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

The North Remembers

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.

Drama

Fiction

Shakespeare's exhilarating late play of lovers under strain and leaders under pressure. Staged in an alternative present-day Britain. An ineffectual ruler governs a divided, insular Britain, alienated from the rest of Europe. That ruler, Cymbeline (Michael Maloney), refuses to pay the taxes demanded by a foreign power, clinging to mythical notions of sovereignty. "Britain's a world by itself and we will nothing pay for wearing our own noses." But Cymbeline's judgement is clouded by grief, having lost his two older children as babies. When his daughter Imogen (Lydia Wilson) rebels and marries boyfriend Posthumus (Daniel Rock) in secret, Cymbeline is enraged and banishes Posthumus. But waiting in the wings is a power-hungry figure, plotting to seize control by any means necessary. Adapted and directed for radio by Emma Harding Introduced by Professor Edith Hall Imogen ..... Lydia Wilson Cymbeline ..... Michael Maloney Posthumus Leonatus ..... Daniel Rock Iachimo ..... Philip Arditti Queen ..... Amanda Lawrence Cloten ..... Will Close Caia Lucius ..... Greta Scacchi Pisanio ..... Ayesha Dharker Belarius ..... Ifan Huw Dafydd Guiderius ..... Zak Ghazi-Torbati Arviragus ..... Matthew Aubrey Cornelia ..... Nadia Williams Philario ..... Harry Taurasi Jailer. .... Philippe Spall Sue Sayer ..... Sara Gregory Original music composed by Joseph Howard, performed by Zak Ghazi-Torbati, Joseph Howard and Eosaph Caimbeul. Shakespeare consultant, Paul Prescott Production co-ordinator, Eleri Sydney McAuliffe Sound design, Catherine Robinson A BBC Audio Drama Wales production

Cymbeline

by Kamal Kaan and Mary Cooper
Episode 1 - Naila's Story Naila is a bright teenager in Bradford. Her parents want her to go to university to study medicine, and they don't want any distractions. But Naila loves cricket, and gets involved in the nascent school female cricket team. Three of the girls become firm friends and call themselves 'Bat Girls'. The team shows real promise and starts to do very well. But will this get in the way of Naila's parents' ambitions for her? NAILA..............................................Yazmin Kayani
KARISHMA................................... Amy Leigh Hickman
ROSHINA .......................................Saba Amini
MARIYA...........................................Natalie Davies
QADIR/ TAHIR...............................Ash Tandon
MRS HEMINGWAY/ MUM........ Purvi Parmar
MR CHATTERJEE...........................Sushil Chudasama Production Co-ordinator - Lorna Newman
Studio Manager - Amy Brennan
Script Advisers - Sara De Jong and Zainab Goreja
Sound Design - Sharon Hughes
Director/Producer - Gary Brown A BBC Studios Audio Production Special thanks to Duckinfield Cricket Club, Shivanie Patel (Bradford Park Avenue Ladies' Cricket Club), Katie Stewart (Yorkshire Cricket Board) and Mariam Ali - (Refugee Action, Bradford) Show less

Bat Girls

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

English Rose Series 2  - 1: Go West Young Girl

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

The North Remembers

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