Audiobooks narrated by Jessica Alade

"What is a dramaturg? What is dramaturgy? What are the political implications for the way that plays produce meaning in performance? Over the last decade, the role of the dramaturg has become more common in the theatrical process, but it is still a new term for many theatre-goers. Theatre & Dramaturgy offers a working definition of what dramaturgy means, and asks how understanding theatre from the perspective of dramaturgy can help us understand the world around us. This concise study examines how western histories and practices of theatre have functioned to achieve their effects, through understanding dramaturgy as the arrangement or structure of the work in time and space – both at the fictional level and in relation to performance. Exploring the relationship between plays and their meaning in production, this guide focuses on how understanding dramaturgy is critical to understanding how plays achieve their effects. C 2023 Zoe Svendsen P 2026 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC"

Zoe Svendsen (Author), Jessica Alade (Narrator)

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The High Life: A swoony, high-society romance with plenty of yearning, scheming and spice

"'I loved this witty, captivating story of two hearts finding each other' FRANCES MENSAH WILLIAMS 'A fresh take on the fake dating trope, this sexy novel had me hooked from page one' CAMILLA ISLEY 'This romance is the escape we've all been looking for – a must read for the summer' ALLIE SAMBERTS As an airline heiress, Imani Davies has spent twenty-eight years living a life of luxury and glamour. Jet-setting across the globe on a whim, dining at the most exclusive restaurants and rubbing shoulders with the world’s elite. Imani has it all, and she’ll do pretty much anything to keep her tycoon father happy and maintain the status quo. But when her father proposes a marriage between herself and Asher Vouvalis, the enigmatic scion of the Vouvalis Hotel empire, Imani learns that she does, in fact, have a limit. Determined not to spend the rest of her life in a loveless marriage that only serves her father’s business, Imani conjures up a desperate lie. Surely her father wouldn’t force her to marry her bitter ex . . . would he? Everyone has FALLEN IN LOVE with Anise Starre 'Fun, fresh and always sexy – Anise Starre knows romance' HANNAH GRACE 'Anise is baaaack baby!!! I absolutely ATE THIS UP!!' READER ?'Anise has a magnetic, tender and butterfly-inducing way of writing' SORAYA NADIA BOUAZZAOUI 'The tension and chemistry?! Utterly fantastic' READER ?'This flirty, slow-burn romance is filled with fabulous banter' FARRAH ROCHON 'This book brought the smiles for miles and a romance to boot' READER"

Anise Starre (Author), Daniel Smith, Jessica Alade (Narrator)

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Hooked on You

"This job is about to hook, line and sink her… Ore has (almost) landed her dream job as an investigative reporter for the New Yorker. There’s only one catch – they’ll only give her the job if she can get the scoop on working for the elusive billionaire Harrison Marigold. To write the article, she’s got to spend two weeks on his luxury yacht off the coast of Australia, and convince the crew to spill the beans. Daniel has (almost) landed his dream job as captain of a super yacht down under. There’s only one catch – he has to take one last job, chartering a yacht for an eccentric billionaire, and making sure an unfairly beautiful journalist doesn’t distract his crew from their work. But making sure Ore doesn’t sink his chances of staying on course by sea-ducing his crew turns into a much harder job than Daniel expected. Ore’s also finding her assignment more difficult than she ever thought, thanks to the crew’s loyalty to Captain Daniel, but also, the waves of attraction towards him that keep crashing over her. Readers love Ada's yacht romcoms! ‘Wonderful. Read it!’ NetGalley reviewer ‘Perfect for reading by the pool or on the beach. A must read!’ NetGalley reviewer ‘Charming, witty and full of banter’ NetGalley reviewer"

Ada Barumé (Author), Jessica Alade, Oliver Lidert (Narrator)

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In Memory of Us: A profound evocation of memory and post-Windrush life in Britain

