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John Hannah, Vicky Featherstone and Lee Hall, Playing Nina Simone

Arts news. John Hannah on his return to the Scottish stage, Lee Hall and Vicky Featherstone on Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, and two performers discuss playing Nina Simone.

Kirsty Lang from the Edinburgh Festivals with director Vicky Featherstone and Billy Elliot author Lee Hall. They discuss their new production, Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, which follows group of Catholic schoolgirls on a school choir trip that gets out of control.

Viv Groskop reviews Gemma Bovery, a film based on the graphic novel by Posey Simmonds. Loosely based on Flaubert's Madame Bovary, it starts Gemma Arterton as an English woman who moves to rural France and attracts the attention of the local men.

John Hannah, best known for his roles in Four Weddings and a Funeral and Sliding Doors, is appearing on the Scottish stage for the first time in 25 years. He discusses his role in The Titanic Orchestra, an absurdist work by Bulgarian playwright Hristo Boytchev.

Two shows at this year's Edinburgh Festival are based on the life and civil rights activism of Nina Simone. Ruth Rogers-Wright and Apphia Campbell discuss the challenges of playing Nina Simone on stage and recreating her unique voice.

Presenter: Kirsty Lang
Producer: Ellie Bury.

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30 minutes

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Vicky Featherstone and Lee Hall

Vicky Featherstone and Lee Hall
Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour is playing at the National Theatre of Scotland until 30 August and then goes on tour.

Gemma Bovery

Gemma Bovery
Gemma Bovery is released on Friday 21 August, certificate 15.

John Hannah

John Hannah
The Titanic Orchestra is playing at the Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh until 31 August.

Playing Nina Simone

Playing Nina Simone

Nina Simone: Soul Sessions is playing at Assembly Checkpoint, Edinburgh until 30 August.

Black is the Colour of My Voice is playing at The Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh until 30 August.

Images: Robert Parnaff and Josh Tinter

Credits

RoleContributor
PresenterKirsty Lang
Interviewed GuestVicky Featherstone
Interviewed GuestLee Hall
Interviewed GuestJohn Hannah
Interviewed GuestViv Groskop
Interviewed GuestRuth Rogers-Wright
Interviewed GuestApphia Campbell
ProducerEllie Bury

Broadcast

  • Wed 19 Aug 201519:15

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