Radio Theatre Audiobooks | Drama

One of the true classics of American literature. Originally published in 1900, it was the first truly American fairy tale, as Baum crafted a wonderful fantasy, peopled with memorable characters - a cornfield scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and a humbug wizard. Follow the adventures of young Dorothy Gale and her dog, Toto, as their Kansas house is swept away by a cyclone and they find themselves in a strange land called Oz. Here she meets the Munchkins and joins the Scarecrow, the Tinman, and the Cowardly Lion on an unforgettable journey to the Emerald City.

Jerry Robbins, L. Frank Baum, L. Frank Baum and Jerry Robbins (Author), Colonial Radio Players, Jerry Robbins, The Colonial Radio Players (Narrator)

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The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Ichabod Crane, a lanky, lean, superstitious school master, arrives to teach the children of Sleepy Hollow. As he vies for the attention of the lovely Katrina Van Tassel, his rival for her attention is the town rowdy, Brom Bones. Brom tries to scare Ichabod away with local superstitions and ghost tales. Soon enough the ill-fated schoolmaster encounters a terrifying legend come to life -The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow. Meticulously adapted to stay true to the mood and flavor of the book Washington Irving is most famous for, this Colonial Radio presentation won the Charles Ogle Award for the Best Fantasy Production of 2005.

Jerry Robbins, Washington Irving (Author), Colonial Radio Players, Jerry Robbins, The Colonial Radio Players (Narrator)

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Cavity (BBC Radio 4: Afternoon Play)

A strange but funny BBC Radio 4 'Afternoon Play' about sex, betrayal, the housing market and a love triangle that follows its own surreal logic. 'Cavity' was originally broadcast 29 January 2009, and repeated 24 March 2011. Kirsty is having an affair with a married man, Adrian. When his wife, Lucy, returns unexpectedly from a business conference, Kirsty hides in the attic. In a panic, she falls down the back of the attic into the cavity wall. A story then unfolds which combines the domestically mundane with the utterly bizarre. 'Cavity' stars Ingrid Oliver as Kirsty, Julian Rhind-Tutt as Adrian and Kerry Godliman as Lucy. Also featuring amongst the cast are Hayley Doherty, Jim Howick, Paul Mundell and Deirdre Mullins.

Sean Grundy (Author), , A Full Cast, Deirdre Mullins, Dierdre Mullins, Full Cast, Hayley Doherty, Ingrid Oliver, Jim Howick, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Kerry Godliman, Paul Mundell (Narrator)

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City Killing, A (BBC Radio 4: Afternoon Play)

A BBC Radio 4 drama about three City traders who launch an aggressive new hedge fund, which they then struggle to prevent from complete failure. Tim, Meredith and Harry are three sassy, thirty something traders who, tired of making money for someone else, combine to launch a new hedge fund. But it doesn't take long before they get seriously above themselves, losing a small fortune and making some pretty heavy enemies in the City markets. Facing financial meltdown, Harry is deputed to exploit a family connection with Bob Glass of Glassworks. Glass is the doyen of Wall Street - friend to charities and movie stars and the biggest, boldest, safest investor on the block. In New York, Harry makes a good impression. Glass takes to him like a son. This is the coup the young hedge fund has needed. With Glass' name, confidence will flourish and further, major investments will follow. But Harry has no sooner touched down at Heathrow, than news breaks of Glass' arrest by the FBI. His convoluted investment structure has collapsed. Billions have been lost by individuals, by charities and by burgeoning hedge funds, just like Harry's. Harry, Tim and Meredith have lost 1.2billion and rising. Glass, the most feared, loathed and admired man on Wall Street was just a simple confidence trickster, though on a mammoth scale. Now it's time to face the investors, and the fact that their credibility is virtually nil. This is a £1.2billion hole they aren't going to crawl out of. 'A City Killing' stars Nicholas Boulton as Harry Towers, Nathan Osgood as Bob Glass, David Tse as Tim and Janice Acquah as Meredith. Also featured in the cast are Pam Miles, Jonathan Tafler and Sam Dale.

