Audiobooks narrated by Sinead Cusack

Rumer Godden: Black Narcissus, The Greengage Summer & The Dark Horse: Three Full-Cast BBC Radio Dram

"Full-cast radio adaptations of three of Rumer Godden's bestselling novels, plus a bonus interview with the author Rumer Godden is well known for her acclaimed novels for adults and children. She wrote over 60 works in her lifetime, nine of which were made into films. Included here are dramatisations of three of her classic tales, as well as a fascinating interview with the renowned author. Black Narcissus - A group of nuns establishing a remote mission in an old palace in the Himalayas is warned that it is no place for a nunnery. And as the Sisters' tragic destiny unfolds, those prophetic words are soon proved right. Sinead Cusack and Lesley Sharp star in this atmospheric dramatisation of Godden's 1939 novel, famously adapted as an Oscar-winning film by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. The Greengage Summer - When their mother falls ill during a holiday to France, the Grey children are left to entertain themselves. Over the course of the long, hot summer, they are caught up in an adult world of deception and lies... Starring Ellie Beaven, Abigail Docherty and Michael Maloney. The Dark Horse - Set in Calcutta in 1933, this is the story of a thoroughbred racehorse, a jockey seeking a second chance, a shrewd Mother Superior and a miracle - all based on true events. Geoffrey Whitehead, Indira Varma, Dearbhla Molloy and Ioan Meredith star in this heartwarming drama. Third Ear - Recorded in 1992, this illuminating Radio 3 interview sees the octogenarian Rumer Godden talking to Geoffrey Baskerville about how her life and beliefs are reflected in her writing. Text copyright © The Rumer Godden Literary Trust 1939 (Black Narcissus), 1958 (The Greengage Summer), 1981 (The Dark Horse) Black Narcissus Sister Clodagh - Sinead Cusack Sister Ruth - Lesley Sharp Mr Dean - David Rintoul Dilip Rai - Ronny Jhutti Sister Briony - Susan Engel Sister Philippa - Jenny Lee Sister Honey - Rachel Atkins The General/Father Roberts - Sam Dastor Ayah - Indira Joshi Mother Dorothea/Sister Adela - Carolyn Jones Con - Alastair Danson Kanchi - Sumitra Bhagat Joseph Anthony - Dhiraj Prasai Dramatised by April de Angelis Music by Elizabeth Parker Directed by Sally Avens First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 December 1997 The Greengage Summer Cecile - Ellie Beaven Joss - Abigail Docherty Hester - Ciara Janson Eliot - Michael Maloney With Luke Newbury, Claire Marchionne, Rachel Atkins, Theo Fraser Steele, Sean Baker, Jenny Lee, Brian Parr and Chris Wright Dramatised by Dawn Lowe Watson Directed by Sally Avens First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 May 1988 The Dark Horse Sister Morag - Dearbhla Molloy Levantine - Nickolas Grace Ted - Ioan Meredith John Quillan - Gareth Armstrong With Geoffrey Whitehead, Indira Varma, Siobhan Stamp, Frances Jeater, Nitin Chandra Ganatra, Richard Rees and David Antrobus Dramatised by Liane Aukin Directed by David Hunter First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5 September 1988 Third Ear Presented by Geoffrey Baskerville With Rumer Godden Produced by Vivien Devlin First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 12 May 1992 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Rumer Godden (Author), Abigail Docherty, David Rintoul, Dearbhla Molloy, Ellie Beaven, Full Cast, Geoffrey Whitehead, Indira Varma, Lesley Sharp, Michael Maloney, Nickolas Grace, Ronny Jhutti, Sinead Cusack (Narrator)

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Anton Chekhov: 6 Full-Cast BBC Radio Productions: The Seagull, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, Wild

