Drama of the Week

BBC Radio 4

3.6 (119)
DRAMA
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Every Friday we bring you a new drama from BBC Radio 4 or Radio 3. Exercise your imagination with some of the best writers and actors on radio. Storytelling at its very best.

5 DAYS AGO

One Hundred and Fifty Days

In 2023, award winning audio dramatist Oliver Emanuel was part way through writing a new play for radio when something happened to him and he found he could no longer read. This is his story: a powerful and poetic drama that is part audio play and part autobiography... A man and a woman are caught in a rip tide, the life they might have had together - flashing in front of their eyes. Another man and a woman are caught in an impossible situation, the life they have together - flashing in front of their eyes. One Hundred and Fifty Days is drawn from The Great Wave - Oliver Emanuel's unfinished audio drama and from All My Reading – his creative response to the experience of brain cancer. These two pieces of writing were edited together by Victoria Beesley and Kirsty Williams. Performed by: Robin Laing Shauna Macdonald Robert Jack Sound Design by Fraser Jackson Directed by Kirsty Williams Details of support with cancer are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

45 min
NOV 15

The Mosquito

A new satire from award winning writer Anita Sullivan, set at a fictional COP conference, with a talking Mosquito. Developed with leading climate scientists. Peter is a hapless politician representing the UK at COP in Paris. Hoping to retire soon – he didn’t really want this assignment, but now he’s caught like a rabbit in the headlights between the fiercely intelligent business analyst who has taken the place of his usual PA, and the changing landscapes of contemporary politics and climate crisis speak. Will he talk absolute rubbish? Will he keep his job? Will he sell our children’s future to the highest bidder? What is African Horse Flu? And can anyone else hear that whining voice? The Mosquito was developed through OKRE Experimental Stories supported by Wellcome, in consultation with Professor Andy Morse (Professor of Climate Impacts at the University of Liverpool) and Dr Omnia El Omrani (Climate and Health Policy Fellow at Imperial College London). Interviews are used with permission from: https://hub.connectingclimateminds.org/lived-experiences CAST Peter- Robert Bathurst The Mosquito- Laila Alj Farah - Laila Alj Addy - Audrey Brisson Faith - Ruth Everett Miles - Laurence Saunders The Volunteer and other roles - Nuhazet Diaz Cano Production Co-ordinators - Eleri McAuliffe and Noa Dowling Sound Design - Catherine Robinson Directed by John Norton. A BBC Audio Wales production for Radio 4.

45 min
SEPT 6

The Stranger

Daisy Johnson is a multi-award-winning short story writer whose debut novel Everything Under was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. In The Stranger she weaves a gentle romantic story beginning with an unusual flatshare to save money, then twists it into a suspenseful thriller all in the space of 14 minutes - read by Saffron Coomber. Saffron Coomber has recently starred in Sir Lenny Henry's Windrush drama Three Little Birds, was in Small Axe by Steve McQueen, and made her West End debut as Shakespeare's muse in Emilia by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm Written by Daisy Johnson Read by Saffron Coomber Produced by Allegra McIlroy

14 min
2023-12-01

English Rose Series 2 - 1: Go West Young Girl

By Helen Cross. Rose has made a fresh start in the City of Angels and life feels good. But she can't ignore the past, and now it's starting to bite. Her ex-boss Maya is loving never getting older and has Rose to thank for that. Maya has big plans for a 'rejuvenation' spa in the California hills, but Rose suspects all is not what it seems. On top of that she's worried that someone, or something, is trying to send her telepathic messages. But are they to warn her, or frighten her? Stylish and surprising fantasy horror with a comic twist, starring Alexandra Mardell (Coronation Street) and Demetri Goritsas (Ten Percent). With music by Dana Margolin and Sam Yardley of Mercury-nominated band, Porridge Radio. Helen Cross wrote ‘My Summer of Love’ which won a Betty Trask award and was made into a Bafta-winning film with Emily Blunt (recently rated her best film in The Guardian top ten Emily Blunt films). Mary Ward-Lowery won Best Director in 2020 Audio Drama Awards. Rose ... Alexandra Mardell Maya ... Miranda Braun Austin ... Demetri Goritsas Siobhan ... Deirdre Mullins Delphine ... Yasemin Özdemir Mam ... Jane Thornton Jack ... Tyler Cameron Gym owner ... Don Gilet Dakota ... Rhiannon Neads Alina ... Kitty O'Sullivan Englishman ... Martin Bonger Angry Man ... Douglas Hodgson Gully ... Bruce Casswell Original music written and performed by Dana Margolin and Sam Yardley of Porridge Radio. Sound design by Ilse Lademann and Mary Ward-Lowery Assistant Producer ... Alison Crawford Director ... Mary Ward-Lowery

