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Kwame Kwei-Armah

Playwright and artistic director of London's Young Vic theatre Kwame Kwei-Armah shares some of the influences that have had a significant impact on his work.

Playwright and artistic director of London's Young Vic theatre Kwame Kwei-Armah shares some of the influences that have had a significant impact on his work.

Kwei-Armah pursued careers in music and acting, playing paramedic Finlay Newton in BBC One's Casualty, before finding success at a writer. His award-winning plays include Elmina's Kitchen and Statement of Regret, both staged at the National Theatre. He tells John Wilson about his early years at stage school, how seeing a production of Joe Turner's Come and Gone, by August Wilson, changed the way he saw what theatre could do, and how Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave set him on a different path.

29 minutes

Credits

RoleContributor
PresenterJohn Wilson
Interviewed GuestKwame Kwei-Armah
MusicHannah Peel
EditorRobin Keam
Series EditorTimothy Prosser
ProducerEdwina Pitman
DirectorMark Ward

Broadcasts

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Figures from the worlds of art and culture talk about their influences and inspirations.