sign in sign up
<<
Home , BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Scotland, Billy Connolly, Drama (BBC Radio 4), Gaynor Macfarlane, Kirsty Williams (drama)

BILLY CONNOLLY & star in The Quest Of Donal Q Christmas Day Drama on BBC Radio

radio dramanewsletter October | November | December

radio Welcome to the Newsletter | Black Butterfly

Welcome to the latest newsletter Black Butterfly from BBC Scotland Radio Drama Written and read by Mark Gatiss Slot: Radio 4 Extra On the following pages we have a fantastic range of drama Date: Monday 17th - Friday 21st October and readings from some of the best writers working Time: Repeated each day at 0630, 1330, 2030 and 0130 in radio, including Alexander McCall Smith, Donna Producer: Kirsteen Cameron Franceschild, , Robert Forrest, Philippa Gregory, Manda Scott and Andrew Grieg. Mark Gatiss reads the Writers are attracted to radio because it allows their further adventures of his imagination to take flight - it frees them to tell stories that dashing spy-hero Lucifer can take us across continents or through the centuries or Box. Set in the 1950s, straight to the of a hard-hitting contemporary drama. against the backdrop of seedy Soho, mysterious Our new season of drama and readings ranges from Istanbul and tropical the Botswana of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency to Jamaica, the tale opens 10th century Japan where Lieutenant Yukinari and Lady with Box in sombre Shonagan venture into bandit country in search of their mood, preparing to retire missing Emperor; or we can transport you to New York from his post as head of for Twelve Years, a set during the great blackouts the Secret Service. But the city experienced in 1965 and 1977. There are also things perk up mightily when he learns of new plays dealing with Scotland, past and present. Brian a dastardly plot to poison leading pillars Cox and Billy Connolly star in The Quest Of Donal Q, of the English establishment with a cruel a contemporary Scottish spin on the Cervantes classic, and deadly hallucinogenic drug, Black Don Quixote. The Strange Case Of The Man In the Butterfly. Velvet Jacket examines the life of the young Robert Louis Stevenson as he sets out to become a writer; Immaculate features a pregnant teenage girl who believes she is having a virgin birth; and in Happy Hour At The Hotel Death, two elderly couples attempt to spice up their marriages with surprising and wonderfully entertaining results. As you read through the Newsletter you will find further details on all these programmes, and much more besides. Missed something? Remember you can LISTEN AGAIN to all of our programmes for seven days after broadcast on Bruce Young via the following websites: Editor, Radio Drama .co.uk/radio3 bbc.co.uk/radio4 bbc.co.uk/radio4extra

radio drama newsletter Cover Image: The Quest of Donal Q bbc.co.uk/radioscotland The Mystery of the Hills | The Pillow Book: Series 4 | The Quest of Donal Q

The Mystery of the Hills Slot: Radio 4, Afternoon Readings Christmas Day Drama Date: 18th, 19th and 20th October The Quest of Donal Q Time: 1530 - 1545 By David Ashton Producer: Kirsteen Cameron Slot: Radio Scotland Drama Three stories commissioned to Date: 25th December mark the centenary of the birth Time: 1403 - 1500 of Sorley MacLean. The winner Producer: David Ian Neville of the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry, MacLean is regarded Based on the template of Don as the greatest Gaelic poet of Quixote, The Quest of Donal Q, the Twentieth Century, giving is the story of two rival brothers new literary standing to a language which at times seemed who journey through Scotland in close to extinction. Andrew Greig, Mairi MacLeod and search of a childhood sweetheart. Iain Finlay Macleod use to explore the impact of Specially written for and starring MacLean’s legacy. Brian Cox and Billy Connolly. DONAL (Billy Connolly) and The Pillow Book: Series 4 SANDY (Brian Cox) have been By Robert Forrest separated as kids in an orphanage. Donal adopted by a rich couple Slot: Radio 4, Women’s Hour Serial and taken off to grow up in sunny Dates: Monday 29th October - Friday 4th November California, Sandy never chosen and Time: 1045 - 1100 left to live all his life in not quite so Repeat: 1945 - 2000 sunny . Omnibus: Saturday 5th November @ 12.00 on Radio 4 Extra It’s ten years since the brothers last met and at that Producer: time they had a fierce falling out. Donal is back - turning up out of the blue at Sandy’s tobacconist shop, Lady Shonagon and Lieutenant Yukinari return for a new “Paterson’s Inferno”, to demand that his brother drop adventure in 10th century Japan. everything and travel on an urgent mission.

