writers Jack Thorne and John Ajvide Lindqvist discuss adapting vampire tale Let the Right One In for the stage; Mary Beard reveals the six shortlisted authors for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction and Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures, Desmond Shawe-Taylor, discusses the new exhibition The First Georgians: Art & Monarchy 1714-1760, at The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace. Producer: Ellie Bury.

Kirsty Lang talks to Rory Bremner about satire, snobbery and starring in Noel Coward's play Relative Values; bestselling children's author, and creator of Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson takes Kirsty on a tour of an exhibition which recreates her childhood bedroom - and features extracts of her teenage diaries that reveal an early desire to write more realistic books than those of Enid Blyton. Produced by Nicola Holloway Photo: Rory Bremner and Patricia Hodge in Relative Values, Harold Pinter Theatre Image Credit: Catherine Ashmore.

On Front Row tonight, Richard Ayoade talks to John Wilson about the practicalities of making The Double, a film about a doppelganger - and about why, when directing, he never uses technical jargon. Also in the programme: reviews of the stage musical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and The Crimson Field - a new TV series about nurses in World War 1; and we look back at forty years of the Sunday Times Bestseller list.

On Front Row tonight Kirsty Lang talks to Kate Winslet about her new film Divergent - aimed at young adults she plays an arch villain in a dystopian future and she explains why making the film made her feel old; and Kirsty meets German author Timur Vermes who's written a best-selling satire depicting Hitler as a present day celebrity after awakening from a 66-year sleep in 2011. There's a review of Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon's new tv series The Trip to Italy and we go backstage at rehearsals for Matthew Bourne's new dance production of Lord of the Flies in Salford. Plus - as a rail design exhibition opens at the National Railway Museum in York and RIBA shortlists entrants in their aesthetic overhead line structures competition, we consider the design of rail-gantries past and present. Producer : Dymphna Flynn.

With John Wilson Writer Chris Chibnall talks to John about his new play at the Salisbury Playhouse, Worst Ever Wedding, a comedy about a mother organising her daughter's wedding. Chris is best known for Broadchurch, the gripping TV series about a murder in a close community in Dorset. Chris discusses the step from writing heightened suspense to farcical comedy, and why featuring Dorset in his work is so important to him. Author Kamila Shamsie reviews Shan Khan's directorial debut Honour, an urban thriller set in west London, starring Paddy Considine and Aiysha Hart. Mona is a young British Muslim girl on the run from her family after they find out about her relationship with a Punjabi boyfriend. In a bid to save their family honour, her mother and older brother hire a bounty hunter to help track Mona down. Russian violinist Viktoria Mullova is widely recognised in classical music as one of the world's leading virtuosos and has recorded her first album of an eclectic range of Brazilian music - Stradivarius

With John Wilson Director Darren Aronofsky's latest film, Noah, is a contemporary take on the Hollywood biblical epic - starring Russell Crowe as the Old Testament patriarch who organises the construction of a vast ship, and Anthony Hopkins as his grandfather, Methuselah. However, Aronofsky's Noah is no saint, but a flawed husband and father. Briony Hanson, the British Council's Director of Film, reviews. Rachel Seiffert's latest novel, The Walk Home, looks at sectarian tensions in Glasgow through the eyes of Stevie, a young worker on a building site, and - a generation back - Lindsey, his Irish mother who left her family to run her own life and Stevie's uncle Eric, who ran away for love. Rachel herself is half-German, and talks to John about family tensions. Alex Beard discusses his first season launch in his role as Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House. Having spent six months in the role he discusses creative plans - which includes seven opera and ballet world premieres - and the challenges that lie

With Kirsty Lang Ricky Wilson of Kaiser Chiefs, talks about the challenges of making their new album - Education, Education, Education and War - after the departure of their co-founding drummer, and also about his role as judge on BBC1's The Voice and the reservations he had about doing it initially. Muppets Most Wanted is the latest film featuring Kermit, Miss Piggy and the gang, who this time fall prey to an evil mastermind who bears a striking resemblance to Kermit himself. Duped by tour manager Dominic Badguy - played by Ricky Gervais - the Muppets soon find themselves unwittingly taking part in a the crime of the century. Comedian Viv Groskop reviews. Sebastian Barry is one of Ireland's leading writers. He talks about his new novel The Temporary Gentleman, which continues his story of 20th century Ireland told through the McNulty family of Sligo. Jack McNulty is a 'temporary gentleman', an Irishman whose commission in the British army in the Second World War was never permanent. Sebastian tells Kirsty

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 t

With Kirsty Lang. Anne Hathaway is back in cinemas this week in Rio 2, an animated film about a rare blue macaw, set in Brazil. She reprises her role as the voice of Jewel, a free-spirited bird, who discovers that the family she thought had been killed are still alive and living in the Amazon jungle. Anne Hathaway discusses the challenges of playing an animated character and what she looks for when choosing a role. Believe is a new American fantasy and adventure TV drama series from Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity) and Star Wars writer J.J. Abrams. A young girl with mysterious powers is placed under the protection of an escaped Death Row inmate, who must shield her from the mysterious forces out to hunt her down. Larushka Ivan-Zadeh gives her verdict. The African-American photographer Lorna Simpson discusses the work on show in her new retrospective at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead. Large-scale photographs printed on felt are on display alongside her video works, waterc