"What does it mean to remember? Joined at birth, then pulled apart, Selina and Zora's relationship is marked by a pattern of closeness and separation. Growing up in 50s' and 60s' London under the shadow of Enoch Powell, they are instinctively dependent on each other, and yet Zora yearns for her own identity. But in the eyes of the people around them, the twins are interchangeable. They come as a pair. They are Selzora. Now in her seventies and living with the early stages of dementia, Selina is tracing shards of memory. She is intent on untangling the traumatic events of the past that changed the twins' lives. Perhaps Lydia, who has reintroduced herself to Selina with sharp, cool charisma, will help her find answers. But even as Selina struggles to make sense of her memories, it's all too clear that Lydia is hiding something. In Memory of Us is a profound evocation of memory, and the strategies employed for illusion and survival in the wake of racism. It offers an often-overlooked insight into life as a Black Briton after the Windrush generation. Praise for In Memory of Us: 'This reflective study of memory and illusion as a survival technique is fascinating. Offering insight into life as a Black Briton after the Windrush generation, this thoughtful novel entertains and educates' Platinum 'Pacily written' The Observer 'A heartstring-tugging exploration of memory, grief and race in Britain. Roy's prose drips with poignancy and elegance; her characters come to life on the page and you have no choice but to surrender your heart to their journey' Elvin James Mensah, author of Small Joys 'Jacqueline Roy's poignant and deeply moving novel draws you into the unique world of living as an identical twin, and a mixed-race one in a deeply racist society at that…A deeply powerful read' heat 'Around and within this tale of toxic friendship, sibling rivalry and betrayal, Roy unfolds a history of British race-relations . . . This is an important novel. Roy's writing is both subtle and supple. In compelling but understated prose, she exposes inequalities of race, class and gender that corrupt our interpersonal relationships and our sense of self. In her novels, Roy demonstrates that the personal is always political. Here, she also reminds us of the necessity of facing the past to understand the present' Judith Bryan"

Jacqueline Roy (Author), Jessica Alade (Narrator)

Audiobook

Goddesses: 'Bold, gripping and divinely comic' T.J. Emerson

"'Exciting, contemporary, heartfelt and clever' Greg Mosse 'Riveting, real and raw . . . a powerful journey' Balvinder Sopal 'Wisely and wittily leaps into the heart of friendships' Sabrina Mahfouz 'Dares to subject modern feminism to a tough and timely cross-examination' T.J. Emerson The hen party from hell descends into darkness, perfect for fans of Nikki May, Dawn O'Porter and Zakiya Dalila Harris Some friends have your back. Some friends stab you in the back. Ayesha is just about finding her feet on the London stand-up scene, but when her response to a sexist heckler goes viral, she finds herself drawn into an exclusive group of activists: a sacred circle of change makers, each woman with a specific gift to contribute to the cause. The circle draws in her friend Yaz too and they are both invited to an intimate hen do, except it's not a hen do – it's a Goddess Retreat. While Ayesha, longing to find her tribe, tries desperately to fit herself into a shape that the women will accept, Yaz treats the entire 'itinerary' with open disdain. But the Goddess Retreat is no laughing matter. As the weekend descends into chaos, they'll need to stick together if they want to get out alive. Goddesses is a bitingly brilliant novel that explores the power dynamics of sisterhood and activism, the dark side of white feminism and the importance of making your voice heard. READERS LOVE GODDESSES 'Captivating' 'Thrilling' 'Filled with unexpected twists' 'So damn INTENSE' "

Nina Millns (Author), Jessica Alade (Narrator)

Audiobook

This Could be Everything: 'Exquisite. Enchanting. Quite possibly perfect. The next One Day/Me Before You' VERONICA HENRY

