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Lenny Henry, Al Pacino in Danny Collins, Eileen Cooper, Library thefts

Lenny Henry discusses becoming a writer, Antonia Quirke reviews Al Pacino in Danny Collins, Eileen Cooper on her new exhibition at the Royal Academy, and thefts from UK libraries.

John Wilson meets Lenny Henry, who is having a busy year. For his new role in the third series of Kay Mellor's drama about the impact of winning the lottery - The Syndicate - he's had to stretch his acting muscles as he's taken on the part of a person with Asperger's Syndrome. He's preparing to appear in a new theatre production of Educating Rita, and the casting of Danny and the Human Zoo, the 90-minute drama he's written about his teenage years in 1970s Dudley, has just been announced.

Al Pacino returns to the big screen in Danny Collins, playing an ageing rock star whose life changes when he is given a letter written to him by John Lennon many years earlier, which he never received. Antonia Quirke reviews the film in which Pacino stars alongside Annette Bening and Christopher Plummer.

Artist Eileen Cooper, the first woman to be elected Keeper at the Royal Academy of Arts, discusses her new exhibition, Hide and Seek, and talks about the position of women in the art world.

The theft of rare books, maps and manuscripts from heritage libraries around the world is on the rise. Next month a British Library conference brings together experts to advise libraries on the problem and how to stop further vandalism. John Wilson speaks to art recovery expert Chris Marinello about how library thieves operate and what can be done to stop them.

Presenter John Wilson
Producer: Julian May.

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30 minutes

Lenny Henry

Lenny Henry

John Wilson meets Lenny Henry.

Photo: Jack Lawson

Eileen Cooper, RA

Eileen Cooper, RA

John talks to Eileen Cooper about her new exhibition at the Royal Academy.

Hide and Seek: Drawings by Eileen Cooper RA is showing at the Royal Academy, London from 29 May to 23 August 2015.

Danny Collins

Danny Collins

Antonia Quirke reviews Al Pacino's screen return in Danny Collins.

Danny Collins is released on Friday 29 May.

Art theft

Art theft

Front Row looks at the rise in theft of rare books, maps and manuscripts from heritage libraries around the world.

Image courtesey of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter John Wilson
Interviewed Guest Lenny Henry
Interviewed Guest Antonia Quirke
Interviewed Guest Eileen Cooper
Interviewed Guest Chris Marinello
Producer Julian May

Broadcast

  • Wed 27 May 2015 19:15

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