Giles Terera, Chi-chi Nwanoku, The 2021 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Reviewing Another Round

Actor Giles Terera tells us about his new book Hamilton and Me: an Actor’s Journal, his inside account of preparing for, rehearsing and performing in the West End production of the smash hit musical, Hamilton, in which Terera played Hamilton’s rival and, ultimately, killer Aaron Burr.

George Bridgetower was a mixed-race violin virtuoso, patronised by royalty, a pupil of Haydn and friend of Beethoven - who was so inspired by Bridgetower that he wrote one of his greatest pieces for him - the Sonata Op.47, which is now known as the Kreutzer Sonata. In a new documentary, Chi-chi Nwanoku, finds out more about Bridgetower's life, and campaigns to rename Beethoven's work to the Bridgetower Sonata.

In June Shona McCarthy, the Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, spoke to Kirsty Lang on Front Row about the prospects for the Fringe in this pandemic year. Tickets went on sale yesterday and Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman newspaper’s theatre critic and political columnist, is Kirsty’s guest to explain what is on offer, what help the Fringe has had from the Scottish Government and the adjustments it has made so it remains a vital cultural celebration in these difficult times.

Film critics Tim Robey and Amon Warmann join us to review the Danish film Another Round, the winner of this year’s Best Foreign Language Oscar. Directed by Thomas Vinterberg and starring Mads Mikkelsen it’s about four teachers who decide to test a theory that maintaining a constant blood alcohol level will improve their lives. In the beginning it makes them more gregarious and seems to enhance their personal and professional lives but their subsequent decision to go beyond moderate inebriation makes everything far more complicated.