Browse audiobooks narrated by Alison Pettitt, listen to samples and when you're ready head over to Audiobooks.com where you can get 3 FREE audiobooks on us
Bernard Kops: A BBC Radio Collection: 20 Full-Cast Productions including Ezra, Soho Nights & more
"An anthology of plays and original radio dramas from the prolific playwright Born and brought up in the East End of London, Bernard Kops came to fame in the late 1950s as part of British drama’s ‘New Wave’. A lyrical chronicler of Jewish family life, he is often compared to Arnold Wesker and Harold Pinter, though his work is more sentimental and surreal. In a 50-year career, he wrote 10 novels, numerous poetry collections, two autobiographies and over 40 stage, TV and radio plays. Included here are some of his most popular pieces, beginning with two East End tales of love, loss, friendship and community, Whitechapel Dreams and Harry and the Angels, both featuring Kops himself as the narrator. An adaptation of his famous stage play, Ezra, about the treacherous, anti-Semitic poet Ezra Pound, is followed by a selection of original radio dramas including Falling in Love Again, the five-part serial Soho Nights and a two-parter featuring the trials and tribulations of a Yiddish theatrical troupe, The Jericho Players and The Jericho Players: Rogues and Vagabonds. Next up are more plays specially written for radio: The Lost Loves of Phoebe Myers (commissioned to mark Kops’ 80th birthday), Kafe Kropotkin, Trotsky Was My Father, Over the Rainbow, Bournemouth Nights, and The Anarchist Bed and Breakfast. Also featured are Sailing with Homer; which won Kops a Writers’ Guild Award in 1995; Congress in Manchester, centring around an ageing publisher’s attempts to seduce a young poetess; and Simon at Midnight, his 1982 radio drama about an East End factory owner facing bankruptcy which was later adapted for the theatre. Concluding this collection are a quartet of vintage plays from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s that have not been broadcast since they first aired: The Street Game; I Grow Old, I Grow Old; The Lemmings and The Dark Ages. Showcasing the range and prodigious output of an extraordinary talent, these 21 dramas star a wealth of leading actors, among them Michael Sheen, Miriam Margolyes, Ian Holm, Anne-Marie Duff, Maureen Lipman, Timothy West, Amanda Root, Stephanie Cole, Mark Bonnar, Louise Brealey, Alfred Molina, Warren Mitchell, Lesley Joseph, Leo McKern, Derek Fowlds,Tracy-Ann Oberman, Jane Asher, Andrew Sachs and Denis Quilley With thanks to Keith Wickham and the Radio Circle Production credits Written by Bernard Kops Text copyright © 1959 (The Street Game), 1963 (The Lemmings), 1964 (The Dark Ages), 1979 (Bournemouth Nights; I Grow Old, I Grow Old), 1980 (Over the Rainbow), 1981 (Ezra), 1982 (Stephen at Midnight), 1984 (Trotsky Was My Father), 1988 (Kafe Kropotkin), 1990 (Congress in Manchester), 1993 (Soho Nights), 1994 (Sailing with Homer), 1996 (The Jericho Players), 1998 (The Jericho Players: Rogues and Vagabonds), 2000 (Falling in Love Again, The Anarchist Bed and Breakfast), 2006 (The Lost Love of Phoebe Miles), 2008 (Whitechapel Dreams), 2010 (Harry and the Angels) All rights reserved Content List - Whitechapel Dreams - Harry and the Angels - Ezra - Falling in Love Again - Soho Nights - The Jericho Players - The Jericho Players: Rogues and Vagabonds - The Lost Love of Phoebe Miles - Kafe Kropotkin - Trotsky Was My Father - Over the Rainbow - Bournemouth Nights - The Anarchist Bed and Breakfast - Sailing with Homer - Congress in Manchester - Simon at Midnight - The Street Game - I Grow Old, I Grow Old - The Lemmings - The Dark Ages © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"
Bernard Kops (Author), Alison Pettitt, Anne-Marie Duff, Bernard Kops, Frederick Treves, Full Cast, Ian Holm, Jane Asher, Louise Brealey, Mark Bonnar, Maureen Lipman, Michael Sheen, Ronan Vibert, Timothy West, Tracy-Ann Oberman (Narrator)
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To Serve Them All My Days: A BBC Radio Dramatisation
