BBC Radio International Drama Catalogue Contents
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BBC Radio International Drama Catalogue Whether its crime, romance, thriller, horror, science fiction or comedy … Radio International brings you the best of the BBC’s world class radio drama with high quality productions to suit every taste. Take a look at the superb adaptations of everything from well-known iconic classics and bestsellers, like Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories about Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie’s murder mysteries with Hercule Poirot, through a wealth of new works commissioned specially for radio - with both one-off dramas and serials to keep your audience wanting more. Have a question or want to know more about a specific genre or programme? Contact: Larissa Abid, Ana Bastos or Laura Lawrence for more details. Contents New this month – September 2021 ............................................................................................................................. 2 Classic Novel Adaptations ............................................................................................................................................ 3 Historical ........................................................................................................................................................................ 14 Adventure ...................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Horror ............................................................................................................................................................................. 23 Thriller ............................................................................................................................................................................ 25 Autobiography ............................................................................................................................................................... 33 Feminist texts ................................................................................................................................................................ 34 Fantasy & Mythology ................................................................................................................................................... 36 Science Fiction ............................................................................................................................................................. 39 Comedy .......................................................................................................................................................................... 41 Black Comedy ............................................................................................................................................................... 46 Childrens ........................................................................................................................................................................ 48 Other........................................................................................................................................................................... 49 Relationships ................................................................................................................................................................. 49 World Stories ................................................................................................................................................................. 50 Business ........................................................................................................................................................................ 51 *Please note that these genres offer a loose labelling system https://wspartners.bbc.com/article/drama 1 | P a g e New this month – September 2021 Mabinogi DR440 5 x 15’ A 5-part fantasy adventure series based on an iconic work of medieval Welsh mythology, which represents the earliest prose stories of Britain. Mabinogi is adapted for radio by the award-winning writer Lucy Catherine, who gives the stories a modern flavour while remaining true to the vivid magic of Celtic mythology. Episode 1 - Pryderi, Prince of Dyfed, heads to Harlech in North Wales, to win the hand of Princess Branwen of Gwynedd. But first he must impress her giant of a brother, King Bran the Blessed. Episode 2 - With Irish warships heading for the Welsh coast, Pryderi embarks on a dangerous mission to win the favour of Matholwch, King of Ireland. Episode 3 - Pryderi and Brigid uncover the otherworldly power of the magic cauldron. But will it be enough to placate the Irish? Episode 4 - Pryderi and Brigid head back to the Kingdom of Gwynedd in an attempt to persuade Bran the Blessed to rescue Princess Branwen. Episode 5 - As war between Wales and Ireland breaks out, Pryderi joins the fleet to rescue Princess Branwen. The ships are led by the giant King Bran the Blessed, who wades across the Irish Sea. Hardy’s Women – Jude the Obscure DR438 3 x 60’ In Graham White’s dramatization of Thomas Hardy’s classic and controversial novel, one of the central characters, Sue Bridehead, relates the story of Wessex stonemason Jude Fawley. He aspires to be a scholar at the university of Christminster – but an early romance threatens to blow him off course. The Sorrows of Young Werther DR437 1 x 90’ Joel MacCormack, Jack Farthing, Finn den Hertog and Daisy Edgar-Jones star in Goethe's story of a young artist at odds with society and his turbulent love affair. Dramatised by Hattie Naylor and introduced by Dr Charlotte Lee, University of Cambridge. Life is a Radio in the Dark DR438 1 x 90’ Toby Jones stars in Pulitzer nominee Will Eno's play. Davey Maskelyne is a key witness to a crime but suffers from memory loss. Can an experimental treatment restore his past? The play wittily tangles with questions of loss and memory. What is a person without a past? Might we be better living in the moment? And how does sound give us a more profound experience of that past? 2 | P a g e Classic Novel Adaptations Covering some of the world’s most renowned classical novels, from authors such as Jane Austen and Henry James, these plays offer romance and a picture of society from the past. Hardy’s Women – Tess of the D’Urbervilles DR435 3 x 60’ During 2021, in Hardy’s Women BBC Radio 4 takes a fresh look at the novels of Thomas Hardy, through the eyes of some of his female protagonists. A new, three-part dramatisation by Katie Hims of Thomas Hardy's novel about the precarious life of beautiful, poor, virtuous Dorset woman Tess Durbeyfield, told from Tess's point of view. Episode 1 - Tess's father is convinced that the family's fortunes are about to improve. Episode 2 - Attempting to put her sorrows behind her, Tess goes to work at Talbothay's Dairy. Episode 3 - After her disastrous wedding night, Angel goes away and Tess gets a farming job. Hardy's Women – 2. The Hand of Ethelberta DR436 1 x 60’ All of London Society is in pursuit of Ethelberta's hand, but the infamous poet is not exactly the lady they think she is. Her claim to distinction is one of brains rather than blood. Her sister is her maid, her brother her butler, and she has just a year left before the whole family are left homeless and penniless. She must find a rich husband before the truth gets out. As her many ridiculous suitors pursue her halfway across France, a farce is inevitable. Adapted for radio by Katherine Jakeways. The Mill on the Floss, by George Eliot DR419 10 x 15’ A new adaptation by Rhiannon Tise of George Eliot’s absorbing novel of financial ruin, desire, betrayal and moral conflict – a powerful exploration of what ensues when the head confronts the heart. Created to mark the 140th Anniversary of George Eliot’s death this year (2020). 1. The Unresting Wheel. A brother and sister are pitted against one another in love and life – the tale begins. 2. The Little Wench. It's Easter and the aunts and uncles have been invited to the Mill so they may hear of Mr Tulliver's plans to send Tom away to school. 3. The Golden Gates of Childhood. Life at his new school is a difficult and solitary business for Tom and for Maggie a new adventure is about to begin. 4. A Vanishing Gleam. As Tom and Maggie return to the Mill they know that life will never be the same again for the Tulliver family. 3 | P a g e 5. Daylight on the Wreak. Maggie is angry that the family are not prepared to do more for the Tullivers but Tom is determined to put things right. 6. The Red Deeps. Four years have passed and Maggie is reunited with a friend from the past and Tom is determined to help his father win back The Mill. 7. The Wrong Doing of Others. The 'rascals' may have been beaten but conflict rears its head at Dorlcote Mill. 8. The Laws of Attraction. Launched into the higher society of St Ogg's, Maggie is enjoying being admired. 9. The Great Temptation. Maggie tries to push temptation away but then a fateful decision changes everything and desire and betrayal sends ripples of conflict. 10. Return to the Mill. Tom is now the master of Dorlcote Mill but there is no gladness or triumph for the young man and Maggie is full of despair. But can love win through the bitterness and conflict? Devils DR429 3 x 60’ A new dramatization of Dostoevsky’s unsettling tale of revolution and betrayal by Melissa Murray. Episode 1 - After years away from home, Nicholai Stavrogin returns to his old home town bringing with him the radical ‘free-thinkers’ of Petersburg,