Adam Macqueen's thriller, pianist Víkingur Ólafsson, a podcast masterclass and the amazing set of Treasure Island
Adam Macqueen talks to Kirsty about his debut novel, Beneath the Streets, a counterfactual thriller set in London in the 1970s which imagines what might have happened had Liberal politician Jeremy Thorpe successfully arranged the murder of his ex-lover Norman Scott. The story, the historic version of which was recently dramatized by Russell T. Davies for television, features a cast of real-life characters including Prime Minister Harold Wilson, his senior adviser Lady Falkender, gay Labour peer Tom Driberg and the investigative journalist Paul Foot. Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson is Front Row’s Artist in Residence during the lockdown, performing live for us each week on the concert grand in the empty Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik. Tonight he plays an enigmatic piece by the French 18th Century composer Rameau, called La Cupis. Bryony Shanahan is joint artistic director of the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. Dave Moutrey is Chief Executive at the venue HOME and Director of Culture for Manchester City Council. They talk about the challenges they face now their institutions are closed. What about their staff and their finances? Will things ever be the same again and what of their own working lives? What do they do, day to day, now? Last night the National Theatre streamed its popular production of Treasure Island and it is available, free, until next Thursday. When the show opened in the Olivier auditorium audiences were amazed by the set - it's a ship, a pub, a cave and a strange, pulsating island. And a pirate's corpse. It's impressive still on television. Kirsty talked to the designer, Lizzie Clachan on the set during a rehearsal just before the show opened, and we revisit this tonight. The Front Row Masterclass series continues. Amanda Litherland, presenter of 4 Extra’s Podcast Radio Hour and novelist and nature writer Melissa Harrison (who has just launched her own nature podcast The Stubborn Light Of Things) join Kirsty to talk about how to make your own podcast. The great American actor Brian Dennehy has died. His was a wide ranging career in films, on television and in the theatre. He was hailed for his performance as Willy Loman in the 50th anniversary production of Death of a Salesman, for which he won both a Tony and a Laurence Olivier Award. He spoke about his approach to this role in a programme called Playing the Salesman, and we hear some of his thoughts. Presenter: Kirsty Lang Producer: Julian May