Yukinari is summoned to the Palace The Quest is to find a girl they were both in love with once more, but the Palace is still at the Orphanage: Jeanette, red haired, fair skinned and quiet. The young Emperor and beautiful. An ideal princess. Donal claims she has is missing. He has set forth into written to say that she’s in dire straits and needs a the wilds of Japan in search of knight in shining armour to come to her rescue. knowledge, and maybe even wisdom. And so begins a journey - a journey that will make or break both brothers as conflict breaks out between Inspired by the Pillow Book of past, present and future. the earliest recorded female writers, Sei Shonagon. The Strange Case of the Man in the Velvet Jacket | Moments Past | Immaculate

The Strange Case of Moments Past the Man in the Velvet Jacket By Robert Forrest. Original music composed by Iain Johnstone Slot: Radio 4, Afternoon Readings Date: 1st, 2nd and 3rd November Slot: Radio 3, Drama On 3 Time: 1530 - 1545 Date: Sunday 30th October Producer: Kirsteen Cameron Time: 2030 - 2150 Producer: David Ian Neville In this series of stories, leading historical authors write about a A drama exploring the demons, desires very particular moment in history. and ambitions that both drove and Philippa Gregory focuses on the life threatened to destroy 22 year-old and trial of Eleanor Cobham the Robert Louis Stevenson. unlucky Duchess of Gloucester, who married Duke Humphrey, uncle to Henry VI of A powerful and intriguing original play England, in 1428 and was accused of using to destroy by Robert Forrest based on Robert the king. Manda Scott looks back to 61AD and the final Louis Stevenson’s early life in battle of the Iceni tribe against the might of Rome. And as he was about to embark Orange Prize nominated author Ellen Feldman writes about on his journey as a writer. an agonising decision made by the young Eleanor Roosevelt (pictured) which had a major impact on world history. Set in 1873, the play focuses on Stevenson as a young man invigorated by the intellectual maelstrom that was still Immaculate challenging the way people saw and navigated the world of By Merryn Glover arts, science and politics following the Enlightenment. He may have been unsure of what his role in all this could be, Slot: Radio 4, Afternoon Play but it was the things he knew he had to reject - belief in Date: Wednesday 2nd November God, a career in law or engineering - that were creating Time: 1415 - 1500 turmoil in his own mind and heartache in his relationship Producer: David Ian Neville with his parents. And meanwhile his discovery of the female species was also pre-occupying his thoughts and emotions. A young girl from a troubled background insists she’s had an immaculate conception. Photo: Edinburgh City Libraries and www.capitalcollections.org.uk Lily is fifteen and has recently moved to Rowan Tree residential home from a Missed something? dysfunctional, chaotic family. When it is Remember you can LISTEN AGAIN to all of our programmes for seven days after broadcast on discovered that she is pregnant, she insists she’s a virgin. Naturally, no one believes her. The obvious suspect is her via the following websites: boyfriend, Jez, but he is furious and jealous because Lily bbc.co.uk/radio3 has always denied him sex. The GP, Karen, suspects abuse bbc.co.uk/radio4 and the pressure is on Rowan Tree director, Bev, to prove bbc.co.uk/radio4extra otherwise, as the conception occurred after Lily moved to bbc.co.uk/radioscotland the home. Lily, however, claims the father is God. The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency | The Alterer | Bar Mitzvah Boy | Ancient Greek

The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Bar Mitzvah Boy Written and dramatised by Alexander McCall Smith By Jack Rosenthal, adapted by Amy Rosenthal

Slot: Radio 4, Woman’s Hour Serial Slot: Radio 4, Saturday Play Date: Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th November Date: Saturday 12th November Time: 1415 - 1500 Time: 1430 - 1530 Producer: Producer: David Ian Neville

