Audiobooks narrated by Adrian Lester

Sir Lenny Henry’s Journey to Othello: A BBC Radio Collection

"Three BBC Radio programmes charting Sir Lenny Henry’s transformation from comic actor to tragic hero – including the complete full-cast production of Shakespeare’s Othello Lenny Henry used to hate Shakespeare. For over 35 years he avoided anything to do with the Bard – until, in 2006, he decided to find out just what the rest of the world saw in him. In this enthralling collection, we hear how Lenny’s late-flowering passion for the legendary playwright’s works set him on the path that led to his sell-out stage debut as Othello. Bringing together this behind-the-scenes journey with the final result, this collection culminates in Lenny’s standout performance in a dynamic full-cast radio production of Othello. Lenny and Will sees him going ‘in search of the magic of Shakespeare in performance’, starting at the recreated Globe Theatre. Talking to leading actors and directors including Adrian Lester, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Peter Hall, Trevor Nunn, Dominic Dromgoole and Patsy Rodenburg, he wonders why we put Shakespeare on a pedestal, and confesses to a newfound enthusiasm for his classic dramas. And, after reciting Othello’s last speech to Northern Broadside’s Barrie Rutter, he begins to wonder if he could take on the role for real... Lenny Henry Plays Othello takes up the story where Lenny and Will left off, continuing Lenny’s personal odyssey. Having been offered the chance of a lifetime by Barrie Rutter, he sets out on a long road of preparation. Listening to his audio diary, we hear his hopes and fears – and eavesdrop on everything from coaching sessions to boot fittings. From first rehearsals to curtain up, we follow his remarkable metamorphosis into Shakespeare’s betrayed Moorish general. Finally, in Lenny Henry in Othello, we hear Lenny’s acclaimed performance as the noble African commander whose mind is poisoned by the hate-filled Iago: a stunning achievement that won him the Evening Standard’s Outstanding Newcomer Award. Featuring the cast of the acclaimed West End production and with original music from Conrad Nelson, who also plays Iago, this mesmerising tale of love, jealousy, racism and desire will grip you from start to tragic finish. Cast and credits Lenny and Will Presented by Lenny Henry Produced by Simon Elmes With Adrian Lester, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Peter Hall, Trevor Nunn, Barrie Rutter, Dominic Dromgoole and Patsy Rodenburg First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 Mar 2006 and 23 Dec 2006 Lenny Henry Plays Othello Produced by Simon Elmes First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 Feb 2009 Lenny Henry in Othello Iago – Conrad Nelson Roderigo – Matt Connor Brabantio – Geoff Leesley Othello – Lenny Henry Cassio – Richard Standing Duke/Gratiano – David Beckford Senator/Lodovico – Simon Holland Roberts Desdemona – Jessica Harris Montano – Andy Cryer Emilia – Sara Poyzer Herald/Gentleman – Chris Pearse Bianca – Victoria Gee Written by William Shakespeare Directed by Barrie Rutter Produced by David Hunter Music arranged by Conrad Nelson and performed by the cast Original stage production created by Northern Broadsides and West Yorkshire Playhouse and staged in London by Sonia Friedman Productions First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 27 Feb 2010 © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Lenny Henry, William Shakespeare (Author), Adrian Lester, Barry Rutter, Conrad Nelson, Dominic Dromgoole, Full Cast, Judi Dench, Lenny Henry, Lolita Chakrabarti, Patsy Rodenburg, Peter Hall, Trevor Nunn (Narrator)

Audiobook

Fantastic Mr Fox

"Brought to you by Puffin. This audio edition of Fantastic Mr Fox is narrated by multi-award winning actor Adrian Lester (Hustle, The Day After Tomorrow), and is bursting with fantabulous sound effects. 'On a hill above the valley there was a wood. In the wood there was a huge tree. Under the tree there was a hole. In the hole lived Mr Fox and Mrs Fox and their four Small Foxes. . . ' Mr Fox is a very clever fox - every evening he creeps down into the valley and helps himself to food from the nearby farms. Chickens from Farmer Boggis, ducks and geese from Farmer Bunce, and turkeys from Farmer Bean. But now the farmers have had enough, and together they hatch a plan to get rid of Mr Fox for good! But what they don't know is Mr Fox has some help, and a fantastic escape plan of his own... ©1970 The Roald Dahl Story Company Ltd (P)2024 Penguin Audio"

Roald Dahl (Author), Adrian Lester (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Patricia Highsmith BBC Radio Collection: The Talented Mr Ripley, Strangers on a Train, Carol & o

