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Drama of the Week
By BBC Radio 4
539
187
Every Friday we bring you a new drama from BBC Radio 4 or Radio 3. Exercise your imagination with some of the best writers and actors on radio. Storytelling at its very best.
Every Friday we bring you a new drama from BBC Radio 4 or Radio 3. Exercise your imagination with some of the best writers and actors on radio. Storytelling at its very best.
Summer by Edith Wharton
Episode in
Drama of the Week
Reader: Lydia Wilson
Writer: Edith Wharton was famous for her novels including The House of Mirth, Ethan Frome and The Age of Innocence, for which she became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, in 1921.
Abridger: Julian Wilkinson
Producer: Justine Willett
14:20
The Kiss
Episode in
Drama of the Week
Catrin is living the dream. A stolen weekend in Paris with her younger lover. So why is she struggling to enjoy herself? An original short story by Francesca Rhydderch, read by Carys Eleri.
Production Co-Ordinator.....Eleri Sydney McAuliffe
Sound Design.....Nigel Lewis
Producer......Ryan Hooper
A BBC Audio Wales production
14:29
Fran and Joe: Summer Fate
Episode in
Drama of the Week
Following on from World Book Date, Katie Redford picks up the story of Fran and Joe, two teachers who shared a kiss the night before the Nativity play in the first Fran and Joe Afternoon Drama, Christmas Wings. There is unfinished business between the two of them and the end of the Summer term is fast approaching but what will happen next. It's the Summer Fete and Fran and Joe are on the ice lolly stall, apt as there is a distinct chill in the air between the two.
Fran ..... Fiona Button
Joe ..... Nikesh Patel
Miss Pear ..... Joanna Monro
Amber ..... Lena Raymen
Directed by Tracey Neale
Christmas Wings, a drama set in the wings of a primary school Nativity play, told the story of two teachers, Fran and Joe, who have a heart to heart after exchanging a stolen kiss at the Christmas party the night before. It left the listeners rooting for Joe and Fran and they wanted to know what happened next.
We join Fran and Joe once more at another favourite annual event within the school calendar - the St Barnard's School Summer Fete. When we left them at the end of the second drama, World Book Date, they were still dressed as Princess Elsa from Frozen and The Toad of Toad Hall but their relationship had floundered through various bumps and misunderstandings but here they are three months later finding themselves together on the ice lolly stall with Miss Pear taking charge as the Head of Events. There are more warm, funny and poignant stories about love, loneliness and loss. Will Miss Pear leave school on time and will Fran and Joe kiss and make up?
The Writer:
Katie is a writer and actor from Nottingham. She is a BAFTA Rocliffe TV Comedy winner and writes for TV and Theatre. In addition to Christmas Wings and World Book Date her previous audio work was Yellow Lips for which she was nominated for the Richard Imison Best New Writer in the Audio Drama Awards.
The Cast:
Nikesh Patel, The Devil's Hour, Starstruck and The Critic.
Fiona Button, Trying, Out of her Mind and The Split.
Joanna Monro, Rosie in Mamma Mia (West End & International Tour) and the award winning audio drama series Home Front.
Production Team:
Producer & Director, Tracey Neale
Production Co-Ordinator, Ben Hollands
Technical Production, Keith Graham & Neva Missirian
44:35
Knock Knock by Kirsty Logan
Episode in
Drama of the Week
In Kirsty Logan’s new short work for Father's Day, Wilbur prepares to meet his dad for the very first time. But can he find the strength to face his fears?
Read by Jessica Hardwick
Producer Ellie Marsh
Kirsty Logan is an award winning novelist and short story writer. Her latest book, No & Other Love Stories, is a collection of dark love stories.
A BBC Audio Scotland Production for BBC Radio 4.
13:24
Shed
Episode in
Drama of the Week
Amber claims she needs a place to store her bikes and she and her dad, Jim, are long overdue a bonding experience.
What better way to finally get to know him than to spend a few weekends together in her garden building a shed from scratch, the old-fashioned way? It doesn't matter that they've barely spoken in 34 years. As long as they follow the instructions, what could possibly go wrong? But as the generation gap becomes a seismic shift, Amber and Jim's bonding experience soon descends into a furious battle of wills - one that threatens to damage relations between them forever.
