Strada Drama: PERCY GIVES NOTES

Percy Wynn, a rather camp, effeminate and flamboyantly enthusiastic individual, was once an assistant stage manager with the Ipswich and Suffolk Dramatic Society, but due to an unfortunate ‘personal’ incident, he felt it best to leave and move to pastures new. He is now based in Burley in Wharfedale, a West Yorkshire village between Otley and Ilkley in Yorkshire, where he runs the Ilkley Moor Bar Tat Amateur Dramatic Society.

Unfortunately 99.9% of the locals have no thespian background whatsoever, far less anything even remotely resembling acting talent, but Percy is determined that they will press on regardless to mount a stirring version of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”. Following what could only be vaguely described as a rehearsal, Percy gathers together his troupe and verbally enunciates his director’s ‘notes’ i.e. comments, recommendations and advice to the individuals within the gathered ensemble.

Written and Performed by THOM MCKEOWN

Strada Drama for Audio © 2024/2026

Strada Drama: THE PAPER ROSE

A now-single man is still attempting to come to terms with his emotions, as his girlfriend has left and ended their relationship. In an effort to console himself, he's been playing maudlin country and western music in his flat. One evening, he notices a postcard has landed on the floor underneath the letter box - and therein begins a major and life-changing new chapter in his life.

with NOEL FRANSON and MAGGIE JOYCE-ANDERSON

Written Directed and Produced by Thom McKeown © Strada Drama 2026

Strada Drama presents: RETRIBUTION

Set in the latter years of the 1970s, a brutal murder has been perpetrated against a black man in Yorkhire, England. Upon a tip-off, the police have arrested, under dubious and highly unorthodox methods, a young man, Michael Gallagher, on suspicion of having committed this heinous crime, which they believe was racially motivated. A veteran Detective Sergeant, John Pearce, begins an interrogation of the alleged culprit. What he will hear from the suspect proves to be extremely shocking.

• Please be aware that this drama contains extreme content and language which may prove to be offensive to listeners of a sensitive disposition.

Cast: Andrew Martin and Noel Franson

Written and Directed by Thom McKeown - abridged and adapted from his acclaimed stage and digital film production 'Blind Eye' © Strada/TM 2015-2026

Strada Drama: A NIGHT IN

Ireland – in a small location named Braniel on the south-east corner of Belfast - during the Covid pandemic.

Married couple (Irish) Liam Flanagan and  his English wife Beccy, are in mid-disagreement about dinner, amongst several other things. Unfortunately due to the then Covid pandemic, they're unable to go out for a romantic meal, so Liam has suggested they instead order and eat a home delivery meal. However, irascible, Ill-tempered Bridget can’t decide what to do, what outfit to wear, nor if or when she finally decides, what to eat. The atmosphere intensifies as bickering increases and animosities rise to the surface.

Cast: PENNI WEBB as Beccy   THOM MCKEOWN as Liam

Written Edited and Directed by Thom McKeown © 2015/2026

Strada Drama: THE FUNERAL

A slightly camp funeral director/undertaker sits with a lower-working class Glasgow husband and his aspirational wife (who has delusions of a middle class existence) at the dining table of their home. The husband has a gruff, working-class Glasgow accent. The wife's father has passed away and the three are gathered together to discuss the arrangements.

NOEL FRANSON as The Undertaker

MAGGIE JOYCE as The Wife

THOM MCKEOWN as The Husband

Written Directed and Edited by Thom McKeown Strada Drama © 2025

Strada Drama: PATER NOSTER

A mother and daughter begin a conversation. Family affairs, intertwined with melancholic recollections, ambiguous resentments and dark secrets slowly begin to unravel between the pair, leading to a shocking and unexpected conclusion.

Cast: FREDA MACDONELL as Lorraine

PENNI WEBB as Melinda

STEWART ROSE as Father

Written Directed and Edited by Thom McKeown

A Strada Drama Audio Production © 2020

Strada Drama: BARKING

He is addressing Nathan - but what is the source of this lengthy utterance, and by whom - and why?

Written Edited and Performed by Thom McKeown

A Strada Drama Audio Production © 2019

Strada Drama: BLAME

The plays opengs in a courtroom, where a woman is being examined by a solicitor, with regard to serious charges against her husband. These are - the murder of their young son, and of rape and multiple instances of domestic abuse including grievous bodily harm against the wife. Due to earlier proceedings having been halted due to the highly disruptive behaviour of the accused man, he is being held in the cells below whilst his wife is in the dock. He will return later whilst his wife views proceedings from another room by videolink.

Cast: MAGGIE JOYCE | NOEL FRANSON | THOM MCKEOWN

Written Edited and Directed by Thom McKeown © 2022

Strada Drama: A GREY AREA

In a societal reversal, a caucasian man and a man of darker-skin begin a heated debate on culture and race in this alternative world.

Written Edited and Performed by Thom McKeown

A Strada Drama Audio Production © 2025

Strada Drama: CRUSH

In the empty classroom of a school is Robert Duffy, a sensitive and decent school teacher - and Sandra McNamara, a diligent and fiercely intelligent teenage student in his class - who both become potential participants in a seemingly impossible romance.

Cast: NOEL FRANSON as Robert Duffy    MAGGIE JOYCE as Sandra McNamara

Written Directed and Edited by Thom McKeown © 2021