Audiobooks narrated by Sorcha Cusack

Muriel Spark: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: Nine Full Cast Dramatisations including The Girls of Slender Means, The Prime of Miss Brodie and more

"BBC Radio dramatisations of some of Muriel Spark’s best works, plus bonus episode of The Essay: All Miss Brodie’s Girls Muriel Spark was one of Scotland’s brightest and most original literary talents. In a career spanning over 60 years, she published over 20 novels, as well as essays, poems and plays. Her work won her numerous awards and honours, and she was made a Dame in 1993 for her services to literature. These nine radio dramas showcase the breadth and variety of her oeuvre, with tales ranging from the humorous to the macabre, and featuring casts including Celia Imrie, Patricia Hodge, Siân Phillips, Mark Straker, Sorcha Cusack and Maggie Service. In The Girls of Slender Means, it is 1945, and a group of young women are bracing for the future as the world transitions to peace. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie focusses on an inspirational teacher whose illusions are shattered by a tragic betrayal. Based on Spark’s own Edinburgh schooldays in the 1930s, this classic tale was adapted as an Oscar-winning film and chosen as one of the BBC’s 100 ‘Novels That Shaped Our World’. Memento Mori, meanwhile, is a gloriously dark, metaphysical comedy, set among a group of elderly people tormented by an anonymous caller who repeatedly rings with the message ‘Remember, you must die’. The Vital Spark: The Driver’s Seat tells the tense, disturbing story of Lise, an enigmatic young woman travelling alone to a European city in search of ‘the one’, while The Abbess of Crewe is a sparkling satire on the Watergate affair, centred around a rigged election in a Benedictine convent. A Far Cry From Kensington evokes a witty slice of ’50s London life, as we meet the inhabitants of a rooming-house near South Kensington Underground, and the charming gentlemen and ladies of the shabby but genteel world of publishing. The winner of the 1962 Prix Italia, The Ballad of Peckham Rye is a musical version of Muriel Sparks’ magical realist fable, with lyrics by Spark herself and music by pioneering composer Tristram Cary. Also featured are an adaptation of Bang, Bang, You’re Dead, a short crime story set in Africa; and Spark’s first radio play, the ghost story The Party Through the Wall. Capping off the collection is a bonus programme, The Essay: All Miss Brodie’s Girls, presented by Ali Smith and exploring the many glittering facets of Muriel Spark. Cast and credits Written by Muriel Spark First published 1957 (The Party Through the Wall), 1959 (Memento Mori), 1960 (The Ballad of Peckham Rye), 1961 (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie), 1963 (The Girls of Slender Means), 1970 (The Driver’s Seat), 1974 (The Abbess of Crewe), 1982 (Bang-Bang You’re Dead), 1988 (A Far Cry from Kensington) Contents The Girls of Slender Means The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Memento Mori The Vital Spark: The Driver’s Seat The Abbess of Crewe A Far Cry from Kensington The Ballad of Peckham Rye Bang, Bang, You’re Dead The Party Through the Wall The Essay: All Miss Brodie’s Girls © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Muriel Spark (Author), Ann Scott-Jones, Carol Ann Crawford, Celia Imrie, Full Cast, Gerda Stevenson, Jim Norton, Monica Dolan, Patricia Hodge, Sian Phillips, Sorcha Cusack (Narrator)

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Sybil, or The Two Nations: A Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisation

