It’s been a few years since I last sat down and prepared a radio drama preview for the coming week. I got too busy with other things, but I have more time now so I have decided to start up again. I don’t know how regular this will be, but I will at least make a start this week.
Saturday, 19th March
Radio 4
The Saturday afternoon drama at 14:30 is The Massacre at Glencoe, by Adrian Bean, produced and directed by Bruce Young. The cast includes Tamara Kennedy, John Buick, Brian Pettifer, Jordan Young, Matthew Zajac, Paul Young, Martin McBride, Julie Duncanson, Iain Robertson, Anne Lacey and Stewart Campbell. I have a vague memory of listening to this when it was first broadcast in 2014. It was gritty and engaging, if I remember correctly.
In the evening, there is part 2 of Sylvia‘s Lovers by Elizabeth Gaskell, adapted by Ellen Dryden and produced and directed by Pauline Harris. There is a cast of Barbara Flynn, Jodie Comer, Graeme Hawley, Siobhan Finneran, Paul Copley, Jonathan Keeble, Nichola Burley and Verity Henry. I haven’t been listening to this, so can’t provide a comment other than the hope that with such a cast, the result will be worth listening to.
Radio 4 Extra
The offering at 13:00, Charlotte Bronte in Babylon looks intriguing. All I can glean from the website it that it stars Samantha Power, as the cast list there is clearly completely wrong. That same erroneous cast list has been attached to several Radio 4 Extra dramas recently. An investigation of the Radio 4 online schedule from this week reveals that the writer is Charlotte Cory, the producer is Susan Roberts and the director is Charlotte Riches. Apart from the aforementioned Samantha Power, Claire Brown, Ben Lamb and Robert Pickavance are in the cast. With all those Charlottes involved one hopes that it is a suitable tribute to its subject.
Yet another Charlotte provides the entertainment at 14:15. It’s called The Diva in Me and is by Charlotte Jones. It is directed by Claire Grove and features Philippa Stanton, Stuart McLoughlin, Sally Orrock, Daniel Rabin, Joanna Monro and Brian Bowles in the cast. This looks to be something rather special.
At 16:00 there is Dario Fo’s classic Accidental Death of an Anarchist. This adaptation by Jeremy Hardy stars Adrian Edmondson, Jennify Saunders, Jill Gascoine, Stephen Frost and Mark Steel. The producer is Turan Ali. How can you resist such a cast?
Finally there is the latest episode in the current series of radio adaptations of The Twilight Zone, this one starring Stan Freburg. This one is called ‘Static’ and it is about a man who hates television and loves radio, so you just have to listen!
Sunday 20th March
Radio 4
The new Classic Serial at 15:00 is The Magus by John Fowles. This is the first of 3 parts, adapted by Adrian Hodges and produced and directed by Heather Larmour. There is a strong cast headed by Charles Dance, with Hayley Atwell, Anna Skellern, Josie Taylor, David Seddon, Chris Pavlo and Lynsey-Anne Moffat. I read the novel back in the 1970s and couldn’t put it down, so shall be expecting a lot from this adaptation.
Radio 4 Extra
Paul Copley appears for the second time this weekend at 13:00 in Once More with Feeling. This is written by Kieran Prendiville and is produced and directed by Clive Brill. Appearing with Mr Copley are Belinda Everett, Blue Merrick, Christian Rodska, Harry Hepple, Rob Hudson, Brogan West, James Baxter, Joan Walker and Kieran Prendiville himself.
At 16:00 there is The Campden Wonder by Richard Derrington and Roger Hume. It stars Peter Jeffrey.
The last drama offering this weekend on Radio 4 Extra is Here Am I Where Are You? by Sheila Hodgson, the 7th Dimension’s spooky drama. It stars David March as MR James, with Lockwood West also in the cast.
Radio 3
The weekend drama ends on Radio 3 with a fantasy called The Striker, written by Caryl Churchill, produced by Sue Roberts and directed by Sarah Frankcam. This sounds exciting and I shall be sure to be listening. Maxine Peake heads a cast that includes Danusia Samal and Laura Elsworthy.
