Audiobooks narrated by Alan Howard

Frank Wedekind: Spring Awakening & more: Four Full-Cast BBC Radio Productions

"A brand new production of Spring Awakening, alongside three classic plays from the BBC archive Frank Wedekind is widely acknowledged as one of the pioneers of modern drama, whose works influenced later writers such as Brecht and Dürrenmatt. His best-known plays were Spring Awakening and Lulu, both of which transgressed the social norms of his time and still have the power to shock and provoke us today. They are included here, alongside his lesser-known tragicomedy The Marquis of Keith. Spring Awakening – Frank Wedekind’s groundbreaking 1891 play deals with teenagers Wendla, Melchoir and Moritz, who navigate the awakening of desire and their relationships with their parents in a sexually repressive society. This fast, punchy, two-part version is adapted by Theo Toksvig-Stewart Lulu – The inspiration for numerous reimaginings, including the acclaimed silent film Pandora’s Box, Wedekind’s classic 1890s epic scandalised nineteenth-century audiences. It tells the story of Lulu, an alluring siren who is both innocent victim and amoral seducer. As she uses men, and is used in turn by them, she finds herself set on a path that can only lead to destruction… Starring Anna Calder-Marshall as Lulu, with a full cast including Derek Godfrey, Joe Melia and John Rye. The Singer – This fin-de-siècle farce satirizes the world of the 19th-century cultural elite, where artistic integrity was often subsumed by the demands of crude materialism. Centring on a revered Wagnerian tenor, his insatiable fans, and the tyrannical composer who is set on bending him to his will, it is adapted here by Peter Barnes and stars Alec McCowen, Kathryn Hurlbutt, Peter Woodthorpe and Dilys Laye. The Marquis of Keith – Written in 1899, The Marquis of Keith is one of Wedekind’s most significant plays. A tragicomedy, it revolves around the eponymous hero, a deeply flawed Don Quixote-like figure who is determined to follow his dream of creating a palace for the arts, no matter what the cost. This BBC Radio adaptation stars Alan Howard, Robert Eddison, Rosalind Shanks and Margaret Wolfit. First published 1891 (Spring Awakening), 1895 & 1904 (Lulu), 1899 (The Singer), 1901 (The Marquis of Keith) Cast and credits Written by Frank Wedekind Spring Awakening Lulu The Singer The Marquis of Keith © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Frank Wedekind (Author), Alan Howard, Alec McCowen, Derek Godfrey, Dilys Laye, Francis de Wolff, Full Cast, Hugh Burden, Joe Melia, John Rye, Kathryn Hurlbutt, Peter Woodthorpe, Robert Eddison (Narrator)

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The Alexander Pushkin BBC Radio Collection: Including Eugene Onegin, Boris Godunov & The Queen of Sp

