The Strand - Thursday 7th May 2009

Your daily journey into global arts, culture and entertainment, with Rajan Datar.

Colm Toibin
The Irish writer Colm Toibin has been garlanded with prizes and praise since he began writing in the 1990s. On The Strand he discusses his latest novel Brooklyn, a moving story of duty, love and the pain of emigration.

Beirut Dance
Across the Arab speaking world a generation of artists is emerging who seek to express themselves through contemporary dance. Over the last week the Beirut International Platform of Dance, or BIPOD, has held a series of discussions about issues facing dancers from the Arab world. The Strand was there.

Coraline
The biggest ever stop motion animation is released this week. 50 sets, 40 animators, 5 miles of gold thread for each tiny puppet wig, it's the release of the adaptation of the children's book Coraline. We hear from the book's writer Neil Gaiman who tells us what he thinks of his Hollywood makeover.