Audiobooks narrated by Lia Williams

Noel Streatfeild: Ballet Shoes & more: A BBC Radio 4 Children’s Drama Collection

"Full-cast dramatisations of three of Noel Streatfeild's classic children's books Rising to fame with her 1936 novel Ballet Shoes, Noel Streatfeild soon became one of the most popular authors of her day. She was one of the first winners of the Carnegie Medal and was awarded an OBE in 1983. She died in 1986, but her stories continue to captivate children today. Included here are three of her very best - Ballet Shoes, The Growing Summer and When the Siren Wailed. Ballet Shoes - Adopted by Great Uncle Matthew on his archaeological expeditions, Pauline, Petrova and Posy Fossil grow up as sisters, and vow to make their name famous. When they enrol at the Children's Academy of Dancing, the Fossil girls share a future of a dazzling life onstage, where their dreams and fears will soon come true.... Rosemary Leach, Alexandra Mathie, Victoria Shalet and Lucy Curtis star in this delightful dramatisation. The Growing Summer - It is 1965, and the young Gareth children's lives are about to change for ever. When their father falls dangerously ill, they are sent to Ireland to stay with their eccentric Great-Aunt Dymphna for the summer. There, in her crumbling mansion on the west coast, they face dangers and adventures they could never have imagined... Starring Ann Rye, Holly Grainger, Will Haigh, Emily Fleeshman and Paul Herriott. When the Siren Wailed - When World War Two breaks out, Laura, Andy and Tim Clark are evacuated to the countryside. Brought up in poverty, they find a happy, comfortable home with the Colonel - but then tragedy occurs, and the children decide to run away back to London. Caught up in an air raid, can they make their way through the blackouts and bombed-out streets to find their mother? Narrated by Wendy Richard, this gripping, moving adventure story stars Norman Bird, John Church, Nicholas Courtney and Keeley Hawes. Text copyright © Noel Streatfield 1936 (Ballet Shoes), 1966 (The Growing Summer), 1974 (When the Siren Wailed) Copyright © Beneficiaries of Noel Streatfeild 1986 Cast and credits Written by Noel Streatfeild Ballet Shoes With Rosemary Leach, John Ringham, Alexandra Mathie, Victoria Shalet, Lucy Curtis, Lia Williams, Charles Edwards, Abigail Thaw, Alison Skilbeck, Olivia Breeze, Max Digby, Jonathan Dryden Taylor and Miriam Berry Adapted by Ellen Dryden Directed by Don Taylor First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 27-31 Dec 1999 The Growing Summer With Ann Rye, Holly Grainger, Will Haigh, Emily Fleeshman, Paul Herriott, James Caplin, Catherine Keane, Vincent Patrick Dramatised by Julie Wilkinson Directed by Sue Sutton Mayo First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9 Aug 2000 When the Siren Wailed Narrated by Wendy Richard With Norman Bird, John Church, Nicholas Gatt, David Goudge, Keeley Hawes, Joan Matheson, Marc Murphy, Judy Parkin, Christopher Scott, Joan Walker, Melinda Walker, Howard Ward, Nicholas Courtney, Malcolm Hebden and Eva Stuart Dramatised by Richard Pinner Produced by Mary Kalemkarian Researcher: Lis Roberts First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15 Jan-19 Mar 1989 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Noel Streatfeild (Author), Abigail Thaw, Ann Rye, Charles Edwards, Emily Fleeshman, Full Cast, Holliday Grainger, Joan Matheson, Keeley Hawes, Lia Williams, Malcolm Hebden, Nicholas Courtney, Norman Bird, Rosemary Leach, Victoria Shalet, Wendy Richard (Narrator)

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Brian Friel: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: Translations, Faith Healer & More