"Dramatisations and readings of Pushkin's most famous works - plus biographical programmes and an original play based on his life One of Russia's most iconic poets, Alexander Pushkin is often described as the 'father of Russian literature'. A gambler, playboy and social reformer, he was exiled by the Tsar for his controversial poetry and died aged 37 in a duel defending his wife's honour. This BBC Radio anthology opens with full-cast dramatisations of his two masterpieces, Eugene Onegin and The Bronze Horseman, both set against the backdrop of his turbulent life. The former, set the night before the fateful duel, sees Pushkin (Geoffrey Streitfeild) telling his wife the story of St Petersburg socialite Onegin, his best friend, and the woman who loves him. In the latter, starring Max Irons, Pushkin's epic poem symbolising the battle between Tsar and citizen is interspersed with scenes depicting his own parallel struggles with state power. The inspiration for Rachmaninov's opera Aleko, The Gypsies is a powerful exploration in narrative verse of the conflict between freedom and love. Zemfira brings Aleko, a man running from the law, home to meet her father, but life in a gypsy camp is more challenging than he imagined. Read by Ralph Fiennes, Alex Jennings and Gabrielle Glaister. Set during the 'Time of Troubles' in the early 1600s, Pushkin's only full-length play, Boris Godunov, is a historical drama about the Russian ruler Boris Godunov, who was Tsar from 1598 to 1605. It features a stellar cast including Alan Howard, Bill Nighy and Jane Lapotaire. His 'little tragedy', Mozart and Salieri, tells of the rivalry between Mozart and Antonio Salieri, who was rumoured to have been behind Mozart's early death. Starring Paul Scofield as Salieri and Simon Callow as Mozart. Also included are four superb short stories - 'The Snowstorm', starring Janet Maw and Michael Maloney, 'The Squire's Daughter', read by Hattie Morahan, 'The Queen of Spades', featuring Moira Lister, Greg Wise and Amanda Root, and 'The Golden Cockerel', read by Alec McCowen. Finally, two bonus features chart Pushkin's extraordinary life and legacy. Soul of Fire: Alexander Pushkin 1799-1837 comprises three hours of music, drama and biography, as presenter Gerard McBurney visits the places that were formative influences on Pushkin, and introduces dramatised excerpts from his work and operatic adaptations by Tchaikovsky, Glinka and Mussorgsky. And in the original drama Cloudberries, starring Linus Roache as Pushkin, poet Elaine Feinstein tells the story of the great Russian author, from his unhappy childhood to his untimely death. Contents Eugene Onegin The Bronze Horseman The Gypsies Boris Godunov Mozart and Salieri 'The Snowstorm' 'The Squire's Daughter' 'The Queen of Spades' 'The Golden Cockerel' Soul of Fire: Alexander Pushkin 1799-1837 Cloudberries First published 1824 (The Gypsies), 1825 (Boris Godunov), 1830 (Mozart and Salieri), 1831 ('The Snowstorm', 'The Squire's Daughter'), 1833 (Eugene Onegin, The Bronze Horseman), 1834 ('The Queen of Spades', 'The Golden Cockerel') © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Alexander Pushkin (Author), Alan Howard, Alex Jennings, Alison Pettitt, Bill Nighy, Full Cast, Geoffrey Streatfeild, Greg Wise, Hattie Morahan, Linus Roache, Max Irons, Moira Lister, Paul Scofield, Ralph Fiennes, Simon Callow (Narrator)

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The Forsyte Saga: 4 Full Cast BBC Radio Dramatisations

"An epic BBC radio adaptation of John Galsworthy's complete Forsyte Chronicles, narrated by Dirk Bogarde and with an all-star cast 'Hallmarked with elegance and craftsmanship' The Evening Standard First broadcast in 1990, this monumental adaptation of John Galsworthy's Nobel Prize-winning novel series was a radio event. It was the most expensive drama serial ever produced, featured one of the biggest, most star-studded casts and dominated the Radio 4 schedules for over 5 months, attracting over a million listeners each week.Comprising all nine books in Galsworthy's Forsyte Chronicles, it spans 50 years - from 1886 to 1936 - and tells the irresistible story of an upper-class dynasty torn apart by a terrible feud. Wealthy, privileged and successful, the Forsytes seem to have it all. But the disastrous marriage of Irene and Soames Forsyte, and the dire consequences of one night and the next foggy day, are to split the family for generations. As the sins of the father are visited upon the children, the younger Forsytes - from Soames' daughter Fleur to her cousin Dinny Cherrell - find themselves doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past as they experience both the pain and the promise of love. Beset by emotional disasters, domestic dramas and society scandals, can the various members of this sprawling family ever find lasting happiness? This sweeping tale of passion, power and money stars a host of outstanding actors, including Dirk Bogarde, Alan Howard, Michael Hordern, Diana Quick, Michael Williams, Maurice Denham, Amanda Redman and Sophie Thompson. Cast and credits Written by John Galsworthy The Forsyte Chronicles Galsworthy - Dirk Bogarde Old Jolyon - Michael Hordern Soames Forsyte - Alan Howard Irene - Diana Quick Young Jolyon - Michael Williams James - Maurice Denham Aunt Ann - Fabia Drake Aunt Hester - Rachel Kempson Aunt Juley - Renee Asherson June - Angela Pleasence Philip Bosinney - Michael Cochrane Swithin - David March Roger/Justice Bentham/Sir Luke Sharman/Adrian Cherrell - John Moffatt George/Monsieur Profond - Christopher Good Nicholas - John Gabriel Emily - Maxine Audley Winifred - Fiona Walker Montague Dartie/Elderson - Donald Gee Francie - Susan Sheridan Mrs Macander/Mme Lamotte/Smither/American woman - Jo Kendall Young Chankery - Charles Simpson Waterbuck, QC/Timothy/Mr Settlewhite/Hilary Cherrell - David King Annette - Shelley Thompson Holly - Elizabeth Mansfield Val - Dale Rapley Jolly - Paul Downing Dreamer/Francis/Francis Wilmot/Hubert Cherrell - Simon Treves Polteed/Gradman/Cuthbert Mothergil/Editor/Foskisson/Blore - Brian Miller Doctor/Lord Charles Ferrar/Lionel Cherrell/Neil Wintney/Mr Instone - James Greene Fleur - Amanda Redman Other Cast: Gary Cady, Gary Bond,Tara Dominick, Vincent Brimble, Nicholas Gilbrook, Sue Broomfield, Paul Daneman, Philip Sully, Stephen Garlick, John Bull, Danny Schiller, Belinda Lang, Jack May, Ben Onwukwe, David Bannerman, Ian Lindsay, Stuart McGuigan, Michael Kilgarriff, Catherine Furshpan, Christopher Scott, Garard Green, Mary Allen, Sophie Thompson, Dorothy Tutin, Peter Marinker, Moir Leslie, Danielle Allan, Paul Rattigan, Jack Klaff, Lois Burgess, Miranda Foster, Peter Howell, Aubrey Woods, Jody McDonald, James Warwick, David Yelland, Matthew Solon, Elizabeth Kelly, William Wortley, Henry Power, Leonard Fenton, Jenny Howe and Nigel Carrington Dramatised by David Spenser, Shirley Gee and Elspeth Sandys Directed by Janet Whitaker, Anthony Cornish and Sue Wilson Series producer: Janet Whitaker Pianist: Mary Nash First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 September 1990-2 March 1991 ©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

