Audio Drama

Some of the dramas that I have directed for BBC Radio are listed below. To find out more about audio drama at the BBC you can subscribe to the newsletter here:

BBC Radio Drama Newsletter

2011

REFEREE
BBC Radio 4, Afternoon Play, 13 May 2011.
Geoff Keating is at the top of his profession. But after a controversial game, he's heavily criticised and dropped from the upcoming Cup Final. Geoff's frustration builds and his scruples are soon tested.
Written by Nick Perry, with Mark Addy, Andrew Scott and Ralph Ineson.

CLASSIC CHANDLER: PLAYBACK
BBC Radio 4, Saturday Play, 26 February 2011.
Philip Marlowe is hired to tail the mysterious Betty Mayfield all the way to the seaside town of Esmerelda, without knowing the identity of his employer. It's not long before he realises that he too is being watched. A landmark series bringing all of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe novels to Radio 4.
Dramatised by Stephen Wyatt, with Toby Stephens and Sarah Goldberg.

2010

MARLEY WAS DEAD
BBC Radio 4, 8-9pm, 24 December 2010.
A Christmas Carol, but not as you've ever heard it before. An all-star cast gather to bring Dickens' timeless classic to life. A Radio 4 Christmas Eve special.
Written by John Nicholson and Richard Katz, with Javier Marzan, Jonathan Dimbleby, Richard Madeley, Jane Horrocks, Chris Evans, Charlotte Green, Edward Kelsey, Peter Purves and Dara O Brian.

THE PHONE
2300 Entertainment, BBC Radio 4, 7 – 28 December 2010
A series of late night thrillers, each connected by a mysterious mobile phone. Written by Simon Passmore, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Peter Jukes and Jon Sen. With Lucy Akhurst, Philip Jackson, Toby Jones, Niamh Cusack, Sarah Goldberg, Ivan Kaye, Kellie Shirley and Lydia Wilson.

BEAUTIFUL DREAMERS
2300 Entertainment, BBC Radio 4, 26 Oct – 30 November 2010
Investigating the untold stories of visionary mavericks
Written by James Lever and Nat Segnit. With Toby Jones, Eleanor Bron, Charlie Higson, Andrew Sachs, Kevin Eldon, Tony Bell,
Iain Batchelor, Ewan Bailey, Lucian Msamati, Clive Russell, Morven Christie, Vera Filitova and Simon McBurney. Produced with Steven Canny.

THE GREAT GAME: HONEY
Drama on 3, BBC Radio 3, 10 October 2010
Adapted from the Tricycle Theatre production. Four leading playwrights on Afghanistan. While civil war rages, a lone CIA agent realises the dangers of American disengagement. He's found an 'in' to persuade Commander Massoud, the Lion of Panjshir, to help them get back into the game. But with the Taliban closing in on Kabul, will it be enough? Written by Ben Ockrent, with Vincent Ebrahim, Jemma Redgrave and Michael Cochrane.

THE PURSUIT
Afternoon Play, BBC Radio 4, 5 October 2010
A police car is involved in a road accident, and a driver is killed. At first, it seems a cut-and-dried case, but the background to the events reveals something dark and complex.
Written by Matt Hartley, with Don Gilet and Claire Price.

THE KILLING
Afternoon Play, BBC Radio 4, 17 August 2010
In May 1593, the playwright Christopher Marlowe was killed. Apparently, it was because of an argument over a bill. Our innovative drama dons the cloak of documentary to re-examine the unsolved case.
Written by Michael Butt, with Paul Rhys, Blake Ritson, Burn Gorman, Harry Lloyd and Tim McMullan.

MOUCHE
Twenty Minutes, BBC Radio 3, 12 August 2010
A group of young men lead a care-free life, idling away their summer in a sailing boat on the Seine. Events take an unexpected turn when one of them introduces a girlfriend into the group.
Written by Guy de Maupassant, and read by Bill Nighy.

GIFT
Afternoon Play, BBC Radio 4, 20 July 2010
Richard has been on haemodialysis for almost three years as a result of end stage kidney disease. His son Martin has offered to donate his own kidney to help his father. But there's more to this gift than either father or son wish to let on, and the medical team have to deal with the repercussions. Written by Philip Palmer, with Philip Jackson and Ashley Kumar.

HALF SHAME, HALF GLORY
The Essay, BBC Radio 3, 21 – 25 June 2010
Five actors reflect on the ephemeral craft of the actor and on the unique characteristics of their profession.
With essays from Diana Quick, Simon McBurney and Olivia Williams.

MOTORWAY MAN
From Fact To Fiction, BBC Radio 4, 1 May 2010
It’s the last weekend before the polling. The debates are over, and it’s ‘make your mind up time’. Across the country, barbeques are being primed, lawns are being mown and choices are being mulled over. But Motorway Man – this election’s successor to Worcestershire Woman and Mondeo Man – has been distracted from his task.
Written by Tony Grounds, with Kenneth Cranham and Rhys Thomas.