"A stunning full-cast dramatisation of R.F. Delderfield's classic novel of life between the wars Listen now to this epic story of tragedy, love and betrayal set during the inter-war period as soldier Davy Powlett-Jones, invalided out of the trenches, must face a new start in life… A coal miner's son, Davy has risen from the ranks of the South Wales Borderers and been commissioned as a Second Lieutenant after serving three years in the front-line trenches in the First World War. The story begins in 1918, when injured and shell-shocked Davy leaves the war behind him to face new challenges and begin a new life teaching history at Bamfylde School in North Devon. Over the following decade Davy’s life reflects the turmoil, tragedy and hope of the men and women who fought in the Great War and how they come to terms with peaceful life in Britain which inexorably ruptures as the Second World War looms. In this beautiful full-cast BBC Radio adaptation, the General Strike, socialism, the development of the Labour Party and the formation of the National Government all play out through the story of a humble teacher. To Serve Them All My Days was first published in 1972 and swiftly became a modern classic. The book was adapted into a hugely popular TV show and continues to be loved by fans of J.L. Carr and L.P. Hartley. Listen now to this stunning adaptation that takes a microscope to the lives of ordinary people during extraordinary times and brings to life a bygone era of British existence facing the moral perplexities and harsh economic realities of emerging modern times. Cast and credits Written by R.F. Deldefield Adapted by Shaun McKenna Directed by Marc Beeby Davy Powlett-Jones - Oliver Milburn Algy Herries - John Wood Howarth - John Rowe Carter - Anthony Calf Beth/Grace - Alison Pettit The Guard/Stratton/Gage - Delroy Brown 'Nipper' Shawe/Skidmore/Featherstone - Josh Freeborn 'Chad' Boyer/Dobson/Stoker Monk - Steven Williams Briarley/Lowther - Steven Roberts Julia - Juliet Aubrey Keith/Alderman Blunt/McNaughton - John Cummins Spats/Hislop - Anthony Glennon Brigadier Cooper/Barnaby/Rigby - Gerard McDermott Bristow - Harry Francis Alcock - Clive Merrison Christine - Kate Buffery Ewart - Nick Sayce First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23rd - 27th Jan 2006 ©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"
RF Delderfield (Author), Alison Pettitt, Full Cast, John Rowe, John Wood, Oliver Milburn (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 Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Black Hearts in Battersea & The Story of Is: Three BBC Radio Childre
"BBC Radio full-cast dramatisations of three of the classic novels from Joan Aiken's 'Wolves Chronicles' One of the finest storytellers of her time, Joan Aiken wrote over 100 books for both adults and children. Among her best-known works are the 'Wolves Chronicles', a sequence of novels set in an alternate 19th century England ruled by Stuart kings. Included here are three tales from that magical, wolf-infested world - The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Black Hearts in Battersea and The Story of Is. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase - Winter, 1832. The great manor of Willoughby Chase lies blanketed by snow, and predators lurk in the darkness. With the opening of the Channel Tunnel, ravenous wolves have overrun the country, and young Bonnie Green can hear their hideous howling. But she and her cousin Sylvia soon find themselves facing an even greater danger, in the shape of their devious governess, Miss Slighcarp. Aided by their friend Simon, can they foil her evil plan? Black Hearts in Battersea - Determined to become a painter, Simon sets off to London - but no sooner has he arrived than he becomes caught up in a fiendish Hanoverian plot to overthrow the King. Kidnapped and sent away to sea, he faces shipwreck, assassination plots, attacks by wolves and a hair-raising hot air balloon escape. With the help of fellow orphan Sophie, and the resourceful Dido Twite, will he save the day? The Story of Is - Sent by King Richard IV to search for his missing son, Dido Twite's sister Isabett takes the Playland Express to the north of a divided England. There, she finds an underground city where children work as slaves in vast coal mines. This is the domain of Gold Kingy, a man who will stop at nothing in his pursuit of power - but he has reckoned without Is and her newfound friends... These spellbinding adventures feature a star cast, including Gosford Park's Emily Watson, Game of Thrones' Joe Dempsie and legendary actor and comedian Rik Mayall. Text copyright © Joan Aiken 1962 (The Wolves of Willoughby Chase), 1964 (Black Hearts in Battersea), 1992 (Is) Production credits Written by Joan Aiken The Wolves of Willoughby Chase Cast: Jane Lapotaire, Emily Watson, Abigail Docherty, John Rowe, John Turner, Gavin Muir, Kristen Milward, Tom Bevan, Jilly Bond, Eva