John Galsworthy (Author), Alan Howard, Amanda Redman, Diana Quick, Dirk Bogarde, Full Cast, Maurice Denham, Michael Hordern, Michael Williams, Sophie Thompson (Narrator)

Audiobook

Enigma

"Brought to you by Penguin. Bletchley Park: the top-secret landmark of World War Two, where a group of young people were fighting to defeat Hitler, and win the war. March 1943, the Second World War hangs in the balance, and at Bletchley Park a brilliant young codebreaker is facing a double nightmare. The Germans have unaccountably changed their U-boat Enigma code, threatening a massive Allied defeat. And as suspicion grows that there may be a spy inside Bletchley, Jericho's girlfriend, the beautiful and mysterious Claire Romilly suddenly disappears. © Robert Harris 1995 (P) Penguin Audio 2009"

Robert Harris (Author), Alan Howard (Narrator)

Audiobook

Love’s Labor’s Lost

"A play replete with puns and double-entendres, this is one of Shakespeare’s earliest and most lighthearted. The young king of Navarre and three of his courtiers have vowed to lock themselves away for three years of study and fasting, and to forswear the company of women for this period. No sooner is their vow made than it is tested, however, as the princess of France and three of her ladies arrive in Navarre on a diplomatic mission. The young men fall instantly and hopelessly in love, and the tension between their vow and their passion forms the subject of this charming and sparkling early comedy. Berowne is played by Alex Jennings and Rosaline by Emma Fielding. Samantha Bond is the princess, and Greg Wise the king of Navarre. Alan Howard plays Don Armado."

William Shakespeare (Author), Alan Howard, Alex Jennings, Emma Fielding, Greg Wise, Jonathan Tafler, Samantha Bond, a full cast (Narrator)

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Timon of Athens

"This controversial play follows the declining fortunes of a man of extravagant contradictions. The fabulously rich Timon believes all his friends to be as open-hearted and generous as himself. When his wealth suddenly evaporates, however, he discovers the truth and his altruism turns to a bitter hatred of mankind. Stirred up by the cynical Apemantus, Timon retreats to the woods where he plots the destruction of Athens, the city that had formerly seemed to embody everything pleasurable and civilized. The cosmic scope of his hatred is communicated in a series of powerful and disturbing dramatic tableaux. Alan Howard is Timon and Norman Rodway is Apemantus. Damian Lewis play Alcibiades."

William Shakespeare (Author), Alan Howard, Damian Lewis, Norman Rodway, a full cast (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Alan Howard