EARLS OF THE COURT
2300 Entertainment, BBC Radio 4, 24 Feb – 31 March 2010
Six-part comedy drama series following two hapless Australians marooned in London. Written and performed by Will Adamsdale and Stewart Wright.

ENGLISH IN AFGHANISTAN
Afternoon Play, BBC Radio 4, 16 February 2010
Two British soldiers embark on a quest to retrieve a love letter. A modern-day fable set against the backdrop of war-torn Afghanistan.
Written by Ryan Craig, with Ifan Meredith and Jonathan Coy.

TO CHEKHOV’S MEMORY
Twenty Minutes, BBC Radio 3, 22 January 2010
To mark the 150th anniversary of Anton Chekhov's birth, a unique, first-hand portrait of Anton Chekhov during his final years in the Crimean resort of Yalta.
Written by Alexander Kuprin, and read by Ben Whishaw.

2009

THE MAN IN THE SUIT
From Fact To Fiction, BBC Radio 4, 7 November 2009
The former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic made his first appearance at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. He faces 11 counts of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and other atrocities in the Bosnian war of the 1990s. Rebecca Lenkiewicz imagines the thoughts of three Bosniaks as they watch proceedings on television. Written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, with Annette Crosbie, Adam Kotz,Zoe Waites, Nigel Anthony.

FILTHY RICH
Afternoon Play, BBC Radio 4, 19 October 2009
When Max turns 25, he will inherit a small fortune. But standing between him and the money is his sister Katrin. And then there’s the grandmother. It’s dog-eat-dog on the mean streets of Weston-Super-Mare. Written by Michael Butt, with William Beck and Anna Massey.

THE FLIRT
The Interval, BBC Radio 3, 27 July 2009 (rpt 25 Feb 2010)
A short story by the émigré Russian satirist Nadezhda Teffi. A secret rendezvous onboard a Volga steamboat has unexpected consequences.
Written by Nadezhda Teffi, and read by Lindsay Duncan.

THE PROMISE
Drama On 3 (90”), BBC Radio 3, 1 November 2009
As Russians fight off the Nazis in the savage1942 siege of Leningrad, three teenagers are thrown together in a war-torn apartment block. Having lost everything from their pasts, they forge a triangular relationship that binds them together and a new hope that keeps them alive; the promise of a better future.
Written by Alexei Arbuzov, and adapted by Nick Dear. With Ruth Wilson, Russell Tovey and Harry Lloyd.

PHONE
Saturday Play, BBC Radio 4, 29 August 2009 (rpt 25 Feb 2011)
Eliot’s dreams of escape come true when local drug-don Barry is hospitalised. His parting gift to Eliot is his old Nokia. “Just wait for it to ring.” When it does, Eliot’s catapulted into the underworld. And so it begins. The old Nokia leads Eliot to a Porsche, a new girlfriend, an Portuguese importer, and eventually to a drugs deal in Spain. But it’s also been bugged by the police. Will he walk away with the money, be arrested, or killed by rivals? Or maybe he’ll finally stand-up for himself.
Written by Peter Jukes, with Freddie White, Jemima Rooper, Jimmy Akingbola and Richard Ridings.

2008

THE BABINGTON PLOT
Afternoon Play, BBC Radio 4, 2 December 2008 (rpt 30 Nov 2010)
In 1586, a group of men conspired to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I and return England to Catholic rule. But the plot was doomed from the beginning and their lives ended on the gallows. Where did it all go wrong? We reassess the notorious Babington Plot by talking to those who witnessed events at first hand and lived to tell the tale.
Written by Michael Butt, with Stephen Greif and Burn Gorman.

THIS IS OUR MOMENT
From Fact To Fiction, BBC Radio 4, 8 November 2008
After an inspirational campaign, Barack Obama made history this week by becoming the first black president of the United States. His message of change captured the imagination of American voters, as well as onlookers from across the globe. Kwame Kwei-Armah looks at what the personal impact of this message might be, and the responsibility that accompanies it.
Written by Kwame Kwei-Armah, with Alexis Zegerman and Michael Obiora.

SUNSHINE AND SHOWERS: RAINY SEASON
Afternoon Short Story, BBC Radio 4, 18 August 2008
A producer on a daytime TV show wants to jazz up the meteorological coverage. The new weather girl certainly has a unique delivery style but it’s not quite what anyone was expecting. A thought-provoking tale about how interpreting the weather is not an exact science and how for a young man who works as a researcher on the show this knowledge begins to undermine the certainties by which he lives his life. Written by DJ Taylor, and read by Benedict Cumberbatch.

