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Kwame Kwei-Armah

The actor, playwright and director Kwame Kwei-Armah joins Kirsty Young to choose his Desert Island discs.

Kirsty Young's castaway is the actor, director and playwright, Kwame Kwei-Armah.

His creative output spans both high art and popular culture. He became a household name starring in Â鶹ÊÓƵAV One's Casualty, but at the same time he was pursuing a career in writing and his award-winning plays have been staged at the National Theatre. He's just finished a stint as the artistic director of The World Festival of Black Arts in Senegal and his next posting is to the US, where he's taking over a theatre in Baltimore. Throughout his life, he says, he continues to be inspired by the joyful atmosphere he grew up in. "My home was so warm, so full of life and noise. Most of my theatre I call the theatre of my front room. My memory was just this citadel to love and joy."

Record: Fight the Power
Book: The complete works of August Wilson
Luxury: A basic word processor

Producer: Leanne Buckle.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 20 May 2011 09:00
Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Lord Kitchener

    Sugar Bum Bum

    Composer: Lord Kitchener

    • Klassic Kitchener 3.
    • Ice Record.

  • Marvin Gaye

    What's Going On?

    Composer: Benson/Cleveland/Gaye

    • The Number One Motown Album.
    • POLYDOR.

  • Stevie Wonder

    Superwoman

    Artist: Stevie Wonder

    • Original Musiquarium Vol 1.
    • MOTOWN.

  • Bob Marley

    So Much Trouble in the World

    Artist: Bob Marley

    • Rebel Music.
    • Island.

  • Ijahman Levi

    I’m a Levi

    Artist: I Jah Man

    • I Jah Man.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Public Enemy

      Fight the Power

      Composer: Public Enemy

      • Do The Right Thing.
      • WHITELABEL.

  • Donnie McClurkin

    We Fall Down

    Composer: Kyle Matthews

    • The Essential Donnie McClurkin.
    • ZOMBA.

  • Earth, Wind & Fire

    ¸é³Ü²Ô²Ô¾±²Ô’

    Composer: M White; L Dunn; E Del Barrio

    • Earth, Wind & Fire: All 'N' All.
    • COLUMBIA.

  • Book Choice

    • The complete works of August Wilson - August Wilson

  • Luxury Choice

    • A basic word processor

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Kwame Kwei-Armah

Broadcasts

  • Sun 15 May 2011 11:15
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4
  • Fri 20 May 2011 09:00
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4

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