Audiobooks Narrated by Priyanga Burford

The Uma Rao Mysteries: Three Full-Cast BBC Radio Crime Dramas

"Three original murder mysteries featuring Bangalore detective Uma Rao Actor, writer and director Mahesh Dattani is the first playwright in English to be awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award by India’s National Academy of Letters. Included here are all three of his plays featuring Uma Rao – PhD student, daughter-in-law of Bangalore's deputy commissioner of police, and wife of the superintendent. Priyanga Burford (neé Elan), stars as the intrepid sleuth, with full casts including Shiv Grewal, Saeed Jaffrey, Ajay Chhabra, Amerjit Deu and Nitin Chandra Ganatra. Seven Circles Around the Fire – For her university thesis, Uma is conducting research into the Hijra community (third gender people who are invited to sing, dance and give blessings at weddings and births, but marginalized from mainstream society). But her inquiries uncover a case of corruption, murder and a terrible miscarriage of justice... The Swami and Winston – When an English aristocrat is found murdered outside a Hindu temple, the only clues are a mischievous dog and a Burberry raincoat. Why was Lady Montefiore visiting an ashram, and who could have wanted to kill her? As Uma delves into her death, she comes into contact with religious fanaticism at its most dangerous... Uma and the Fairy Queen – Attending a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Uma is embroiled in another murder investigation when the actor playing Oberon, Michael Forsyth, is kidnapped, reappears just in time to go on, and is then found shot dead after the show. Suspicion falls on his wife, but Uma is convinced that the solution to the mystery lies in the play itself... Seven Circles around the Fire Uma Rao – Priyanga Elan Suresh Rao – Rehan Sheikh Constable Muniswami – Shiv Grewal Jumpa – Saeed Jaffrey Anarkili – Rikki Beadle-Blair Saleem – Amerjit Deu Mr Shirma – Nitin Chandra Ganatra Suba Shirma – Ajay Chhabra Produced and directed by Jeremy Mortimer First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9 January 1999 The Swami and Winston Uma Rao – Priyanga Elan Constable – Shiv Grewal Charles – Andrew Wincott Suresh – Ajay Chhabra Swami – Saeed Jaffrey Sitaram – Paul Bhattarcharjee Lady Montefiore – Richenda Carey Driver – Amerjit Deu Farmer – Nitin Chandra Ghanatra Produced and directed by Jeremy Mortimer Music by Eero Hameenniemi First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3 June 2000 Uma and the Fairy Queen Uma Rao – Priyanga Elan Suresh – Ajay Chhabra Nila – Souad Faress Feroz – Akbar Kurtha Malik – Kaleem Janjua Liam – Gerard McDermott Michael – Stephen Critchlow Produced and directed by Marc Beeby First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 16 August 2003 © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Mahesh Dattani (Author), Ajay Chhabra, Akbar Kurtha, Amerjit Deu, Andrew Wincott, Full Cast, Gerard McDermott, Kaleem Janjua, Nitin Chandra Ganatra, Paul Bhattarcharjee, Priyanga Burford, Richenda Carey, Saeed Jaffrey, Shiv Grewal, Souad Faress, Stephen Critchlow (Narrator)

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Songs of Snow and Silence

"Imagine, first, a forest full of snow…   This is the story of a unique generation of violins. It begins in the silence of snow-filled forests and brings us to the chatter and traffic of a twenty-first century city.   It is the story of their maker, Antonio Stradivari, the sparkling young prodigy who did his greatest work late in life, lifting music from the silence of all he had lost. It is also the story of all of us. Of the passions that flicker through our lives, and what might unfold if we chase them. It is the story of how our greatest loves will outlive us, if only we will let them go. Intimate and eternal, Songs of Snow and Silence by Jen Emery captures the solitary song of a woodlark, the crackle of a campfire and the echoing laughter around it. This is a voice steeped in ancient wisdom, made fresh by a grit and bright wit. Loreto Ruiz’s exquisite paintings bring alive in colour and movement the music, time, and emotions that shape this work, offering a soaring beauty and empathy that transcends words. Have you lived long enough yet to know what it is to wake, stiff and cold before dawn by a burned down fire?"