Stuart, David Antrobus, Ian Masters, Derek Waring, George Parsons, Elaine Claxton, Natasha Pyne, Becky Hindley Dramatised by Eric Pringle Directed by Cherry Cookson First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 December 1994 Black Hearts in Battersea Cast: Joe Dempsie, Nicola Miles-Wildin, Emerald O'Hanrahan, John Rowe, Sheila Reid, Ben Crowe, Annabelle Dowler, Rhys Jennings, Tessa Nicholson, Sam Pamphilon, Nigel Hastings, Bruce Alexander, Joseph Cohen Cole, Piers Wehner, Kate Layden, John Biggins, Ewan Hooper Dramatised by Lin Coghlan. Directed by Marc Beeby First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23-24 December 1999 The Story of Is Cast: John Rowe, Alison Pettitt, Rik Mayall, Freddie Jones With John Hartley, Gordon Reid, Rachel Atkins, Alastair Danson, Robert Harper, Gerard McDermott, Anthony Ofoegbu, Leila Campbell, George Maguire, Jenny Lee, Stephen Thorne, Carolyn Jones, Iwan Thomas, Christopher Scott, Richard Pearce, Tom Bevan, Brian Parr and children from the Italia Conti School Dramatised by Eric Pringle. Directed by David Blount. Music by Neil Brand First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15 March-5 April 1998 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"
Joan Aiken (Author), Alison Pettitt, Emily Watson, Full Cast, Joe Dempsie, John Rowe, Rik Mayall, Sheila Reid (Narrator)
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Mary Elizabeth Braddon: Lady Audley’s Secret & more: A BBC Radio 4 Gothic Drama Collection
"Three classic stories from the 'Queen of Sensation Fiction' - plus bonus documentary Mary Elizabeth Braddon was one of the most important and influential female novelists of the 19th Century, and the founder (alongside Wilkie Collins) of the popular 'sensation fiction' genre. This collection features her best-known novel, Lady Audley's Secret, a thrilling tale of bigamy, murder and arson that outraged Victorian society on its first release - and was an instant bestseller. Also included are two atmospheric short stories and an edition of Sensational Women exploring her life and work. Lady Audley's Secret - Lucy Graham gains all the wealth she desires through her marriage to the devoted Sir Michael Audley. But her newfound security is threatened when young lawyer Robert Audley sets out to uncover the truth about her hidden past. Hattie Morahan, Charlotte Emmerson, Alex Wyndham and Sam Dale star in this electrifying dramatisation. The Cold Embrace - When Josef, a handsome young German artist, betrays his delicate fiancée, her vengeance is eerily appropriate... This chilling adaptation of Mary Elizabeth Braddon's ghostly story stars Stephanie Turner, Jonathan Firth and Alison Pettitt. Samuel Lowgood's Revenge - An impoverished clerk discovers that his rival in love has defrauded their employer. But what should he do with this knowledge? Barbara Flynn reads Braddon's 1861 tale of jealousy and retribution. Sensational Women: Mary Braddon - Sarah Dunant takes a look at the notorious sensation author, who was condemned for rotting the moral fibre of a whole generation of young women. First published 1860 ('The Cold Embrace'), 1861 ('Samuel Lowgood's Revenge'), 1862 (Lady Audley's Secret) Cast and credits Written by Mary Elizabeth Braddon Lady Audley's Secret Mary Braddon - Hattie Morahan Lucy, Lady Audley - Charlotte Emmerson Sir Michael Audley - Sam Dale Phoebe Marks - Lizzy Watts Luke Marks - Benjamin Askew Robert Audley - Alex Wyndham George Talboys - Joseph Kloska Alicia Audley - Perdita Weeks Lieutenant Maldon - Jonathan Tafler Mr Dawson/Landlord - Paul Rider Mrs Vincent - Charlotte West-Oram Tonks - Deborah McAndrew Dramatised by Theresa Heskins Directed by Julie Beckett and Fiona Kelcher First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 April-1 May 2009 The Cold Embrace Mary Braddon - Stephanie Turner Josef - Jonathan Firth Gertrude - Alison Pettitt Father - John Hartley Postmaster - Ioan Meredith Passenger - Hugh Dickson Woman - Carolyn Jones Fisherman - Chris Pavlo Parisienne - Tracy-Ann Oberman Dramatised by Christopher Hawes Produced by Marion Nancarrow First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 June 1997 Samuel Lowgood's Revenge Read by Barbara Flynn Produced by Rebecca Nicholson First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 18 November 1998 Sensational Women: Mary Braddon Presented by Sarah Dunant Extracts read by Sally Beauman Produced by Lore Windemuth First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 October 1996 © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"
