Audiobooks narrated by Peter Woodthorpe

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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Edgar Wallace: A Classic BBC Radio Crime Collection: Four Full-cast Dramatisations

"A collection of the surviving radio crime dramas from ‘The King of Thrillers’ Edgar Wallace was a bestselling author, journalist, playwright and film director, and the creator of King Kong. A prolific writer and celebrity superstar, he was thought to be responsible for a quarter of all new books read in Britain by the late 1920s. Presented here are full-cast adaptations of four of his classic crime novels, readings of four short detective stories, and a vintage recording of Wallace reading one of his own stories. Tying them all together is linking commentary from Edgar Wallace: The Man Who Wrote Too Much?, a documentary celebration of his life and work presented by crime writer Mark Billingham. The Ringer – Seeking revenge for his sister’s death, vigilante and master of disguise ‘The Ringer’ returns from the dead to target shady lawyer Herbert Meister. Can Scotland Yard catch the legendary assassin before he exacts his vengeance? David Davis and Alexander John star in this tense thriller. The Mind of Mr JG Reeder – Unassuming civil servant Mr JG Reeder has the mind of a criminal, which he uses to solve four baffling mysteries in 1920s London. ‘The Poetical Policeman’ sees him tackling a bank robbery and a nightwatchman's death; ‘The Troupe’ finds him probing a jewellery fraud with a theatrical link; in ‘The Green Mamba’ he thwarts a notorious villain, and in ‘The Strange Case’, he sets out to uncover the truth behind the death of a government minister. Read by David Horovitch. On the Spot – Set in 1920s Chicago during Prohibition, Edgar Wallace’s most famous play centres around Tony Perelli, a gangland boss who loads ‘his women with jewels and the coffins of his enemies with orchids’. But Chief of Police John Kelly is after him, determined to see him hang for murder… Starring Peter Woodthorpe as Perelli and Trevor Martin as Kelly. The Man in the Ditch – A vintage recording from 1928 of Edgar Wallace reading his own short story of murder, intrigue and gangland vengeance. The Case of the Frightened Lady – The ancestral home of Lord Lebanon, Mark’s Priory, is the scene of two murders. Inspector Tanner goes down to investigate and is confronted by a terrified young woman… Starring Simon Lack, Lewis Stringer, William Eedle and Valerie White. The Green Pack – West Africa, 1931. When wealthy investor Louis Creet cheats three young explorers out of their rightful share in the goldmine they discovered, they make a deadly pact. Soon after, he is found shot – but did one of them really murder him? David Timson, Paul Gaymon, Peter Egan and Francis de Wolff star. NB: These stories are set in the 1920s and 1930s, and contain some discriminatory language and attitudes that were perhaps typical of the time. Due to the age and off-air nature of the recordings, the sound quality may vary. Copyright © Edgar Wallace 1925 (The Mind of Mr JG Reeder), 1929 (The Ringer), 1930 (On the Spot), 1931 (The Case of the Frightened Lady), 1933 (The Green Pack) © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Edgar Wallace (Author), Alexander John, David Davis, David Horovitch, David Timson, Francis de Wolff, Full Cast, Mark Billingham, Peter Egan, Peter Woodthorpe, Simon Lack, Trevor Martin, William Eedle (Narrator)

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The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring

"With its first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on March 8, 1981, this dramatised tale of Middle Earth became an instant global classic. It boasts a truly outstanding cast including Ian Holm (as Frodo), Sir Michael Hordern (as Gandalf), Robert Stephens (as Aragorn), Bill Nighy (as Sam Gamgee) and John Le Mesurier (as Bilbo). Brian Sibley's famous adaptation has been divided into three corresponding parts, with newly-recorded beginning and end narration by Ian Holm, who now stars as Bilbo in the feature films based on The Lord of the Rings. Part One, The Fellowship of the Ring, introduces us to Frodo Baggins. With his uncle Bilbo having mysteriously disappeared, Frodo finds himself in possession of a simple gold ring that has great and evil power. It is the Ruling Ring, taken long ago from the Dark Lord, Sauron, who now seeks to possess it again. Frodo must do everything he can to prevent this, and with the help of Gandalf the wizard and a band of loyal companions he begins a perilous journey across Middle-earth. Sauron's Black Riders are on their trail as they travel to Rivendell, attempt to cross the snow-swept Misty Mountains and, in desperation, enter the terrifying Mines of Moria. ©2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Richard O'Callaghan (Author), Bill Nighy, David Collings, Douglas Livingstone, Full Cast, Ian Holm, John McAndrew, Michael Hordern, Peter Woodthorpe, Robert Stephens (Narrator)

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The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King

"The evil Saruman has been defeated by Gandalf, but in Mordor the battle for the Ruling Ring continues. Wounded by the giant spider, Shelob, Frodo has been captured by the dreaded orcs. Sam, alone and in possession of the Ring, must rescue his master if their mission - to find the Cracks of Doom, and there destroy the Ring - is to continue. Meanwhile, the other Fellowship members are preparing for war against the armies of the Dark Lord, Sauron... Widely regarded as a broadcasting classic, the BBC Radio dramatisation of 'The Lord of the Rings' stars Ian Holm, Michael Hordern, Robert Stephens, John Le Mesurier and Peter Woodthorpe. ©2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

J.R.R. Tolkien (Author), Bill Nighy, David Collings, Douglas Livingstone, Full Cast, Ian Holm, John Le Mesurier, John McAndrew, Michael Hordern, Peter Woodthorpe, Richard O'Callaghan, Robert Stephens (Narrator)

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The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers

"The second instalment of Tolkien's epic tale, adapted from the original BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation. Having fled the Shire in their escape from Sauron's Dark Riders, Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring have journeyed to Rivendell and beyond. Their mission is to reach the Mountain of Fire in Mordor, where the Ruling Ring can be destroyed, but already their campaign is in jeopardy. Gandalf has fallen into an abyss, and Boromir has fatally succumbed to the power of the Ring. The others are besieged by an army of orcs - save for Frodo and Sam, whose journey down the River Anduin is being watched by a dark and shadowy figure... Widely regarded as a broadcasting classic, the BBC Radio dramatisation of 'The Lord of the Rings' stars Ian Holm, Michael Hordern, Robert Stephens, John Le Mesurier and Peter Woodthorpe. ©2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

J.R.R. Tolkien (Author), Bill Nighy, David Collings, Douglas Livingstone, Full cast, Ian Holm, John McAndrew, Michael Hordern, Peter Woodthorpe, Richard O'Callaghan, Robert Stephens (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Peter Woodthorpe