An epic family drama in miniature filled with twists and turns, as the source of the tensions in Amber and Jim's relationship is gradually revealed. Ultimately, both will learn a valuable lesson: that there's no instruction manual for parenthood.
AMBER...................................Sacha Parkinson
JIM..............................................Pearce Quigley
CHARLIE....................................Nico Mirallegro
SUNITA......................................Lauren Patel
NARRATOR/ KEITH..............Jonathan Keeble
Written by Paolo Chianta
Sound design by Sharon Hughes
Production Co-ordinator Pippa Day
Producer/ Director Lorna Newman
A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4
44:40
Shakedowns in Hyperspace
Episode in
Drama of the Week
The first in a darkly comic new series about women and space, from the award-winning author Naomi Wood, written for BBC Radio 4,
From disassociating astronauts to zero-gravity threesomes, explorations of nothingness to space lust and Pokemon hunts, this brilliantly original series with a feminist twist is a savagely funny take on the near future of women and space.
Today: It's 2034 , and on a mission to mine valuable minerals, one astronaut's struggle with reality puts her team at risk...
Find all 5 episode on BBC Sounds.
Reader: Julianna Jennings
Writer: Naomi Wood is the author of three novels, including the award-winning Mrs Hemingway, and a short story collection, This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things. She won the BBC National Short Story Award.
Producer: Justine Willett
14:36
Safe From Harm
Episode in
Drama of the Week
Thought-provoking winning drama by the inaugural Wales Writer in Residence award winner Rhiannon Boyle.
Safe From Harm tells the frank and powerful story of Alys, a teacher and mother whose life unravels when a colleague is arrested for possessing indecent images of children. Unable to cope, Alys contacts a celibate paedophile in an attempt to better understand the danger they pose. Her primal urge to forever protect her children becomes so all consuming Alys slowly loses her grip on reality. Sian Reece-Williams (Hidden, Emerdale) plays Alys.
The Wales Writer in Residence is a prestigious scheme, aimed at furthering a writer’s career across stage, sound and screen. It is a partnership between BBC Cymru Wales and National Theatre Wales, along with BBC Writersroom Wales, with the intention of supporting new writing talent.
Alys ….. Sian Reece-Williams
Christian ….. Oliver Ryan
Ianto ….. Sion Pritchard
Mum ….. Rhian Morgan
Tyler ….. Alfie Ford
Taya ….. Nerys Stocks
Kyden ….. Iolo Reynolds
Sound design was by Catherine Robinson
Safe From Harm was a BBC Writersroom Wales production
Directed by Helen Perry
44:32
Devils
Episode in
Drama of the Week
Gary Lilburn, Jane Whittenshaw , Georgia Henshaw and Jonathan Forbes star in Dostoevsky’s unsettling tale of revolution and betrayal. After years away from home, Nicholai Stavrogin returns to his old home town bringing with him the radical ‘free-thinkers’ of Petersburg, hell-bent on causing civil unrest. Dramatised by Melissa Murray.
Stepan ..... Gary Lilburn
Mrs Stavrogina ..... Jane Whittenshaw
Nicholai ..... Joseph Arkley
Pyotr ..... Jonathan Forbes
Darya ..... Charlotte East
Virginsky ..... Ian Dunnett Jr
Krillov ..... Hasan Dixon
Shatov ..... Stefan Adegbola
Lisa ..... Cecilia Appiah
Marya ..... Georgia Henshaw
Written by Melissa Murray
Directed by Carl Prekopp
Produced by Marc Beeby and Anne Isger
56:17
The Give and Take
Episode in
Drama of the Week
On a quiet riverbank a boy meets a stranger going through a rough patch, as the two keep tabs on a controversial rewilding project.
Written by Linda Cracknell
Read by Andy Clark
Producer: Eilidh McCreadie
Linda Cracknell is a writer of fiction, narrative non-fiction and radio drama. Her work often combines travel and writing with a particular interest in landscapes, place and memory. Publications include essay collection and Radio 4 Book of the Week, "Doubling Back" and fiction "Call of the Undertow" and "The Other Side of Stone".
14:18
Blue Circle
Episode in
Drama of the Week
Two days after the worst break-up of her life, a council registrar has to officiate a wedding. A wedding unlike any she's ever been to.
An original short story for radio by Charlotte Runcie, author of Salt on Your Tongue: Women and the Sea, and of a new novel, Bring the House Down.
