Jeff Wayne; The Orphan of Zhao episode artwork

EPISODE · Nov 9, 2012 · 28 MIN

Jeff Wayne; The Orphan of Zhao

from Front Row: Archive 2012 · host BBC Radio 4

With Kirsty Lang.Jeff Wayne has made a new version of his 1978 hit album The War Of The Worlds, now starring Liam Neeson as the narrator, stepping into Richard Burton's shoes - with Ricky Wilson, Gary Barlow and Joss Stone taking on the roles sung originally by David Essex, Justin Hayward and Julie Covington. Jeff Wayne reflects on the original appeal of HG Wells' story, and the aspects of the show he has now changed.Gregory Doran's first production since taking over as Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company is a Chinese play called The Orphan of Zhao - which dates from 4th Century BC and has been described as the Chinese Hamlet. The production generated some debate, covered on Front Row, as the cast includes few Asian actors. Front Row sent critic Andrew Dickson to see the play, as it takes to the stage.Crime Stories is a new daily TV drama, which follows two detectives as they spend their day in a police station talking to witnesses and suspects connected to a particular crime. The dialogue is part-improvised, and one of officers is played by a retired real-life policewoman, making her acting debut. Crime writer NJ Cooper reviews.Five pianos - stripped bare and hanging above pools of water - play themselves while the voices of people such as William S Burroughs and Malcolm X echo within a vast concrete hall. This is Stifter's Dinge, a composition by German composer Heiner Goebbels, inspired by the Austrian author, painter, and poet Adalbert Stifter. Jeremy Summerly of the Royal Academy Of Music shares his impressions of his encounter with the work.Producer Rebecca Nicholson.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Nov 9, 2012

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

Jeff Wayne; The Orphan of Zhao

0:00 28:31

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Front Row: Archive 2012?

This episode is 28 minutes long.

When was this Front Row: Archive 2012 episode published?

This episode was published on November 9, 2012.

Can I download this Front Row: Archive 2012 episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!