Front Row - 06/08/2008

Presented by John Wilson. Including: Writer and academic Jerry Brotton reviews the RSC's new production of Hamlet, with David Tennant in the title role. In his collection of autobiographical short stories Tales From the Back Green, actor Bill Paterson reflects on his childhood and youth, growing up in a tenement block in Glasgow in the 1950s. He discusses the characters, stories and the changing face of Glasgow after the wrecking balls moved in. Winner of the Golden Bear at this year's Berlin Film Festival, Tropa de Elite (Elite Squad) is a stark portrayal of the urban war raging in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. The film illustrates how the violence of fighting drug traffickers leads to corruption and vigilantism amongst the city's police. Adrian Wootton reviews the film. A new TV series follows eight celebrities competing to conduct the BBC Concert Orchestra on the Last Night of the Proms. John talks to participants Jane Asher and Peter Snow.