Jen Emery (Author), Priyanga Burford (Narrator)

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HighLites: Series 1-6: A BBC Radio 4 comedy

"All six series of the BBC radio comedy centred around a village hairdressing salon - plus pilot episode Based in the little town of Bridgeford, High-Lites salon boasts the most misanthropic hairdresser in Britain: sharp-tongued, mean-minded Bev. With the help of her soft-hearted (though slightly dim) assistant Shirley, she tends to the tresses of a motley crew of local characters. As she cuts their hair, she finds out everything that's going on in their lives - and wastes no time in spreading some gossip of her own... In the pilot episode, one of her little lies takes on a life of its own - and a dodgy dryer nearly spells disaster. Series 1 finds the salon on the brink of bankruptcy, forcing Bev to take desperate measures to keep it afloat. In HighLites: Retouched, the two stylists go mobile when their premises are shut down by Environmental Health, and in HighLites: Split Ends, Bev tries to undercut her rival, Anton, to secure a lucrative wedding hair gig. HighLites: Wash and Blow finds the hairdressing duo heading out on a cruise, hoping to drum up a little business below deck. But it's not all plain sailing... In HighLites: Dye Another Day, Bev and Shirl are faced with a huge tax bill, and connive to inherit from a wealthy old man's will. And in HighLites: Natural Bounce, the world's worst hairdressers discover that there's money to be made in fitness, and decide to open a gym above the salon - but is this an expansion too far? Co-written by Steve Chambers and Phil Nodding, this fast-paced, farcical comedy stars Lorraine Ashbourne as Bev and Rosie Cavaliero as Shirley, with a supporting cast including Marlene Sidaway, Sheila Reid, Angela Lonsdale, Adjoa Andoh, Adam Nagaitis and Joel MacCormack. Production credits Written by Steve Chambers and Phil Nodding Produced by Jessica Dromgoole Directed by Colin Guthrie and Liz Webb First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15 December 2009 (Pilot), 13-17 February 2012 (HighLites), 8-12 October 2012 (HighLites: Retouched), 2-6 December 2013 (HighLites: Split Ends), 5-9 May 2014 (HighLites: Wash and Blow), 8-12 June 2015 (HighLites: Dye Another Day), 25-29 July 2016 (HighLites: Natural Bounce) Cast Beverley - Lorraine Ashbourne Shirley - Rosie Cavaliero Matthew - Rhys Jennings/Owen Pullar Alice - Emerald O'Hanrahan/Marlene Sidaway Enid - Kate Layden/Nicola Sloane/Sheila Reid/Susan Jameson Nigel - John Biggins/Simon Bubb/John Norton/Chris Pavlo Lois - Joannah Tincey/Stephanie Racine Butt - Ewan Hooper/James Lailey/Robert Blythe/Sean Murray Paramedic - Joseph Cohen-Cole John - Carl Prekopp Henry - Gerard McDermott Melvin - Adam Billington Diane - Alex Rivers/Angela Lonsdale Wendy - Victoria Inez Hardy/Eleanor Crooks/Rhiannon Neads/Nicola Ferguson Harriet - Adjoa Andoh/Carolyn Pickles Hilary - Nicola Sloane Belinda - Stephanie Racine Satnav/Nurse/Tannoy - Sarah Thom Antony - Adam Nagaitis Gordon - Ben Crowe Lucinda - Liza Sadovy Ronnie - Michael Bertenshaw Liz - Christine Absalom Tess - Priyanga Burford Captain Andersen - Joel MacCormack Julie - Carys Eleri Doug - Stephen Critchlow Annabeth - Jane Slavin Daz/Tony - Sam Rix Beryl - Melanie Kilburn With Adie Allen and Scarlett Brookes ©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Phil Nodding, Steve Chambers (Author), Adam Nagaitis, Adjoa Andoh, Angela Lonsdale, Full Cast, Lorraine Ashbourne, Priyanga Burford, Rhys Jennings, Rosie Cavaliero, Sheila Reid (Narrator)

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