"The perfect, feel-good, comforting read to cosy up with as the nights draw in. Escape to 1990, Notting Hill, first love, and hope. 'Exquisite. Enchanting. Quite possibly perfect. The next One Day/Me Before You' VERONICA HENRY 'Every time I have read one of Eva Rice's books it has felt like a modern classic. Tender, and acutely observed, the characters of This Could Be Everything have stayed with me. Reading it every night felt like wrapping myself a comfort blanket' JOJO MOYES 'The most gorgeous feel-good story about love and grief and how the smallest things can start a journey of healing.' GEORGINA MOORE, author of The Garnett Girls 'I finished it in a breathless emotional gulp. Truly wonderful, incredibly moving...funny, witty, wise and superbly written...The age beautifully evoked' STEPHEN FRY 'You will rejoice as February gradually finds happiness again, consoled by two little canaries, the treadmill of the Top 40, the rare beauties of Nineties London and finally true love. Eva's latest story HAS everything' JILLY COOPER It's 1990. The Happy Mondays are in the charts, a 15-year-old called Kate Moss is on the cover of the Face magazine, and Julia Roberts wears thigh-boots for the poster for a new movie called Pretty Woman. February Kingdom is nineteen years old when she is knocked sideways by family tragedy. Then one evening in May she finds an escaped canary in her kitchen and it sparks a glimmer of hope in her. With the help of the bird called Yellow, Feb starts to feel her way out of her own private darkness, just as her aunt embarks on a passionate and all-consuming affair with a married American drama teacher. THIS COULD BE EVERYTHING is a coming-of-age story with its roots under the pavements of a pre-Richard Curtis-era Notting Hill that has all but vanished. It's about what happens when you start looking after something more important than you, and the hope a yellow bird can bring… Praise for This Could Be Everything: 'A beautiful, atmospheric, brilliantly observed thing of joy. Eva Rice is a fantastic observer and relayer of the human experience. Absolutely wonderful' Mel Giedroyc 'A beautiful balm of a book full of hope and possibility, This Could Be Everything will break your heart and piece it back together again with wit, warmth and magic. The way Rice weaves together fiction and reality is delicious, with details on every page that will have pop fans, Londoners and 90s nostalgics squealing with delight. Nobody captures the exhilaration of first love and teen fandom quite like her' Lauren Bravo 'A reason to be cheerful - THIS COULD BE EVERYTHING is the book I've been waiting my whole life for, a perfect 90s period piece about sisters, it's glam, gorgeous, a little bit melancholic and a lot charming' Daisy Buchanan 'This moving, hopeful and brilliantly told story inhabits the West London of my youth. I loved it' Betty Boo 'A gorgeous story about first love and hope' Red 'A moving novel about sisterhood, grief and first love' Good Housekeeping 'The story of loss, love - and ultimately hope - is beautifully told. You won't be able to put it down' Heat"

Eva Rice (Author), Jessica Alade (Narrator)

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The Estate: My Life Working on the Front Line of Britain's Housing Crisis

"Charmain Bynoe, a council housing officer for the London borough of Southwark, inspired the nation when she appeared on the TV series Council House Britain. Now, in The Estate, she shines a light on the challenges faced by so many of our citizens and provides heartwarming and inspirational stories of how they have been helped to help themselves. The role of our council housing officers is often overlooked and forgotten about. But their work is vital and, for some, the officers are their best hope for a better quality of life. Sometimes, Charmain works with those who are struggling to cope, finding it hard to keep a roof over their heads or to deal with day-to-day challenges. All they may need is some hope, and she is there to suggest a way forward. In Charmain's powerful new book, she looks back at some of the people she's worked with, from the old man who lives in squalor because he can no longer keep his flat tidy and needs support, to the young Ghanaian woman in a coercive relationship who fears that if she speaks out she will be deported. Britain's housing crisis remains an enormous issue for the country, which was only further highlighted by the Grenfell Tower disaster. But, as Charmain shows, with humanity and consideration for others, we can make things better in ways that don't have to cost a fortune but can deliver results that are truly priceless. "

Charmain Bynoe (Author), Jessica Alade (Narrator)