"Dramatisations and short stories by the award-winning playwright - plus bonus programmes Known as the 'Irish Chekhov', Brian Friel was one of the most renowned dramatists of his generation, producing over 30 plays in a career spanning six decades. Included here are some of his best-known works, as well as mesmerising radio documentaries featuring the author himself, in his own words. Beginning with his modern classic about language and power, Translations, this collection goes on to showcase two further masterpieces: Faith Healer (voted one of the 100 most important plays of the 20th Century by the National Theatre) and the play that launched Friel to international acclaim, Philadelphia, Here I Come! With settings ranging from the 1830s to the present day, all are centred around the small fictional town of Ballybeg, and share key themes including the stories we tell ourselves, the nature of truth and the unreliability of memory. Among the stellar casts are Samuel Barnett, Mark Bazeley, Dermot Crowley, Lia Williams, Phil Daniels and Donal Donnelly. Also featured are five short stories: 'The Skelper', 'My True Kinsman', 'The Death of a Scientific Humanist', 'The Gold in the Sea' and 'Everything Neat and Tidy', read by Adrian Dunbar. We conclude with two talks by Brian Friel - the 'fragment of autobiography' Self Portrait and The Green Years, a lyrical account of his childhood in Derry - and the fascinating documentary Staging Ireland, telling the story of the radical Derry theatre company Field Day, founded by Friel and Stephen Rea with the aim of challenging their nation's view of itself. Production credits Written by Brian Friel Text copyright © Brian Friel 1959 ('The Skelper'), 1961 ('My True Kinsman'), 1964 (Philadelphia, Here I Come!, 'The Death of a Scientific Humanist'), 1965 ('Everything Nice and Tidy'), 1966 ('The Gold in the Sea'), 1979 (Faith Healer), 1980 (Translations) All rights reserved Translations Cast: Samuel Barnett, Mark Bazeley, John Paul Connolly, Dermot Crowley, Roisin Gallagher, David Ireland, Aoife McMahon, Gerard McSorley, Eugene O'Hare, Eileen Walsh Adapted by Michael Duke. Directed by Kirsty Williams First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4 September 2010 Faith Healer Frank - Owen Roe Grace - Lia Williams Teddy - Phil Daniels Directed by Peter Kavanagh. First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 12 September 2010 Philadelphia, Here I Come! Cast: Donal Donnelly, Gertrude Russell, J G Devlin, Kate Binchy, Harold Goldblatt, Patrick Magee, Doreen Hepburn, Tommy Duggan, Ronald Wilson, Michael Stuart, Denys Hawthorne, Maurie Taylor, Patrick McAlinney Produced by Ronald Mason. First broadcast BBC Network Three, 25 February 1965 Brian Friel Stories: The Skelper, My True Kinsman, Everything Neat and Tidy, The Gold in the Sea, The Death of a Scientific Humanist Read by Adrian Dunbar. Produced by Heather Larmour First broadcast BBC Radio 4 Extra, 11 March 2013, 12 March 2013, 13 March 2013, 14 March 2013, 15 March 2013 Brian Friel: Self Portrait With Brian Friel First broadcast BBC Radio Ulster, 1971 The Green Years With Brian Friel First broadcast Northern Ireland Home Service, 30 April 1964 Staging Ireland Presented by Robbie Meredith With Seamus Heaney, Tom Paulin, Stephen Rea and Seamus Deane First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5 June 2007 ©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Brian Friel (Author), Adrian Dunbar, Aiofe Mcmahon, Dermot Crowley, Full Cast, Lia Williams, Mark Bazeley, Phil Daniels, Samuel Barnett (Narrator)

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The Fyodor Dostoevsky BBC Radio Drama Collection: Including Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, Devils

"BBC radio productions of Dostoevsky's masterpieces, plus selected shorter fiction and bonus programmes exploring his life and work One of the most important and influential Russian writers of the 19th Century, Fyodor Dostoevsky is admired worldwide for his great realist novels, exploring questions of morality, philosophy and the nature of existence. This compilation contains the BBC radio productions of his four most famous novels - as well as three lesser-known works and two bonus documentaries - collected together for the first time. Crime and Punishment - When he tests out a horrific theory, young Raskolnikov finds himself pursued by the cunning investigator Porfiry Petrovich. This thrilling tale of guilt and redemption stars Barnaby Kay and Jim Norton. The Idiot - Arriving back in Russia after years spent abroad treating his epilepsy, Prince Mishkin learns the story of the woman who will dominate his life - the spoilt but captivating Nastasya... Dostoevsky's most personal novel stars Paul Rhys, Roger Allam and Lia Williams. Devils - Idealism curdles into murderous anarchy in this fresh, contemporary 3-part adaptation of Dostoevsky's terrifying masterpiece, starring Gary Lilburn, Jane Whittenshaw, Joseph Arkley and Jonathan Forbes. The Brothers Karamazov- The Karamazov family reunite for a meeting with their father to discuss Dmitry's inheritance. But the unpredictable Fyodor seems unwilling to play the game.... Stars Roy Marsden, Paul Hilton and Nicholas Boulton. The Friend of the Family - Russia, 1859, and the Manor of Stephanchikovo is thrown into chaos when a former sergeant sets himself up as an arbiter of morals and taste. David Suchet and Clive Merrison star in this farcical comedy. Bobok - Loitering in the cemetery after a funeral, a drunken writer overhears the conversations of the recently deceased corpses... This blackly comic short story is performed by Boris Isarov. Dream of a Ridiculous Man - A study in music and words of Dostoevsky's vision of an idyllic, prelapsarian world. Read by Ronald Pickup. Dostoevsky and Dangerous Ideas - John Gray reflects on the lessons Dostoevsky's novels teach us about the perils of misguided idealism. Dr Rowan Williams on Dostoevsky - The onetime Archbishop of Canterbury joins Susan Hitch to consider conflicting ideas about spiritual regeneration and existentialism, as embodied in Dostoevsky's characters. First published 1859 (The Friend of the Family), 1866 (Crime and Punishment), 1869 (The Idiot), 1872 (Demons), 1873 ('Bobok'), 1877 ('The Dream of a Ridiculous Man'), 1880 (The Brothers Karamazov)"

Fyodor Dostoevsky (Author), Alex Jennings, Barnaby Kay, David Suchet, Full Cast, Lia Williams, Nicholas Boulton, Paul Hilton, Paul Rhys, Roger Allam, Roy Marsden (Narrator)