Weekday series and serials
Radio 4
The Woman's Hour Drama serial this week running from Monday to Friday and continuing next week is Hollywood Endings by Ron Hutchinson, produced by Eoin O'Callaghan The cast includes Kathleen Turner, Nathan Osgood, Laurel Lefkow, Eric Loren, Patrick Bailey, Colin Stinton, Barbara Barnes and Amaka Okafor. You have two opportunities each day to listen to this: it is first broadcast at 10:45 and repeated at 19:45.
Radio 4 Extra
On Monday and Tuesday there is a 2-part adaptation of Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee, directed by Viv Beeby and Jeremy How. This is first broadcast each day and 10:00 and then repeated at 15:00. The cast includes Tim McInnerny, Niamh Cusack, and Sunny Leworthy. In the same slot from Wednesday to Thursday are the repeats from Radio 4 of the last series of Home Front.
In the Crime and Thriller slot at 13:00, repeated 20:00 from Monday to Wednesday are the last three episodes of Paul Temple and the Gilbert Case by Francis Durbridge, featuring Peter Coke and Marjorie Westbury. On Wednesday, carry on listening after the end of the final episode for a lovely interview with Peter Coke, repeated from 2005. In the same slot on Thursday and Friday Kathleen Turner stars in the first two episodes of Deadlock by Sarah Paretsky. This serial is dramatised my Michelene Wandor.
In the 18:00 slot the reading by Angus McInnes of I am Legend continues all week. This classic science fiction novel by Richard Matheson is a gripping listen.
Monday 21st March
These 45-minutes weekday dramas are on daily at 14:15 on Radio 4 and at 11:15, repeated at 21:15 on Radio 4 Extra.
Radio 4
Monday's Afternoon Drama is Bowen and Betjeman by John Banville, produced and directed by Gemma McMullan. This story of an imagined meeting between Elizabeth Bowen and John Betjeman features Miranda Richardson, Toby Jones, Nick Dunning, Nicholas Murchie, Gerard McDermott, Miche Doherty, Sophie Harknes and Maggie Cronin.
Radio 4 Extra
Monday on Radio 4 Extra sees the first of a series of three plays (Forest Tales) by Colin Haydn Evans. This first one is called Tristan and Iselda.
Tuesday 22nd March
Radio 4
On Tuesday afternoon we have what sounds like the surreal drama This is not a Banksy by Alan Harris, produced by James Robinson. Ellis James, Kimberley Nixon, Eiry Hughes, Steffan Rhodri, Tim Key, Aled Pugh and Kirsty Lang are in the cast.
Radio 4 Extra
The second Forest Tale is A Tale of Three Beds.
Wednesday 23rd March
Radio 4
Toby Jones is also in the Wednesday drama, which appears to be a time-travelling tale about William Blake called Blake in Lambeth. It is written by Tim Wright, directed by Jeremy Mortimer and, apart from Mr Jones, features Jo Joyner, Kirsty Oswald and Tom Harison.
Radio 4 Extra
The concluding Forest Tale is The Story of Melusine, starring Michael Povey.
Thursday 24th March
Radio 4
For the Thursday drama, Jack Dickson has written A Sudden Surge about some unexpected side-effects of medical treatment. It is directed by Eilidh McCreadle and the cast is Alexandra Mathie, Simon Donaldson, Rosalind Sydney, Simon Tait, Wendy Seager and Kenny Blyth.
Radio 4 Extra
Today, there is a play about Beethoven and his deafness. It is The Listening Heart and has been written by David Constantine. The cast features Robert Glenister, Anastasia Hille and Jamie Glover.
Friday 25th March
Radio 4
The final Radio 4 Afternoon Drama of the week is a comedy called Planning Permission by Sarah Wooley, directed by Gaynor Macfarlane. It is about a real-life Goldfinger and features Justin Salinger, Melody Grove, Michael Maloney, Sylvestra Le Touzel, Karl Johnson, Simon Harrison, David Seddon, Shaun Mason, Elaine Claxton and Monty d'Inverno.
Radio 4 Extra
Radio 4 Extra finishes off the week with Park Life by Harvey Virdi. The cast is Shelley King, Paul Bhattacharjee, Ambur Khan, Inam Mirza, Rina Mahoney and Pushpinder Chani.
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