"BBC radio productions of some of Anton Chekhov's finest plays A master of Russian realism, Anton Chekhov is renowned for his meticulously observed plays and short stories exploring the human condition, in all its joys and sorrows. Included here are six of his best-known dramas, as well as Michael Frayn's adaptation of Wild Honey, drawn from an early, untitled Chekhov play; and one documentary exploring Chekhov's life and work. Wild Honey - The acclaimed radio version of Michael Frayn's adaptation and Olivier Award-winning comedy, in which village teacher Platonov's youthful ambitions are rekindled when the seductive Sofya arrives. Ian McKellen stars as Platonov The Seagull - Recorded on location in Russia, this much-praised version of Chekhov's classic set on a lakeside dacha features a star cast including Diana Quick, Alex Jennings, Robert Glenister and Helena Bonham-Carter. Ivanov - 19th Century landowner Ivanov is in debt and depressed - can the love of a beautiful young woman rejuvenate him? Alec McCowan, Maurice Denham, Maxine Audley and Judi Dench star in this vintage production, adapted by John Gielgud. The Cherry Orchard- Returning home from Paris, Madame Ranyevskaya and her daughter Anya discover that the family estate must be sold to cover their debts. Can they save their beloved cherry orchard? Starring Sinéad Cusack, Anna Massey, Patricia Routledge and Andrew Sachs. Three Sisters - Stuck in provincial Russia, Olga, Masha and Irina dream of one day returning to Moscow. But life keeps getting in the way... Hattie Morahan, Scarlett Alice Johnson and Flora Spencer-Longhurst star in Chekhov's poignant meditation on love and longing. Uncle Vanya - Life on a rural Russian estate is thrown into turmoil by the visit of the ailing Professor Serebryakov and his beautiful young wife Yelena. Anton Lesser stars as Serebryakov, with Lyndsey Marshal as Yelena and Neil Dudgeon as Vanya. Great Lives - Matthew Parris, William Boyd and Chekhov biographer Donald Rayfield consider the Russian writer's claim to greatness. First published 1887 (Ivanov), 1895 (The Seagull), 1898 (Uncle Vanya), 1900 (Three Sisters), 1904 (The Cherry Orchard), 1984 (Wild Honey) Wild Honey © Michael Frayn 1984, 1985, 2016 Michael Frayn has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as author of this work All rights reserved Cast and credits Written by Anton Chekhov Wild Honey translated and adapted by Michael Frayn Cherry Orchard - Translated by Richard Cottrell Uncle Vanya - Adapted by Christopher Hampton Contents list Wild Honey The Seagull Ivanov The Cherry Orchard Three Sisters Uncle Vanya Great Lives: Anton Chekhov ©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Anton Chekhov (Author), Alex Jennings, Anton Lesser, Full Cast, Hattie Morahan, Helena Bonham-Carter, Ian Mckellen, Judi Dench, Maurice Denham, Robert Glenister, Sinead Cusack (Narrator)

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Ulysses

"The young poet Stephen has been recalled from Paris to Dublin to be at his mother’s deathbed. But he refuses her dying wishes: to kneel and pray for her. Now, holed up in his Martello tower outside the city walls, he has to suffer the taunts of Buck Mulligan by day and, by night, the vision of ‘her eyes, shaking out of death to shake and bend my soul.’ Timelessly evocative, Ulysses is far more than the story of Stephen Dedalus’ journey through Dublin. It is a huge, rich portrayal of human life. In this magnificent, highly accessible, part reading part dramatisation - which includes the famous Molly Bloom soliloquy - the power and truth of Joyce’s vision is as potent as ever. Ulysses stars Stephen Rea and Sinead Cusack, with an introduction by Seamus Heaney. ‘The best book at bedtime’ - Sunday Telegraph."

James Joyce (Author), Full Cast, Sinead Cusack, Stephen Rea (Narrator)

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The Cherry Orchard

"Madame Ranyevskaya and her daughter Anya have returned home from Paris to discover that their family estate – which includes their beloved cherry orchard – has to be sold to cover the family’s debts. They believe a miracle can save their orchard. But will their stubborn pride and fond, childhood memories be enough? Chekhov’s tragic-comedy is about the passing of an era and is a timeless study of a Russian aristocratic family desperately clinging to the past. Among the star cast in this 1974 production are Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies, Sinéad Cusack, Anna Massey, Patricia Routledge and Andrew Sachs."

Anton Chekhov (Author), Andrew Sachs, Anna Massey, Full Cast, Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies, Patricia Routledge, Sinead Cusack (Narrator)

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The Winter’s Tale

"King Leontes of Sicilia is seized by sudden and terrible jealousy of his wife Hermione, whom he accuses of adultery. He believes the child Hermione is bearing was fathered by his friend Polixenes, and when the baby girl is born he orders her to be taken to some wild place and left to die. Though Hermione's child escapes death, Leontes' cruelty has terrible consequences. Loss paves the way for reunion, and life and hope are born out of desolation and despair. One of the late romances in Shakespeare's canon, this complex work is at times tragic, at times humorous, but always entertaining and enlightening. Sinead Cusack plays Hermione, and Ciaran Hinda plays Leontes. Eileen Atkins is Paulina and Paul Jesson is Polixenes. Time the Chorus is played by Sir John Gielgud."

William Shakespeare (Author), Ciaran Hinds, Eileen Atkins, John Sir Gielgud, Paul Jesson, Sinead Cusack, a full cast (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Sinead Cusack