Writer: Charlotte Runcie
Reader: Bettrys Jones
Producer: Mair Bosworth
A BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4
14:38
All Change at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
Episode in
Drama of the Week
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch train station. North Wales.
Enid’s dead husband Oscar was famed for his quirky train announcements at the station. When, overnight, his recordings are replaced with automated announcements, Enid and 18-year-old station cafe assistant, Cadi, start a quiet protest, that soon becomes a lot louder...
All Change at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is a comedy drama by Neil Williams (Good Morning, Yvette’s Nan, Radio 4), starring Siw Hughes and Angharad Phillips.
Enid… Siw Hughes
Cadi…. Angharad Phillips
Wend… Lisa Zahra
Oscar…. Richard Elfyn
Cecil… Sion Pritchard
Dylan… Luke Bailey
Influencer/ Automated Train Announcer …. Kellie-Gwen Morgan
Automated Voice in Spanish... Maria Claudia Perrone
Writer… Neil Williams
Sound Designer… Nigel Lewis
Production Co-ordinator… Eleri McAuliffe
Director/Producer…. Fay Lomas
A BBC Audio Drama Wales Production.
44:08
The Film
Episode in
Drama of the Week
The Film by Martin Jameson
April 1945. A Ministry of Information army film crew enters Bergen-Belsen to record the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust that many were already refusing to believe. But faced with all this footage, the head of the unit - Sidney Bernstein, is overwhelmed. He needs to get a film out there as soon as possible, but how to do justice to such suffering? So he summons his friend Alfred Hitchcock from Hollywood. And Bernstein - who later establishes Granada Television - determines that together they can create an irrefutable cinematic testimony. Sidney Bernstein - Henry Goodman, Alfred Hitchcock - Jeremy Swift, Richard Crossman - Geoffrey Streatfeild, Mrs Haig - Fenella Woolgar, Secretary - Hamilton Berstock. Production Co-ordinator - Vicky Moseley, Sound Design - Sharon Hughes, Technical Producer - Peter Ringrose, Studio Manager - Alison Craig and Producer/ Director - Gary Brown.
A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4.
With grateful thanks to documentary film maker Jane Wells, daughter of Sidney Bernstein, who generously helped with the research for this drama.
57:15
Faith, Hope and Glory Series 5 - Joy and Hopeton
Episode in
Drama of the Week
By Rex Obano
1988. Margaret Thatcher is now in her third term as Prime Minister. Hopeton is lonely and frustrated, living at his friend's boxing gym while fighting to get Joy and his family back. Meanwhile Joy is fighting to build a new life with Dhiren, combining their differing cultures. Can both of them succeed in getting their life back?
Joy ..... Cherrelle Skeete
Hopeton ..... Solomon Israel
Dhiren Patel ..... Vikash Bhai
Duke/Waiter ..... David Webber
Glory ..... Trinity Benjamin
Gujarati woman/Customer ..... Chetna Pandya
Job Centre Assistant/Boxer/Store Manager ..... Lloyd Thomas
Production Co-ordinators are Maggie Olgiati and Jenny Mendez
Produced by Pat Cumper
Directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike
A BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Radio 4
*****
Faith, Hope and Glory began following the lives of Hope, Faith (Eunice) and Gloria in the UK in 1946. Three generations of three families bound together by the fate of one baby lost and found on Tilbury Dock. All three are now settled in their lives in 1980s Britain.
We have reached the late 1980s. A new generation of Black Britons is gaining in confidence and and seizing their place in Thatcher’s Britain, making their mark on the political, social, and creative fabric of their home and forming new bonds with other. Joy has married Dhiren and is adapting to his religion and way of life as he takes steps into hers to create a blended family. Joy’s ex-husband, Hopeton, is desperate not to let that happen.
44:12
Shandyland
Episode in
Drama of the Week
By Gareth Farr
On Christmas Eve 2002, a girl is born in a seemingly ordinary family-run Northern pub. That baby is Amy and from the moment of her birth the fate of the pub is inextricably linked with her own. Cracks that have always existed break wide open and as she grows, the foundations of this legendary local pub start to shake.
Narrated by Amy, through intimate and lyrical language, we are guided through the first twenty-one years of her life to a point where she alone must decide the future of those closest to her.
