Main content

The A Word, Neil LaBute, Remembering Barry Hines, Ottessa Moshfegh

Arts news with Kirsty Lang, including Peter Bowker, writer of The A Word, Neil LaBute on Reasons to Be Happy and Ian McMillian remembering Barry Hines.

The A Word is a six-part drama on 麻豆社 One that portrays a family coming to terms with their son being diagnosed as autistic. Its writer Peter Bowker joins us in the studio.

Four years after breaking up Steph and Greg think they might get together again. Trouble is, she's married to someone else, and he's taken up with her best friend. Kirsty talks to playwright Neil LaBute about 'Reasons to be Happy', the second in his trilogy about these characters, and to director Michael Attenborough, about staging this very American work in Britain.

The death was announced yesterday of the writer Barry Hines. The poet Ian McMillan used to work in the office next door to the one he wrote in and Barry used to try dialogue out on him. McMillan tells Kirsty about the example Hines set him, and the importance of this northern writer's work, which was far from confined to Kes.

Ottessa Moshfegh is a novelist from Boston whose thriller, Eileen, has had rave reviews in the US and has already been optioned by film producer Scott Rudin who made Gone Girl. Kirsty Lang talks to the debut novelist about her book and the hype surrounding it.

Presenter: Kirsty Lang
Producer: Rebecca Armstrong.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • The A Word

    Duration: 08:16

  • Remembering Barry Hines

    Duration: 05:19

  • Neil LaBute

    Duration: 07:45

  • Ottessa Moshfegh

    Duration: 06:33

The A Word

The A Word

The starts on 麻豆社 1 on聽22nd March at 9.00pm, and will be on the 麻豆社 iPlayer.

Main Image:聽 Joe Hughes played by Max Vento.

Left: Maurice Scott (Christopher Ecclestone), Alison Hughes (Morven Christie), Joe Hughes (Max Vento).

Image credit for both pictures: 麻豆社/Fifty Fathoms

Neil LaBute

Neil LaBute

is at聽The Hampstead Theatre, London from 17 March - 16 April.

Picture: Robyn Addison (Carly), Warren Brown (Kent) and Michael Attenborough (Director)聽 rehearsing Reasons to be Happy.

Image credit: Manuel Harlan

Remembering Barry Hines

Remembering Barry Hines
Front Row pays tribute to the late writer, Barry Hines.

Ottessa Moshfegh

Ottessa Moshfegh

Ottessa Moshfegh's book, 聽is published by Penguin Press

Image: Ottessa Moshfegh

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Kirsty Lang
Interviewed Guest Peter Bowker
Interviewed Guest Neil LaBute
Interviewed Guest Ian McMillan
Interviewed Guest Ottessa Moshfegh
Producer Rebecca Armstrong

Broadcast

  • Mon 21 Mar 2016 19:15

麻豆社 Arts Digital

The best of British culture live and on demand.

Inspire

Inspire

A season discovering where artists find inspiration and helping listeners get creative.

Podcast