Audiobook

Afterwards: heart-breaking, emotional and truly uplifting

"This is the story of loss - and what happens afterwards… When Emma gets home after work one evening, she calls hello to her husband Jay, as she always does. Stepping into the kitchen, she sees he has done the shopping, as she had reminded him to; remembered to buy peppercorns; has bought her flowers. Everything is neatly put away. But Jay is not there. A photographer, all Jay has left behind is his camera containing five photographs, which are unlike his other work. Emma follows the images to Cornwall, beginning a journey in which old relationships are re-written and new ones are formed. As the visual mystery of each photograph unfolds, Emma finds herself unravelling and perilously close to breaking point. But could her unlikely salvation lie in the sea, a small community of swimmers and the promise of something Emma thought she didn't want? 'Truly beautiful' Debbie Johnson 'A stunning story about love, longing and learning to live again after loss. Utterly immersive, and brimming with exquisite prose, AFTERWARDS is a thought-provoking and powerful debut with a message of hope at its heart. Emma's journey is guaranteed to stay with you long after you turn the final page' Holly Miller 'A delicately crafted literary novel, capturing in pin-sharp prose the myriad of emotions that grief can cause and how even in the darkest of circumstances, we can learn to live again' Living Magazines 'I've already given this debut novel to my mum and my best friend. It's a raw and very human account of what happens "afterwards"' Back Story "

Charlotte Leonard (Author), Jessica Alade (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Gosling Girl

"'[The Gosling Girl] interrogates the context of a child's crime and simplistic notions of evil by society and the media. It fosters understanding & empathy and draws us deep inside the protagonist's psychology' Bernardine Evaristo Monster? Murderer? Child? Victim? Michelle Cameron's name is associated with the most abhorrent of crimes. A child who lured a younger child away from her parents and to her death, she is known as the black girl who murdered a little white girl; evil incarnate according to the media. As the book opens, she has done her time, and has been released as a young woman with a new identity to start her life again. When another shocking death occurs, Michelle is the first in the frame. Brought into the police station to answer questions around a suspicious death, it is only a matter of time until the press find out who she is now and where she lives and set about destroying her all over again. Natalie Tyler is the officer brought in to investigate the murder. A black detective constable, she has been ostracised from her family and often feels she is in the wrong job. But when she meets Michelle, she feels a complicated need to protect her, whatever she might have done. The Gosling Girl is a moving, powerful account of systemic, institutional and internalised racism, and of how the marginalised fight back. It delves into the psychological after-effects of a crime committed in childhood, exploring intersections between race and class as Michelle's story is co-opted and controlled by those around her. Jacqueline writes with a cool restraint and The Gosling Girl is a raw and powerful novel that will stay with the reader long after they have turned the last page. Praise for The Gosling Girl: 'This intriguing procedural is above all a portrait of two damaged women and a moving demonstration of how race and class have affected their lives' The Times and The Sunday Times Crime Club 'This is a beautifully written, insightful and thought-provoking novel. Michelle's story drew me in immediately, and while it's heartbreaking in places, it's uplifting in others. Jacqueline Roy writes with deep compassion and empathy...' Susan Elliot Wright, author of All You Ever Wanted 'A thoughtful, slow-burn exploration of how damaged children damage... At times, disturbing, poignant, and thought-provoking' Sarah Vaughan, author of Anatomy of a Scandal and Reputation "

Jacqueline Roy (Author), Jessica Alade (Narrator)

Audiobook

Lives Like Mine

"Mother. To three small children, their heritage dual like hers. Daughter. To a mother who immigrated to make a better life but has been rejected by her chosen country. Wife. To a man who loves her but who will not defend her to his intolerant family. Woman… Whose roles now define her and trap her in a life she no longer recognises… Meet Monica, the flawed heroine at the heart of LIVES LIKE MINE. With her three children in school, Monica finds herself wondering if this is all there is. Despite all the effort and the smiles, in the mirror she sees a woman hollowed out from putting everyone else first, tolerating her in-laws' intolerance, and wondering if she has a right to complain when she's living the life that she has created for herself. Then along comes Joe, a catalyst for change in the guise of a flirtatious parent on the school run. Though the sudden spark of their affair is hedonistic and oh so cathartic, Joe soon offers a friendship that shows Monica how to resurrect and honour the parts of her identity that she has long suppressed. He is able to do for Monica what Dan has never managed to, enabling her both to face up to a past of guilty secrets and family estrangements, and to redefine her future. "

Eva Verde (Author), Jessica Alade (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Jessica Alade

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