Sally . . . . . Siobhan Finneran
Amy . . . . . Sophie Cox
Brendan . . . . . Pearce Quigley
Karen . . . . . Leah Brotherhead
Mark . . . . . Matthew Durkan
Jack . . . . . David Hounslow
Younger Amy . . . . . Maddie Evans
Even Younger Amy . . . . . Miriam Mitic
Sound design: Peter Ringrose
Production coordinator: Gaelan Connolly-Davis
Director: Sasha Yevtushenko
Gareth Farr is an award-winning playwright. He started work as an actor, working at the Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Court and West End as well at several regional theatres and on many TV roles. Gareth’s first stage play Britannia Waves the Rules (Manchester Royal Exchange) won a judge’s award at the Bruntwood Prize for Playwrighting. His other works include The Quiet House (Birmingham Rep Theatre and Park Theatre London), Biscuits For Breakfast (Hampstead Theatre) and A Child of Science (Bristol Old Vic – nominated for Best New Play at UK Theatre Awards 2024.). Shandyland started life as a stage play but was cancelled during rehearsals due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was shortlisted for the George Devine Award in 2021.
44:35
Well
Episode in
Drama of the Week
An AI wellness app observes its user, encouraging her on daily runs and healthy shopping trips.
But when does ‘wellness’ become too much?
A new short story by award-winning Manon Steffan Ros (writer of The Blue Book of Nebo), read by Kezrena James, produced by Fay Lomas.
14:54
Undercover: The Fury - Episode 1
Episode in
Drama of the Week
Distant football chants, a heart pounding with adrenalin, a violent fight between rival gangs. A desperate young woman makes a call to emergency services, there has been a stabbing. Somewhere close by in another street, another man is landing blows on a lad in a rival football firm. Welcome to The Fury.
But this man is an undercover officer, and this won’t be the last time he has to put himself in danger to prove himself. He has been sent in to gain intelligence on the movements and plans of The Fury. An unlikely member of The Fury is Bethany, a tough nut, a survivor. She was the young woman on the call to emergency and it was her brother Callum that lay dying at her feet. As a result of this fresh murder, violence between the rival gangs is expected to escalate and the undercover operation is under threat. But how can our undercover officer leave now when he is at the heart of The Fury and then there is the question of saving Bethany….will he manage to get to the truth without risking his own safety and that of the people he loves?
JASON ..... Tachia Newall
BETHANY ..... Lauren-Nicole Mayes
MIKEY ..... Joe Gill
REECE ..... Hamish Rush
SADIE ..... Sacha Parkinson
LEO ..... Alfie Corbett
DI KANE ..... Krissi Bohn
DCI RICHARDS ..... Jason Done
EMERGENCY CALL HANDLER .... Dionne Hunter
BARWOMAN ..... Aimée Uwera
RIVAL FIRM MEMBER ..... Louis Brown
RIVAL FIRM MEMBER ..... Darren McColl
POLICE OFFICERS ..... Ethan Cale, Daniel Fitzpatrick
FOOTBALL FANS: Students from Burnley College: Andrew Jennings, Artur Karlovec, Chloe Conway, Daisy Whittam, Daniel Fisk, Gemma Henderson, Jack Dobbie, Jemima Olaiya, Joseph Butterworth, Kaja Stefaniak, Kenny Conroy-Hargreaves, Kye Jones, Lauren Haigh, Leah Rowley, Marianna Morante, Maxwell Hopkinson, Rebecca Timms, Tom Capstick, Vincent Harper
Written by Rachel Smith
Produced and Directed by Nadia Molinari
Sound Design and Technical Production by Sharon Hughes
Assistant Technical Producer Amy Brennan
Production co-ordinator, Lorna Newman
Script Consultant Russell Lane
A BBC STUDIOS AUDIO PRODUCTION FOR BBC RADIO 4
44:42
Margaret White And The Alcoran of Mahomet
Episode in
Drama of the Week
1649 was a significant year in British History because King Charles I was executed for treason. A lesser known, but arguably equally important, historical moment occurred in that same year: the first publication of the Qu'ran in English. Surprisingly, it was instigated by an English woman, called Margaret White, who was the wife of a printer called Robert based in Fleet Street, London.
Based on historical research, this drama imagines the circumstances as to how the Qu'ran came to be first published in the English language.