THE ORCHARD
From Fact To Fiction, BBC Radio 4, 7 June 2008
This week world leaders met in Rome for a UN-sponsored summit on the world food crisis. This follows a year which has seen the price of wheat, rice and maize nearly double, with politicians struggling to find long-term solutions to the growing problems of food shortages. And in our drama, the writer Lin Coghlan takes us to a world, not unlike our own, and to a time – just the other side of now - where the value of food has been forgotten.
Written by Lin Coghlan, with Clive Swift.

POLAR BEAR
From Fact To Fiction, BBC Radio 4, 17 May 2008
In the past week there have been a number of violent acts on our streets, and figures reveal there were over 55,000 violent offences committed by young people last year. Sean Buckley responds to the tragic consequences of these crimes.
Written by Sean Buckley, with Sally Hawkins.

THE ACCOUNTANT OF SOLYANKA SQUARE
Saturday Play, BBC Radio 4, 17 May 2008 (rpt 22 Jan 2010)
Now that Andrei’s business interests are legitimate, he never talks about how he made his millions. But when he’s kidnapped by his estranged son Victor, who’ll stop at nothing to get answers, Andrei’s forced to reveal his secrets. Set against the backdrop of Russia’s turbulent recent past – from the Soviet Union’s fall to Putin’s rise - this slick thriller explores the period which gave birth to the now infamous ‘oligarchs’.
Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz, with Steven Mackintosh, Kate Ashfield and Steven Webb.

NEW METAMORPHOSES: ECHO AND NARCISSUS
Afternoon Play, BBC Radio 4, 4 March 2008
New Metamorphoses - Ovid’s classic tales are transformed into five new magical plays by some of today’s best writers. Determined to get into shape, Mat joins his local gym. The transformation he sees in the mirror proves spellbinding, but can the reflection be trusted?
Written by Hattie Naylor, with Toby Jones, Carl Prekopp, Burn Gorman, and Deborah Findlay.

TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE
The Essay, BBC Radio 3, 25–28 February 2008 (rpt 27-31 October 2008)
Five writers, each intimately connected with Russia, examine some of the passions that led them to embark upon life-long relationships with the enigmatic nation. With essays from Simon Sebag Montefiore, Declan Donnellan, Vanora Bennett, Lesley Chamberlain and
Simon Franklin.

SOUL MOTEL
Afternoon Play, BBC Radio 4, 31 January 2008
After breaking up from his long-term girlfriend, Luke explores his options in Soul Motel, a new social-networking website. Never did singletons have so many options - at least that’s what he thinks before his quest for love leads to unexpected revelations, both about those he thought he knew, and about himself. An innovative drama set entirely within cyberspace.
Written by Peter Jukes, with Jason Merrells and Nina Sosanya.

2007

LEFT
From Fact To Fiction, BBC Radio 4, 8 December 2007
The play takes its cue from the sudden re-appearance of missing canoeist, John Darwin. Last year there were over 18,500 incidents of missing people. Theatre director Jamie Harper and a team of 4 actors have created a drama which touches on the experience of those left behind. With Lucy Akhurst.

PICTURE A PLAY: BILLINGS’ ISLAND & DEAR BABA AND MMA
World Service Drama, BBC World Service, 8 December 2007
Listeners around the world were invited to submit photographs from their mobile phones, with the chance for the best photos to be the inspiration for a short radio play.
Written by Nick Warburton & Efo Kodjo Mawugbe. With Denis Lawson.

EVERYTHING’S OK
The Interval, BBC Radio 3, 12 August 2007 (rpt 19 January 2008)
Poignancy is mixed with touching observation in this short story by one of Romania’s finest writers. We are with the well-known musical conductor Gheorghe Iliu, on his international travels from concert to concert, and with him too when he receives a series of curious telegrams from his family back home.
Written by Daniela Crasnaru, and read by Bill Nighy.

THE BARGAIN
The Interval, BBC Radio 3, 17 July 2007 (rpt 9 August 2008)
A true gem from an American classic. “The Bargain” takes us to New York, and into the apartment of affluent New Yorker Mrs Chase. An old acquaintance is due to arrive for lunch and Mrs Chase is entertaining the possibility of purchasing from her a mink coat, for her forthcoming trip to Paris. But when her guest finally does arrive, some remarkable revelations call up hitherto unstirred emotions.
Written by Truman Capote, and read by Lorelei King.

GAZA
From Fact To Fiction, BBC Radio 4, 23 June 2007
The recent eruption of violence and political in-fighting in Gaza has wrought havoc upon the lives of its densely-packed populace. In this week’s From Fact to Fiction, writer Philip Palmer gives his vision of this troubled piece of Earth. Written by Philip Palmer.

2006

THE LUCKY THIRTEEN
The Interval, BBC Radio 3, 19 August 2006
Yevgeny Yevtushenko recalls the impact of his controversial poem Babi Yar in the Soviet Union, and of how it became the genesis for Shostakovich’s 13th Symphony. Read by John Rowe.