Mary Elizabeth Braddon (Author), Alison Pettitt, Charlotte Emmerson, Full Cast, Hattie Morahan, Jonathan Firth, Perdita Weeks, Sam Dale, Stephanie Turner, Tracy-Ann Oberman (Narrator)
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DS Manson: Three BBC Radio 4 crime thrillers
"Three detective thrillers set in the Met's Missing Persons Bureau After shooting a teenage boy in an undercover operation, DS Sue Manson is taken off the front line and transferred to a desk job in Missing Persons. But no sooner has she arrived than she's in the thick of the action once more, tasked with tracking down a trio of twisted criminals... Fractions of Zero - When a desperate father begs DS Manson to find his daughter, the sole clue is a cryptogram on the back of a missing persons notice. Once unravelled, the code turns out to be a riddle that leads them to the location of a dead girl. More ciphers follow, and more victims - all seemingly selected at random - and Sue realises that she's dealing with a serial killer obsessed with numbers. Can she work out his system before he strikes again? Final Sacrament - After three people disappear for no apparent reason, DS Manson finds herself on the hunt for another serial killer. Her only leads are the cardboard triangles left at the victims' homes along with traces of a deadly toxin, and a series of macabre snaps sent to a South London priest. Father Raphoe believes the photographs are mimicking a series of religious paintings by Renaissance artist Nicolas Poussin. But who is targeting Raphoe's parishioners, and why? Fragments of Amy - Back from maternity leave, Sue Manson tackles the case of a missing heiress, Amy Muggeridge, abducted on her way back from a party. When a CD arrives containing a ransom message and a riddle, Manson seeks help from Amy's twin, Angela, who seems to have a psychic connection with her sister. Under hypnosis, she provides a vital clue to the kidnapper's identity - but is it too late to save Amy? Created by novelist Bill Murphy, one of the writers of Radio 4's Baldi, these gripping detective dramas star Susan Lynch and Annie Farr as Sue Manson. Fractions of Zero Sue Manson - Susan Lynch James Ellstrom - Philip Glenister Dr Fred Johnson - Clive Merrison Insp. Phillips - David Bannerman Mags Langan - Alison Pettitt Lee Horsley - David Holt Supt. - Nigel Anthony Directed by Tanya Nash First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5-9 August 2002 Final Sacrament Sue Manson - Annie Farr DS Brian Torrey - Patrick Robinson Insp. Phillips - David Thome Mags Langan - Alison Pettit Raymond/Andrew - Tom George Elizabeth/Receptionist - Jennifer Hill Fr. Raphoe - Des McAleer Directed by Tanya Nash First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19-23 April 2004 Fragments of Amy Sue Manson - Susan Lynch Insp. Phillips - Ron Cook Mags Langan - Gillian Kearney Plummer - Eddie Marsan Leila Muggeridge - Alexander Mathie Researcher/Telfor/Priest - Roger May DS Brian Torrey - Rhashan Stone Amy/Angela - Fuschia Sumner Noreen Manson - Frances Tomelty Dr Fred Johnson - David Warner Produced by Lawrence Jackson First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23-27 October 2006 © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"
Bill Murphy (Author), Alison Pettitt, David Warner, Eddie Marsan, Frances Tomelty, Full Cast, Philip Glenister, Roger May, Ron Cook, Susan Lynch (Narrator)
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Birkett: Five full-cast BBC Radio 4 crime dramas
"Five tales of murder, mayhem and political intrigue from the casebook of Norman Birkett Norman Birkett KC (1883-1962) was a real-life Rumpole - a distinguished and highly skilled lawyer who had numerous successes in the courtroom during his long career. This collection covers some of his most famous cases of the inter-war years, including the dramatic trial of Buck Ruxton; the notorious Dennistoun affair; and the peculiar events surrounding the mysterious cyclist Ronald Light. Norman Birkett and the Case of the Coleford Poisoner - The celebrated advocate defends a woman accused of murdering her husband with arsenic. Birkett and the Blind Soldier - When a blind First World War veteran is charged with killing his wife, Birkett takes on his defence. Birkett and the Green Bicycle - Appearing for the prosecution, the brilliant barrister deals with a case involving death by gunshot, pacifism and chocolate... Birkett and the Red Stains