Precious Ramotswe is haunted by visions A dramatisation of Jack Rosenthal’s of her dear old white van. Charlie, award-winning play. one of Mr J.L.B. Matekoni’s apprentices has got a girl pregnant and, under At the tender age of thirteen Eliot pressure to marry her, has run away. Green is about to become a man Mma Ramotswe investigates a case of - in the Jewish religion at least. In synagogue, in front of rural jealousy in which cattle are being the whole congregation, he will read and sing in Hebrew poisoned and is it possible that wedding from the Torah - after a year of intensive tuition. Later bells may finally ring for Phuti Radiphuti he will enjoy receiving gifts from relatives and friends as and Grace Makutsi? he celebrates with them at his Bar Mitzvah party. All eyes are on Eliot as he is called up for his big moment!

This new version of Bar Mitzvah Boy is specially adapted The Alterer for radio by Jack’s daughter, the playwright Amy By Finlay Welsh Rosenthal.

Slot: Radio 4, Afternoon Play Date: Tuesday 8th November Time: 1415 - 1500 Producer: Kirsteen Cameron Ancient Greek By A magical drama set in 1790, in a Slot: Radio 4, Afternoon Play small community on the Scottish Date: Wednesday 30th November east coast. Watchmaker John Time: 1415 - 1500 Smith sits by his daughter’s sickbed, Producer: Lu Kemp watching for any sign that she’ll recover from a deep, feverish sleep. Sony nominated writer Oliver As the days pass, and in the absence Emanuel returns with a peculiarly of a solution from the local doctor, Smith settles upon a British ‘Greek tragedy’. The hero, desperate idea: to create a clockwork machine, an alterer, Alex, is an 18 year old school-boy, that will re-write time and return his daughter to him as a who would be bound for Cambridge hail and hearty young woman. University, if it were not for the fact that he has recently been vandalising school property in ancient Greek... McLevy | The Lamp | Down And Out In Auchangaish

McLevy The Lamp New four-part series by David Ashton By Linda Cracknell Starring Brian Cox and Siobhan Redmond Slot: Radio 4, Afternoon Play Slot: Radio 4, Afternoon Play Date: Wednesday 14th December Date: Time: 1415 - 1500 Tuesday 29th November: Ep 1 The Blue Gown Producer: Eilidh McCreadie Tuesday 6th December: Ep 2 Flesh And Blood Tuesday 13th December: Ep 3 A Fine Deception In a remote Perthshire library, Tuesday 20th December: Ep 4 The Last Illusion a Kenyan student watches as a Time: 1415 - 1500 woman removes her shoes and Producer: Bruce Young wades across the river at the point used centuries ago by the The popular Victorian detective library’s peasant borrowers. It’s series returns with four new the start of an unlikely friendship which will broaden the mysteries to challenge the horizons of both widow Elspeth and trainee librarian investigative skills of Inspector James Simon, and confirm the healing power of books. McLevy, including the unexplained sudden death of a poor seamstress, a hapless student accused of murdering a notorious money-lender, and in a two-part Down And Out In Auchangaish story a celebrated magician threatens to spirit away not By Donna Franceschild only a priceless diamond but the affections of McLevy’s Slot: Radio 4, Afternoon Play favourite bawdy-hoose keeper, Jean Brash. Meanwhile, to Date: Monday 19th December add to McLevy’s problems, Jean demands that he confront Time: 1415 - 1500 his feelings for her - which seem shrouded in a mystery Producer: beyond even the powers of the great detective. Cal’s about to turn eighteen and he’s sleeping rough. Ziggy keeps setting fire to his hotel. And Gino, the local chip- shop owner, wants to help everyone. Everyone except his wife, that is.