"Benjamin Disraeli’s powerful, polemical story of love across the class divide Chosen by The Guardian as one of the best 100 novels of all time, Disraeli’s classic 1845 ‘condition-of-England’ novel exposes the inequality and exploitation endemic in 19th century Britain, and the vast gulf between the haves and the have-nots. It centres on Charles Egremont, a member of the landed gentry and newly elected MP. With a glittering future ahead of him, he is in need of a suitable wife, and his brother, the Earl of Marney, is keen that he should marry Lady Joan Fitz-Warene. The heiress to Mowbray Castle, she brings with her a considerable fortune: but from the moment Charles sets eyes on Sybil Gerard in the ruins of Marney Abbey, he can think of no-one else. Sybil is beautiful, graceful and ethereal – and the daughter of a Yorkshire millworker. When her father, a militant Chartist, shares with Charles his theory of the ‘two nations’ of rich and poor, Charles’ eyes are opened, and he disguises himself as a reporter to investigate the plight of the working classes. As he falls deeper in love with Sybil, and discovers what life is really like for the less fortunate, he determines to use his position to effect change. But those in power are not easily swayed, nor is Sybil’s heart easily won... Starring Richard Derrington as Charles, with Sorcha Cusack as Sybil, this absorbing historical drama vividly evokes both the luxurious life of the aristocracy and the grinding poverty of the farm labourers, miners and factory workers struggling for existence on the other side of the social divide. Production credits Written by Benjamin Disraeli Dramatised by Frederick Bradnum Directed by Vanessa Whitburn Episode List: 1: Marney Town and Marney Abbey 2: Mowbray Town and Mowbray Castle 3: Mowedale and Hellhouse 4: The Chartists and the Aristocracy 5: Love and Conspiracy 6: Of Destruction and Reconciliation Cast Charles Egremont – Richard Derrington Walter Gerard – Alan Doble Lord Marney – Michael N Harbour Stephen Morley – Terry Molloy Benjamin Disraeli – Richard Pasco Lady Marney/Lady Deloraine – Patricia Gallimore Arabella Marney – Kathryn Hurlbutt Sir Vavasour Firebrace – Robert Dorning Mother Superior – Penelope Lee Taper/Bingley/Sinister man – David Vann Tadpole – David Peart Mr Pugh – Bill Bellamy Lord Milford/Brewer – Kim Durham Captain Grouse/Lawyer – Scott Cherry Mountchesney/Constable/Tanner/Field – Peter Harlowe Berneers/Peer/Youth – Jonathan Owen Lord Mowbray/Juggins – Stephen Hancock Lady Joan/Caroline – Elizabeth Proud Lady Maud/Harriet – Hedli Niklaus Lady Mowbray – Eileen Barry Aubrey St Lys – Clive Marlowe Dandy Mick/Youth – Paul Copley Devilsdust – Alan Devereux Chaffing Jack/Police Inspector – William Eedle Widow Carey – Mary Wimbush Mrs Warner – Pauline Siddle Maria/Dame – Carole Boyd Bishop Hatton – Roger Hume Mrs Hatton – Joyce Latham Nixon/Jermyn/Diggs – James Kerry Mr Trafford/Waghorne/Sergeant – Michael Bilton Mrs Trafford – Shirley Stelfox Scrubbynose – David Conner Baptist Hatton – Peter Tuddenham Julia – Anna Lindup Girls and boys of Mowedale and Hellhouse – Members of the Forest Youth Theatre, Walsall First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 November-18 December 1983 © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Benjamin Disraeli (Author), David Vann, Full Cast, Mary Wimbush, Michael Bilton, Patricia Gallimore, Paul Copley, Richard Derrington, Richard Pasco, Robert Dorning, Sorcha Cusack, Terry Molloy (Narrator)

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The Dublin Trilogy & more: Six BBC Radio Full-Cast Productions including Shadow of a Gunman & Juno and the Paycock

"An unparalleled collection of Full-Cast BBC Drama adaptations of Sean O’Casey’s powerful, poignant works One of Ireland’s foremost playwrights, Sean O’Casey is renowned for his groundbreaking plays depicting the lives of poor, working-class Dubliners struggling with social and political upheaval and revolutionary change. This is the first comprehensive audio collection of O'Casey's works, and includes the three masterpieces collectively known as the ‘Dublin Trilogy’, as well as the dark comic satire Cock-a-Doodle Dandy, the one-act Bedtime Story and the anti-war drama The Silver Tassie. The Shadow of a Gunman – Dublin, 1920. With the Irish War of Independence raging, poet Donal Davoren finds himself caught up in danger and violence when he is mistaken for an IRA gunman on the run. Bryan Murray, Alan Devlin and Marcella O’Riordan star in this Radio 4 production of Sean O’Casey’s breakthrough play. Juno and the Paycock – The slum-dwelling Boyle family are blighted by poverty, war and the alcoholism of its feckless patriarch 'Captain' Jack Boyle. Will a surprise legacy transform their lives? Adapted for Radio 3, O’Casey’s classic tragicomedy stars Sorcha Cusack and Stanley Townsend. The Plough and the Stars – Painting a stark portrait of a city and a nation in turmoil, this classic play tells the story of ordinary Dubliners during the Easter Rising of 1916. Introduced by the playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah and starring Elaine Cassidy, Padraic Delaney, Gabrielle Reidy, Finbar Lynch & Matthew McNulty. Cock-a-Doodle Dandy – Rich farmer Michael Marthraun tries to stamp out permissiveness in rural Ireland, but the appearance of a beautifully plumed rooster calls the villagers to love and liberty. Believing the bird to be demonic, Marthraun calls in the priest, Father Domineer… Joseph O’Conor, Stephen Brennan and T. P. McKenna star in this adaptation of O’Casey’s own favourite play. Bedtime Story – Pious young clerk John Joe Mulligan is known to be a pillar of the Church. So why has he invited the seductive Angela back to his room? A concise exploration of morality and religious hypocrisy, this farcical comedy stars John Lynch, Sorcha Cusack and Angela Dearden. The Silver Tassie – A tale of love and the bitter heroics of war, O’Casey’s moving Expressionist play follows young athlete Harry Heegan (Jim Norton) as he leaves the football field for the Western Front. Text copyright © Sean O’Casey 1923 (The Shadow of a Gunman), 1924 (Juno and the Paycock), 1926 (The Plough and the Stars), 1927 (The Silver Tassie), 1949 (Cock-a-Doodle Dandy), 1951 (Bedtime Story) Production credits Written by Sean O’Casey The Shadow of a Gunman Juno and the Paycock The Plough and the Stars Cock-a-Doodle Dandy Bedtime Story The Silver Tassie © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Sean O'Casey (Author), Elaine Cassidy, Elizabeth Morgan, Finbar Lynch, Full Cast, Geoffrey Matthews, Jim Norton, John Hollis, John Kavanagh, John Lynch, Mary O'Farrell, Sorcha Cusack (Narrator)