"The definitive collection of dramatisations and readings of Patricia Highsmith's finest fiction - plus bonus material A master of the psychological crime genre, Patricia Highsmith is most famous for her quintet of bestselling 'Ripley' novels, and her groundbreaking thriller Strangers on a Train (notably adapted as a classic film by Alfred Hitchcock). This extensive collection encompasses her best-known works, as well as selected short stories and three programmes about the author herself and her greatest creation, charismatic anti-hero Tom Ripley. Included is a series of five plays charting Ripley's journey from smalltime conman to cool, calculated killer. Comprising The Talented Mr Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game, The Boy Who Followed Ripley and Ripley Under Water, The Complete Ripley stars Ian Hart as Tom. Also featured are dramatisations of Strangers on a Train (starring Anton Lesser, Michael Sheen, Saskia Reeves and Bill Nighy); Patricia Highsmith's compelling tale of obsession, The Cry of the Owl (starring John Sharian, Adrian Lester and Joanne McQuinn); and the dark, intriguing domestic noir A Suspension of Mercy (starring Stuart Milligan and Janet Maw). Highsmith's tender, unsettling lesbian love story Carol is abridged and read in 10 parts by Zoë Wanamaker, and there are abridged readings of her short stories 'A Dangerous Hobby', 'Variations on a Game' (both read by Campbell Scott), and 'The Trouble with Mrs Blynn, the Trouble with the World' (read by Anna Massey). Five more unabridged stories, 'The Cries of Love', 'The Snail-Watcher', 'The Breeder', 'Notes from a Respectable Cockroach' and 'Goat Ride', are read by Helen Horton, John Webb, Garrick Hagon, William Hootkins and Crawford Logan. In Looking for Ripley, crime writer Mark Billingham unravels the mystery behind our lasting fascination with Tom Ripley, while in A Passionate Affair, Marcel Berlins asks if his creator Patricia Highsmith also fell under his spell. And in Desert Island Discs, the author shares the soundtrack of her life with presenter Roy Plomley. Contents The Talented Mr Ripley Ripley Under Ground Ripley's Game The Boy Who Followed Ripley Ripley Under Water Strangers on a Train The Cry of the Owl A Suspension of Mercy Carol A Dangerous Hobby Variations on a Game The Trouble with Mrs Blynn, The Trouble with the World The Cries of Love The Snail-Watcher The Breeder Notes from a Respectable Cockroach Goat Ride Looking for Ripley A Passionate Affair Desert Island Discs: Patricia Highsmith Original texts © 1993 by Diogenes Verlag AG Zurich, all rights reserved. © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Patricia Highsmith (Author), Adrian Lester, Anton Lesser, Bill Nighy, Full Cast, Ian Hart, John Sharian, Mark Billingham, Michael Sheen, Saskia Reeves, Zoë Wanamaker (Narrator)

Audiobook

Dare Not Linger: The Presidential Years

"‘I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest . . . But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.’ Long Walk to Freedom In 1994, Nelson Mandela became the first president of democratic South Africa. Five years later, he stood down. In that time, he and his government wrought the most extraordinary transformation, turning a nation riven by centuries of colonialism and apartheid into a fully functioning democracy in which all South Africa’s citizens, black and white, were equal before the law. Dare Not Linger is the story of Mandela’s presidential years, drawing heavily on the memoir he began to write as he prepared to finish his term of office, but was unable to finish. Now, the acclaimed South African writer, Mandla Langa, has completed the task using Mandela’s unfinished draft and a wealth of previously unseen archival material. With a prologue by Mandela's widow, Graça Machel, the result is a vivid and inspirational account that tells the extraordinary story of the transition from decades of apartheid rule and the challenges Mandela overcame to make a reality of his cherished vision for a liberated South Africa."

Mandla Langa, Nelson Mandela (Author), Adrian Lester (Narrator)

Audiobook

Neil Gaiman's How the Marquis Got His Coat Back: BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

"Paterson Joseph stars as the Marquis de Carabas in this brand new BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Neil Gaiman's spin-off short story, set in the magical world of Neverwhere. Returning us to London Below, this enchanting tale continues the story of one of the most colourful characters from Neverwhere – the cool, charming, resourceful Marquis de Carabas, who trades in favours and always has a plan... The Marquis' coat is a thing of wonder and beauty. Sleek, stylish and 'the colour of a wet street at midnight', it has numerous pockets, sumptuous sleeves and the power to transform a young sneak thief into a nobleman. And now it is missing, sold by the Sewer Folk. To reclaim it, the Marquis must venture into one of the most terrifying parts of the subterranean city, encounter an old enemy, face dreadful dangers and – worst of all – accept help from someone very close to home. Expanded and dramatised for Radio 4 by the award-winning Dirk Maggs (Neverwhere, Good Omens, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) and co-directed by Dirk Maggs and Heather Larmour, this spine-tingling production features a star cast including James McAvoy, Adrian Lester, Don Warrington and Bernard Cribbins, with a cameo appearance by Neil Gaiman himself. Contains 15 minutes of additional unbroadcast material. Duration: 60 mins approx."

Neil Gaiman (Author), Adrian Lester, Bernard Cribbins, Don Warrington, Full Cast, James Mcavoy, Mitch Benn, Neil Gaiman, Paterson Joseph, Samantha Beart (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Tempest

"This haunting drama of vengeance and forgiveness crowns the group of tragicomic romances that Shakespeare composed at the end of his career. Sometimes read as his farewell to the stage, the play contains some of Shakespeare's most lyrical verse. Prospero, wise Duke of Milan, has been deposed by Antonio, his wicked brother, and exiled with his daughter Miranda to a mysterious island. But Prospero possesses supernatural powers. Aided by the spirit Ariel, Prospero uses his magical art to bring his enemies under his control. Prospero is played by Bob Peck, Ariel by Adrian Lester, Jennifer Ehle is Miranda, Simon Russell Beale is Antonio, Jamie Glover is Ferdinand, and Richard McCabe plays Caliban."

William Shakespeare (Author), Adrian Lester, Bob Peck, Jamie Glover, Jennifer Ehle, Simon Russell Beale, a full cast (Narrator)

Audiobook

Julius Caesar

"At the heart of this tragic history is one of Shakespeare's most noble characters, the statesman Brutus, who is caught in a devastating conflict between private affection and public duty. Julius Caesar has become the most powerful man in the Rome. Does his power now threaten the very existence of the Republic itself? A conspiracy is hatched, one that will have fatal consequences not only for Caesar and the conspirators but for the future history of the ancient world. Brutus is played by John Bowe and Mark Antony by Adrian Lester. Michael Feast is Caesar."

William Shakespeare (Author), Adrian Lester, Bill Homewood, Estelle Kohler, Geoffrey Whitehead, Michael Feast, a full cast (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Adrian Lester