on the Carpet - The renowned KC defends a doctor accused of murdering and dismembering his wife and maid. Birkett and the Naked Toreador - Norman Birkett takes on the case that made his name in this extraordinary saga of blackmail, snobbery, society scandal and bullfighting... David Haig and Neil Dudgeon star as Birkett, with Alison Pettitt and Bonnie Engstrom as his wife, Billie, and Alun Raglan as his clerk, Edgar. Written by Caroline and David Stafford Directed by Marc Beeby Norman Birkett and the Case of the Coleford Poisoner Birkett - David Haig Edgar Bowker - Trystan Gravelle Billie - Alison Pettitt Elton Pace - Michael Shelford Annie Pace/Leslie Pace - Clare Corbett Dr du Pre - Sam Dale Judge Horridge/Vicar - Bruce Alexander Mrs Elizabeth Porter - Joanna Monro Other parts were played by John Biggins and Nigel Hastings First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 1 June 2010 Birkett and the Blind Soldier Norman Birkett - Neil Dudgeon Billie - Bonnie Engstrom Edgar - Alun Raglan Lady Pearson - Adjoa Andoh Arthur - Carl Prekopp MacCormac - Paul Moriarty Frazer/Warder - Adam Billington Humphreys - James Lailey Sgt Waller - Gerard McDermott Randall/Clerk - Rikki Lawton Grace/Margaret - Alex Rivers Woman - Victoria Inez Hardy First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3 January 2012 Birkett and the Green Bicycle Norman Birkett - Neil Dudgeon Billie - Bonnie Engstrom Edgar - Alun Raglan Sir Edward - Nicholas Jones Cadbury - James Lailey Cox/Enoch - Adam Billington Judge - Gerard McDermott Lily/Muriel - Francine Chamberlain Ronald - Christopher Webster Graham - Simon Bubb First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 10 January 2012 Birkett and the Red Stains on the Carpet Norman Birkett - Neil Dudgeon Billie - Bonnie Engstrom Edgar - Alun Raglan Jackson - Adam Billington Buck Ruxton - Sagar Arya Shaw - Gerard McDermott Glaister - James Lailey Bennett - Rikki Lawton Alfred - Christopher Webster Susan/Gracie - Victoria Inez Hardy Mary - Alex Rivers First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 17 January 2012 Birkett and the Naked Toreador Norman Birkett - Neil Dudgeon Billie - Bonnie Engstrom Edgar - Alun Raglan Lady Caernarvon - Joanna Monro Sir Edward - Nicholas Jones Dennistoun - Carl Prekopp Mlle Cina - Victoria Inez Hardy Dorothy - Adjoa Andoh First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 24 January 2012 © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"
Caroline Stafford, David Stafford (Author), Alison Pettitt, Alun Raglan, Bonnie Engstrom, David Haig, Full Cast, Neil Dudgeon (Narrator)
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Doris Lessing: A BBC Radio Collection: Dramatisations and readings including The Golden Notebook, Th
"Dramatisations and readings of novels and short stories by Nobel laureate Doris Lessing – plus a bonus documentary, Open Book, examining her life and career One of the most celebrated and important authors of the 20th Century, Doris Lessing was awarded a Nobel Prize for the ‘visionary power’ of her fiction, which spans a variety of genres and explores themes such as racism, feminism and social and political upheaval. This collection includes the radio productions of three of her acclaimed novels and four short stories, as well as a fascinating discussion of her life and work. The Good Terrorist – Olivia Vinall stars in this adaptation of Doris Lessing’s satire of incompetent revolutionaries in a London squat. Lucy Grange – Exiled from the sophistication of her homeland, stylish Lucy seeks solace and comfort, and learns 'to accept the second-rate'. Read by Estelle Kohler. The Grass is Singing – In this powerful exploration of racial politics in 1940s Rhodesia, adapted from Doris Lessing’s first novel, a white woman’s troubled relationship with her black houseboy comes to a violent end. Starring Alison Pettit and Tracy-Ann Oberman. Flight – A laughing, teasing granddaughter and a dovecote full of strutting birds are an old man's only escape from his cold family home. Read by Jack Klaff. The Golden Notebook – Susannah Harker stars in this dramatisation of Doris Lessing’s ground-breaking novel about marriage, motherhood, mental breakdown and communism. The Death of a Chair – A lived-in chair is bought at auction, where it begins its final journey towards discovery and destruction. Read by Barbara Marten. Open Book: Doris Lessing Mariella Frostrup talks to Doris Lessing about her long and extraordinarily varied writing career."