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She Died Young: A Life in Fragments

"Bloomsbury presents She Died Young by Brenda Fricker, read by Sorcha Cusack. She Died Young is the literary work of an astonishing mind in which intellect, madness, art and raw honesty unite. It is as far from a ‘celebrity memoir’ as you can get. With humour, honesty and a poetic sensibility, Brenda Fricker traces a life-journey in which her resilience and inner strength shine brightly. With luminous memories of happy summers in Kerry, where she and her sister Gránia got up to hilarious mischief and learned to rebel against Irish orthodoxy, she also explores devastating personal challenges. She talks frankly of her complicated adult relationships. She describes the difficulty of surviving sexual violence and living with mental illness. Brenda’s contributions to theatre, film and television represent an artistic legacy that few can match. Her work in films like The Field, Swann, The Swallow, Home Alone 2 and My Left Foot is widely acclaimed and her character, Megan, in TV series Casualty, was a huge success. She is the first Irish actress to win an Oscar. C 2025 Brenda Fricker P 2025 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC"

Brenda Fricker (Author), Sorcha Cusack (Narrator)

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Somerville and Ross: The Real Charlotte, The Silver Fox & The Experiences of an Irish RM: Three Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisations

"BBC productions of the best-known works of Somerville and Ross, plus a docudrama about their remarkable literary partnership Edith Œnone Somerville and 'Martin Ross' (the pen name of Violet Florence Martin) were cousins, born into the Irish landed gentry in the mid-19th century. They began writing books together as a joke, but quickly developed into serious artists, producing several works now recognised as classics such as The Real Charlotte and Some Experiences of an Irish RM. This collection includes both those titles, alongside The Silver Fox, described as their ‘miniature masterpiece’, and a fascinating biographical drama telling the story of their writing partnership. The Real Charlotte – Reluctantly obliged to look after her penniless young cousin, respectable spinster Charlotte Mullen decides to marry her off to a rich man as soon as possible. But Francie is both beautiful and wilful, and Charlotte soon finds her carefully laid plans going terribly awry… Sorcha Cusack, Elaine Symons and Lorcan Cranitch star in this satire of genteel 19th-century Irish society. The Silver Fox – Captain French, recently returned from India, has reopened his ancestral pile in west Cork. But his restless new wife and a strangely elusive silver fox hint at troubled times ahead. John Dougall and Gillian Kearney star in this dark, politically astute tale of hunting, friendship, love and the national battle for freedom. The Experiences of an Irish RM – When the affable, if somewhat dim, ex-British Army officer Major Sinclair Yeates is appointed Resident Magistrate in west Cork, he finds himself among a people who seem dedicated to thwarting him. As the years go by, he gradually becomes accustomed to their eccentricities – with the notable exception of his nemesis, Flurry Knox... Alex Jennings stars in this adaptation of Somerville and Ross’s comic novels set in rural Ireland. Somerville and Ross – Written and narrated by Denys Hawthorne, this captivating tale explores the lives and fiction of the remarkable literary duo, whose works chronicled the twilight world of the Anglo-Irish ascendancy – a world of hunting, tennis parties, amateur theatricals and decaying country houses. Eithne Dunne stars as Somerville, with Kate Binchy as Ross. First published 1894 (The Real Charlotte), 1897 (The Silver Fox), 1899 (Some Experiences of an Irish RM) © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Edith Somerville, Martin Ross (Author), Alex Jennings, Doreen Keogh, Eithne Dunne, Full Cast, Gillian Kearney, John Dougall, Kate Binchy, Lorcan Cranitch, Sorcha Cusack (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Sorcha Cusack

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