A comedy about the love that fire-fighting brings to a Missed something? remote Highland village. Remember you can LISTEN AGAIN to all of our programmes for seven days after broadcast on via the following websites: bbc.co.uk/radio3 bbc.co.uk/radio4 bbc.co.uk/radio4extra bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Twelve Years | Happy Hour at the Hotel Death | Between Hope and Central | Panic Patterns

Twelve Years Radio Scotland Plays By Alex Wood Between Hope and Glasgow Central Slot: Radio 4, Afternoon Play By Anneliese Mackintosh Date: Wednesday 18th January Slot: Radio Scotland Drama Time: 1415 - 1500 Date: Wednesday 14th December Producer: Lu Kemp Time: 1405 - 1433 Producer: Eilidh McCreadie Recorded on location in New York and set during the two city-wide black-outs Jack spends his weekends of ‘65 and ‘77, Twelve Years follows a crossing Britain by rail, couple as they journey together across mesmerised by the girl on the those black-outs - the first when the train Tannoy. Well, what would economic boom created an almost you do if your real-life partner party like atmosphere on the streets, had a voice that could shatter the second where the depression glass? , Paul meant wide-spread looting and fear. Young and Sally Reid star in a comedy about aural infidelity and overpriced sandwiches. Radio Scotland Plays Happy Hour at the Hotel Death And Another Chance to Hear... By Colin Hough Panic Patterns Slot: Radio Scotland Drama By Zoe Strachan and Louise Welsh Date: Wednesday 23rd November Time: 1405 - 1433 Slot: Radio Scotland, Drama Producer: Gaynor Macfarlane Date: Monday 19th December Time: 1405 - 1433 Seventy year old buddies Tam Producer: Gaynor Macfarlane and Boaby are under pressure An edgy contemporary thriller by from their overbearing wives two of Scotland’s best novelists. to inject a bit of spice into their lifeless, loveless marriages. Ornithologists Jacq and Fay are on The boys hatch a plan at the a remote island in the far north library computer. They tell of Scotland investigating sudden their wives that they have booked an “alternative” holiday changes in bird migration patterns. Fay believes these for a couple of couples looking for double-the-fun in changes signify apocalyptic disaster. Jacq thinks her younger lover is overreacting. But they were meant to the bedroom. The women agree to accompany their leave the island three days ago, the boat coming to pick husbands on an Alpine swingers break but Tam and Boaby them up still hasn’t arrived and their radio has been dead have booked them into the dodgy one star Hotel Dignitie for a week. Can they really be witnessing the fallout from and not, alas, the Dignitas hotel! the end of the world? And Another Chance to Hear...

This Solitary Bird Tea And Symmetry By Nick Thorpe By Stef Smith Slot: Radio Scotland, Drama Slot: Radio Scotland, Drama Date: Tuesday 20th December Date: Wednesday 21st December Time: 1405 - 1433 Time: 1405 - 1433 Producer: David Ian Neville Producer: Kirsteen Cameron Inspired by a true story the play charts the turbulent, New drama by award-winning young Scottish playwright funny and moving friendship of a journalist and a down- Stef Smith. and-out as they attempt to bridge Edinburgh’s social divide - and discover the flawed humanity they share. Retirement has unsettled Sylvia; her children have left home, her husband Kate is a young journalist starting is lost to the golf course. She’s begun work on a Scottish newspaper. Bill to question who she is if she isn’t a is a disenfranchised loner with an colleague, a mother, a wife... So, forty axe to grind. Their unlikely alliance years since they last saw each other, begins in simple self-interest: Bill Sylvia goes in search of her best friend wants the ear of a privileged insider, from school, hoping to find traces of while Kate sees a guide to the her young self. But, standing on her old underclass he hopes to document. friend’s doorstep, she receives some Neither is prepared for the intensity challenging . of their shared journey as they reach across Edinburgh’s dark social divide in search of the truth about one another. What is the dark secret that lies behind Bill’s disfiguring bruises - or his desperate religious certainties? Unknown Grand to Kate, time is running out for her chaotic friend - and By Robert Forrest instead of an article, she is destined to deliver Bill’s Slot: Radio Scotland Drama funeral address. Date: Thursday 22nd December Time: 1405 - 1433 radio Producer: Eilidh McCreadie drama What sort of place is the new Scotland and how on earth did we end up here? Social media, joyriding and country music collide as a man searches for answers amongst the wreckage of his broken family. radio drama BBC Scotland Radio Drama, Zone 4.02, 40 , Glasgow G51 1DA Designed by Pocapoc Creative www.bbc.co.uk/radio www.pocapoc.co.uk