29 min
2023-11-24

The North Remembers

By Samantha Harvey. Mum drives through the Dark Hedges, crossing a threshold into a different world. Read by Deirdre Mullins. Topical fiction inspired by the story, in this week's news, that some of the beech trees that line the Bregagh Road in Armoy, County Antrim, have been felled amid concern for public safety. The trees, a landmark in their own right, were made more famous after featuring in the fantasy drama Game of Thrones. Samantha won the Betty Trask Prize for her first novel The Wilderness, which was longlisted for the Man Booker, and shortlisted for the Orange Prize and the Guardian First Book Award. Her work has been described by critics as 'spectacular', 'beautiful' and 'profound', and her latest novel, 'Orbital', an 'awe-inspiring and humbling love letter to Earth', has been selected by The Guardian as one of the most important books of 2023. Producer: Mary Ward-Lowery

14 min
2023-02-22

Gaslight - Episode 1

Atmospheric drama from BBC Radio 4 with bonus scenes for BBC Sounds, featuring original music by Imelda May. Have you ever wondered where the term 'gaslighting' comes from? Find out in episode 1 of this dark reimagining of the classic 1938 stage thriller by Patrick Hamilton. To hear the series in full, just search for Gaslight in BBC Sounds. Jonathan Holloway's modern adaptation is set in the present, with a deliciously vintage feel. Jack Manningham has used his wife’s recently inherited money to buy a huge period property - a former bell foundry - which they will renovate. They occupy a small habitable part of the ground floor and basement. This previously neglected ramshackle building is lit by gas, as it was in Victorian times. In this first episode, Jack and Bella find a house that suits them and there's a lot riding on the screening of their latest film. Cast in order of appearance: Tippi Griffiths ..... Lacey Turner Jack Manningham ..... James Purefoy Bella Harding ..... Rebecca Night Ishani Rawe / Izzy ..... Macadie Amoroso DCI Nina Rawe ..... Cathy Tyson DI Reynolds / Michael McLennon / Chris De Jeanne ..... Richard Lintern Written by Jonathan Holloway, based on the original play by Patrick Hamilton Music: Imelda May with Tim Bran Produced by Sally Harrison with James Purefoy Directed by Johnny Vegas A Woolyback production in association with Darling Pictures, for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

15 min
2022-02-24

Part 10 - Broken Colours

Dan's life is in danger. To what lengths will Jess go to save him? Jess now knows the truth about Ronnie Vaz's relationship to Dan. But she's sucked even deeper into the violent world of his drug gang. Holli Dempsey and Josef Altin star in a new thriller of conflicting perception from Matthew Broughton (the creator of Tracks). Jess.....Holli Dempsey Dan.....Josef Altin Melissa......Alexandria Riley Petal.....Rina Mahoney Mother.....Christine Kavanagh Ronnie.....Alun Raglan Gallery Director....Jasmine Hyde Magnar.....Neil McCaul Sound design by Catherine Robinson and Nigel Lewis A BBC Cymru Wales production for BBC Radio 4, directed by John Norton and Emma Harding

26 min
2022-02-24

Part 9 - Broken Colours

Jess now knows the truth about Ronnie Vaz's relationship to Dan. But she's sucked even deeper into the violent world of his drug gang. Holli Dempsey and Josef Altin star in a new thriller of conflicting perception from Matthew Broughton (the creator of Tracks). Jess.....Holli Dempsey Dan.....Josef Altin Melissa......Alexandria Riley Petal.....Rina Mahoney Mother.....Christine Kavanagh Ronnie.....Alun Raglan Gallery Director....Jasmine Hyde Magner.....Neil McCaul Sound design by Catherine Robinson and Nigel Lewis A BBC Cymru Wales production for BBC Radio 4, directed by John Norton and Emma Harding

22 min

See All (24)

3.6

out of 5

119 Ratings

Misleading title

Aug 1

Mic Grapes

I live outside the UK so I get at best one drama per month. Some offerings are part 1 of a series which, again since I am outside the UK, I can’t download the rest. Great productions. I look forward to my Drama of the month.
Timely Uploads

2021-04-03

RegalBeagle2

I look forward to the drama of the week. What's happening with the upload? It is no longer occurring reliably on Fridays. This is an easy fix.
The only podcast I always always look forward to

Aug 1

Sarahcraft1

Stories and actors are top quality. Nothing more to be said
Incomplete and misleading.

2023-11-03

HappyGenny

The episode says, and I quote, “ To hear the series in full, just search for Gaslight in BBC Sounds. “ But it’s not there. What a total shame, as I used to love BBC dramas more than anything. Do you think the BBC even cares about these reviews?

Every Friday we bring you a new drama from BBC Radio 4 or Radio 3. Exercise your imagination with some of the best writers and actors on radio. Storytelling at its very best.