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Vanessa Redgrave, Imperium, French African artefacts, Sally Rooney

Vanessa Redgrave on receiving the Richard Harris Award; Robert Harris's Cicero trilogy brought to the stage; the repatriation of French African artefacts; Sally Rooney.

Vanessa Redgrave has just been awarded the Richard Harris Award which is given to an actor for their outstanding contribution to British film. She talks to Stig about her long career in cinema and theatre.

Imperium is the Royal Shakespeare Company's new six-hour production which looks at power politics in ancient Rome, which is based on Robert Harris's bestselling Cicero trilogy. The writer and classical historian Natalie Haynes has seen the production and gives her verdict.

French president Emmanuel Macron has called for African artefacts currently held in French museums to be returned to their countries of origin. Cultural historian Andrew Hussey discusses the reaction in France, the practicalities of such a pledge, and what pressure it might put on museums in Britain.

The Irish writer Sally Rooney has just been awarded The 2017 Sunday Times/Peters Fraser + Dunlop Young Writer of the Year Award for Conversations With Friends. The 26-year-old's debut novel has become a critical and word-of-mouth hit this year, acclaimed as fresh and clever. She talks to Stig about the book and what the win means to her.

Presenter Stig Abell
Producer Jerome Weatherald.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • Vanessa Redgrave

    Duration: 11:15

  • French African Artefacts

    Duration: 05:18

  • Imperium

    Duration: 05:01

  • Sally Rooney

    Duration: 05:39

Imperium

Imperium

Image: Richard McCabe as Cicero
Credit: Ikin Yum/RSC

Imperium runs at the RSC鈥檚 Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon until 10 February 2018

Sally Rooney

Sally Rooney

Image: Sally Rooney
Credit:聽Jonny l Davies

Conversations with Friends, published by聽Faber & Faber is available now. Winner of this year鈥檚 .

Credits

Role Contributor
Interviewed Guest Vanessa Redgrave
Interviewed Guest Natalie Haynes
Interviewed Guest Andrew Hussey
Interviewed Guest Sally Rooney
Presenter Stig Abell
Producer Jerome Weatherald

Broadcast

  • Fri 8 Dec 2017 19:15

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