Doris Lessing (Author), Alison Pettitt, Barbara Marten, Estelle Kohler, Full Cast, Jack Klaff, Olivia Vinall, Susannah Harker, Tracy-Ann Oberman (Narrator)
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"Demons, vengeful spirits, insanity, premature burials and lesbian vampires, In a Glass Darkly contains five diabolical tales of horror and mystery that will get the heart racing. Each story, including the famous 'Green Tea' and 'Carmilla', is presented as a case from the posthumous papers of Dr Martin Hesselius, a metaphysical physician who has no doubt as to the existence of supernatural phenomena - unlike our anxious protagonists... These traditional, yet unfamiliar tales were revered upon release, with Bram Stoker writing his own vampire story some twenty years later, and Henry James once suggesting that this is 'the ideal reading... for the hours after midnight'."
Sheridan Le Fanu (Author), Alison Pettitt, Daniel Philpott, David Horovitch, Jonathan Keeble, Nicholas Boulton, Sean Barrett (Narrator)
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Ditched: A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation
"Doug Lucie's satirical sequel to 'Hitched' revisits the bride and groom, Emma and Richard, two years after their big day. The honeymoon is well and truly over and wedded bliss hasn't turned out to be, well, blissful. With their relationship at crisis point, Emma returns from America with her young daughter to discover her life isn't the only one that has changed. But just what has happened between Emma and Richard, and why has she returned home without him? When Richard in turn flies back to the UK, the stage is set for another unforgettable family encounter. With sparks sure to fly at a family reunion no one wants to attend, Emma and Richard must finally decide what the future holds for their marriage. Will it be Hitched or Ditched? Starring Harry Lloyd and Lydia Leonard as Richard and Emma, with Stephen Moore, Frances Barber, David Schofield, Cheryl Campbell, Adrian Lukis, Brendan Patricks, Alison Pettit and Lynn Farleigh."
Doug Lucie (Author), Adrian Lukis, Alison Pettitt, Brendan Patricks, Cheryl Campbell, David Schofield, Frances Barber, Harry Lloyd, Lydia Leonard, Lynn Farleigh, Stephen Moore (Narrator)
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Pouring Poison: A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation
"Hazel (Kathryn Hunt) spends her life describing plays for visually impaired people. But when she starts to describe the real world to her new friend Davy (Nicholas Boulton), is she giving an accurate picture of the world around her? She's looking for an escape from the pressures of looking after her disabled mother, but is she looking in the right place? 'Pouring Poison' was written by Lou Ramsden after spending time with audio describers in London theatres, and also stars Jonathan Keeble, Alison Pettitt, Marian Kemmer and Dan Hagley amongst the cast."
Lou Ramsden (Author), Alison Pettitt, Dan Hagley, Jonathan Keeble, Kathryn Hunt, Marian Kemmer, Nicholas Boulton (Narrator)
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Tiny: A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation
"A quirky BBC Radio 4 comedy by Ben Lewis about a teenager who becomes an internet phenomenon. Originally broadcast as the ‘Afternoon Play’ on 17 September 2010. This is the story of a legend in the making. A nervous young man lives at the dead end of a dead-end town. On his eighteenth birthday he comes into his inheritance. With a little help from an old teacher, he finds it equips him to broadcast over the internet. Living in a house where rolling news is a constant presence, he does what comes naturally - he fires up his computer and presents the news. But his news is different. It puts a spring in its audience's step. That is, until his grandma starts to grow suspicious about what this boy is getting up to nightly in his bedroom and tries to put a stop to the broadcasts completely. Starring Joshua Jenkins as the boy and Julia McKenzie as his grandma. Also featuring amongst the cast are Mark Heap, Peter Marinker and Alison Pettitt. Directed by Kirsty Williams."
Ben Lewis (Author), Alison Pettitt, Joshua Jenkins, Julia Mckenzie, Mark Heap, Peter Marinker (Narrator)
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