Cast:
Margaret ......... Erin Shanagher
Ayesha ..................Laila Alj
Robert ...................Graeme Hawley
Nicholas ............ Jon-Paul Bell
Sergeant ............ Hamilton Berstock
Production Co-ordinator - Pippa Day
Studio Manager- Amy Brennan
Sound Designer- Sharon Hughes
Producer/Director- Jessica Mitic
With thanks to Professor Suzanne Trill, the Arab British Centre and Dr Johnson’s House Museum
Historical consultant-Professor Matthew Birchwood
A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4.
43:58
A Tale of Two Trumpets
Episode in
Drama of the Week
By Sylvia-Anne Parker.
A music-fuelled drama set in the court of Henry VIII and playfully inspired by the life of Black Tudor and royal trumpeter - John Blanke.
When Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII lose a child, the King prepares a celebration of the baby prince’s life and calls in the trailblazing trumpeter John Blanke to help him…
And when John sees an opportunity to also help Henry VIII's private passions, little does he know that his timely intervention will change the course of history in more ways than one…
Cast:
John … Nicholas Pinnock with Bryon Wallen on trumpet
Henry VIII … Rory Kinnear with Jacob Heringman on lute
Dominic … Harry Lloyd with David McCallum on trumpet
Harriet … Ayesha Antoine
Femi and Compton …Yinka Awoni
Catherine … Ruth Everett
Studio Production: Alison Craig and Mike Etherden
Production Co-ordinator: Rosalind Gibson
Sound Design: Fraser Jackson.
Directed by Kirsty Williams
The writer dedicates this production to the memory of her audio drama mentor, Oliver Emanuel.
44:28
Endless Second
Episode in
Drama of the Week
by Theo Toksvig-Stewart.
Unflinching drama about consent. Two students fall in love, but one drunken evening changes everything.
Starring Sam Otto (The State, Snowpiercer) and Louisa Harland (Derry Girls).
M ..... Sam Otto
W ..... Louisa Harland
Technical Producer ..... Martha Littlehailes
Technical Producer ..... Alison Craig
Technical Producer ..... Anne Bunting
Technical Producer ..... Mike Etherden
Production Co-ordinator ..... Gaelan Connolly
Writer ..... Theo Toksvig-Stewart
Director ..... Abigail le Fleming
THE PLAY
Endless Second was originally produced by Cut the Cord Theatre and directed by Camilla Gütler, starring Madeleine Gray alongside Theo Toksvig-Stewart. It opened at Theatre503 before transferring to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2019 where it was shortlisted for the Holden Street Theatre Award and the Sit Up Award. The play then transferred to the Park Theatre and Pleasance Islington as part of their 'Best of the Fringe' seasons.
THE WRITER
Theo is a dyslexic writer and actor based in London. He was part of the BBC Writersroom Drama Room 2019/2020 and the Minack Emerging Playwrights Programme 2021. He was most recently commissioned by Applause as a South East Writer in residence. In 2020, he was commissioned by Warts and All Theatre to write an adaptation of Robyn Hood, developed with children in care in Wellingborough. His first play, An Opera from the East, was produced at Drama Centre London.
The proud son of lesbian parents, Theo is developing a number of television projects including a show based on his 'unconventional' uprbinging.
44:34
This Thing of Darkness
Episode in
Drama of the Week
by Frances Poet with monologues by Eileen Horne.
Part One – A Dangerous Animal
Dr Alex Bridges is an expert forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist, assessing and treating perpetrators of serious crime.
This gripping drama explores the psychological impact of murder on teenage perpetrators and follows the fortunes of participants in a Long Sentence therapy group.
Has Dr Bridges made a mistake in putting co-offenders together in Group therapy?
Dr Alex Bridges ….. Lolita Chakrabarti
Anthony ….. Lorn Macdonald
Finn ….. Reuben Joseph
Twitch …. Brian Ferguson
Simon ….. Shaun Mason
Donna ….. Karen Bartke
Mental Health Nurse ….. Elysia Welch
Sound Design: Fraser Jackson
Series Consultant: Dr Gwen Adshead
Series format created by Lucia Haynes, Audrey Gillan, Eileen Horne, Gaynor Macfarlane, Anita Vettesse and Kirsty Williams.
Thanks to Victoria Byrne, Barlinnie Prison, Vox Liminis Distant Voices Project and Prof Fergus McNeill.
Produced by Gaynor Macfarlane and Kirsty Williams
A BBC Scotland Production directed by Gaynor Macfarlane and Kirsty Williams
44:31
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