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November Dead List: A Full-Cast Crime Drama: The Complete Series 1 and 2

"DCI Greave is on the hunt for serial killers in this gripping Radio 4 full cast crime series. Series 1: Each Roman Catholic parish compiles a Book of the Dead from the lists of departed loved ones submitted by parishioners. Printed on the front of the envelopes are three words: November Dead List. In this series, a young priest opens one such envelope and discovers - not a list of the dead but a list of people he knows to be alive, and members of his congregation. At first he thinks it's someone's idea of a joke. Then the people named start turning up dead. Greave is played by Nicola Walker Series 2: Set in rural Norfolk, one of the lowest crime areas in the country, DCI Greave leads a team investigating two potentially linked murders. Both victims had their heads shaved antemortem and Greave discovers a link to a case in London a couple of years ago: the Dead List murders. At each crime scene, she's found prayer cards depicting Christian martyrs whose deaths corresponds to the victims in her case. Greave is played by Lia Williams"

Nick Perry (Author), Full Cast, Lia Williams, Nicola Walker (Narrator)

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Tom and Viv: The heart-breaking story of TS Eliot's marriage to Vivienne Haigh-Wood

"Benedict Cumberbatch stars in the heart-breaking story of TS Eliot's marriage to Viv Haigh-Wood. Michael Hastings' best known play charts the turbulent, doomed marriage of the young TS Eliot and the charismatic Vivienne Haigh-Wood. This moving, highly-charged study has been described as 'one of the most important plays of the 20th century'. Stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Tom, Lia Williams as Viv, David Haig as Maurice and Judy Parfitt as Rose. Adapted and directed by Peter Kavanagh."

Michael Hastings (Author), Benedict Cumberbatch, Full Cast, Lia Williams (Narrator)

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Shirley

"Shirley. This novel depicts a mill owner, Robert, whose business is struggling and in turn rejects his attraction to an orphaned woman, Carolne, in favour of proposing to a rich landowner, Shirley. In Charlotte Bronte's classic Shirley rejects him as she loves Robert's poor brother, Louis, but has too much pride to admit her feelings. Caroline withers away due to the rejection by Robert until discovering Shirley's governess is her long lost mother which rekindles her life. Robert's obsession with profits means he ignores his workers needs until he is shot by an opposing faction. His experience at relying entirely on other people lead him to realise his mistakes and as his business picks up he helps his workers and reignites his attraction to Caroline. Shirley and Louis overcome their differences to begin speaking to one another in hope of an eventual marriage. Lia Williams, a remarkable talent, reads this English classic"

Charlotte Bronte (Author), Lia Williams (Narrator)

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Forgetting Curve, The: A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation

"A tense, white-knuckle ride of a play from BBC Radio 4 in which a rather self-satisfied hero embarks, reluctantly, on a voyage of self-discovery. Originally broadcast as the 'Afternoon Play' on 7 January 2009, and repeated on 31 March 2011. As an expert on memory loss, Greg Cooke is asked to invalidate the testimony of an eyewitness in a high-profile murder trial. He undermines the Prosecution's key witness by convincing the jury that we forget as much within 24 hours as we do over a whole year. As a result, a vicious murderer walks free, but Greg is soon to discover there's a price to pay... 'The Forgetting Curve' was written by Emmy-nominated TV and Film writer Hugh Costello, and stars Michael Glenn Murphy as Greg Cooke. Also featured amongst the cast are Lia Williams, Chris McHallem, Andrea Irvine, Karen Ardiff, Annie McCartney, Richard Howard, writer Hugh Costello and Inam Mirza."

Hugh Costello (Author), Andrea Irvine, Annie Mccartney, Chris Mchallem, Hugh Costello, Inam Mirza, Karen Ardiff, Lia Williams, Michael Glenn Murphy, Richard Howard (Narrator)

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Charles And Mary

"A BBC Radio 3 play exploring the extraordinary relationship between brother and sister Charles and Mary Lamb, the writers of 'The Tales of Shakespeare' (1807), the seminal children's introduction to Shakespeare, which is still in print. Originally broadcast as part of the 'Drama on 3' series on 16 January 2011. Although their publication is of great renown, what is less well known are the tragic circumstances, domestic and personal, behind the partnership of Charles and Mary. The Lamb family were London born and bred, bohemian and penniless. A combination of poverty and stress drove Mary insane, and she committed a shocking crime. Charles saved her from prison and promised he would always take care of her. Mary was never 'sane' again but during the writing of 'The Tales' alongside her brother, she was at her sanest. Literary production gave order and structure to her life. The main essence of this play explores the connection between literary creativity and mental equilibrium. 'Charles and Mary' was written by experienced novelist and playwright Carlo Gebler ('The Eleventh Summer', 'The Cure' and 'How to Murder a Man'), and stars BAFTA award-winning Lia Williams and Paul Rhys as the leading characters. The supporting cast includes Anna Carteret, Dudley Sutton, Mark Bazeley, Marcella Riordan, Christine Kavanagh and Sam Dale."

Carlo Gebler (Author), Lia Williams, Paul Rhys (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Lia Williams