Mike Walker (Author), , A Full Cast, David Tse, Full Cast, Janice Acquah, Nathan Osgood, Nicholas Boulton (Narrator)

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Jelly Babes (BBC Radio 4: Afternoon Play)

Resourceful mum, Shanice, is persuaded by her next-door neighbour, Evie, to take up the bizarre sport of jelly wrestling to make ends meet in this BBC Radio 4 'Afternon Play'. 'Jelly Babes' was originally broadcast on 13 April 2011. Becky, AKA 'Azaria The Amazon', shows Shanice the ropes, and she is soon wowing the rowdy stag night audiences with her slams and smackdowns. By night she's bikini clad 'Alice Malice', by day she's mum to gymnastics-mad Alex and a devoted daughter to her disabled, ex-army dad. When these two worlds threaten to collide, it reawakens a painful episode from Shanice's childhood which threatens to tear apart her cherished family life and leads to a show-down with the father she adores. 'Jelly Babes' was written by an award-winning stage and screen writer Judy Upton, and stars Sally Orrock as Shanice, Nadine Marshall as Becky and Jane Whittenshaw as Evie. Also featuring amongst the cast are David Seddon' Sam Dale and Ryan Watson.

Judy Upton (Author), , A Full Cast, David Seddon, Full Cast, Jane Whittenshaw, Nadine Marshall, Ryan Watson, Sally Orrock, Sam Dale (Narrator)

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Leverage (BBC Radio 4: The Saturday Play)

A fast-paced psychological thriller from BBC Radio 4's 'Saturday Play' slot, originally broadcast 26 March 2011. A city banker is found dead in an opulent apartment. At the funeral, his former girlfriend Helen is unexpectedly questioned about when she last saw him. Did he mention computer files, or give her anything as a keepsake? Helen's suspicions mount as she retraces his last movements. Her discoveries put her in the firing line' A taut, character-driven conspiracy thriller, writhing with twists and heavy on menace, by one of radio's leading writers of thrillers, Simon Passmore. 'Leverage' stars Claire Foy, Blake Ritson, Charlie Cox, Sally Orrock, Joanna Monro, Nyasha Hatendi and Sean Baker.

Simon Passmore (Author), , A Full Cast, Blake Ritson, Charlie Cox, Claire Foy (Narrator)

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Like an Angel Passing Through My Room (BBC Radio 4: Afternoon Play)

Christopher Green, Thomas Christopher Greene (Author), , Anna-Frid Lyngstad, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Christopher Green, Full Cast, Thomas Christopher Greene (Narrator)

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Lottery Ticket, The (BBC Radio 4: Afternoon Play)

Donna Franceschild (Author), A Full Cast, John Kazek, Meg Fraser, Nitzan Sharron, Sharron Nitzan (Narrator)

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Magnificent Andrea, The ( BBC Radio 4: Afternoon Play)

An explosive BBC Radio 4 comedy drama about two morally-polar characters, both in love with the same woman, who has just - tragically - died. Originally broadcast as the 'Afternoon Play' on 22 March 2011. 'The Magnificent Andrea' is the first original radio play by Nigel Planer ('The Young Ones', 'Hairspray'), in which two wonderful characters, Barry (Roger Allam) and Nigel (Nigel Planer), collide and wrestle over the memory of their shared inspirational warrior woman - and of course, her home. Andrea's former husband, boozy columnist Barry, is at the tail end of a career marked by low achievement in pugnacious, snide journalism. By contrast, Nigel - recent partner until her sudden death - is an alternative but ultra-orthodox, politically-correct naturopath. We join Barry after a typically hearty breakfast on his way from Chelsea to attend the funeral in South London, where he confronts his squeaky-clean nemesis Nigel. The lugubrious Barry is appalled at the ceremony, and it is while milling outside that the basically decent Nigel makes the mistake of inviting Barry back to the house - Barry's house - for the reception. There the fireworks really start… A dark and funny play about mourning, loss and recovery, 'The Magnificent Andrea' also stars Sally Orrock, Brian Bowles, Jane Whittenshaw, Sam Dale, Joanna Monro and Stuart McLoughlin.

Nigel Planer (Author), A Full Cast, Brian Bowles, Jane Wittenshaw, Nigel Planer, Roger Allam, Sally Orrock, Sam Dale, Stuart Mcloughlin (Narrator)

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Mr Luby's Fear of Heaven (BBC Radio 4: Afternoon Play)

When Lewis Luby (Jeremy Irons) comes to, late at night in an Italian hospital, he finds himself lying under the monstrous big toe of God. Surely there has been some mistake: Luby, who has never for one moment believed in the immortality of the soul, cannot possibly be in heaven! John Mortimer had the idea for 'Mr Luby's Fear of Heaven' when he first visited the Santa Maria della Scala hospital in Siena and saw patients lying in beds under ceilings decorated with 15th-Century frescoes depicting Heaven and Hell. The play was first produced for BBC Radio 3 in 1976, with John Gielgud in the title role. Later that year it was presented on stage as part of a double bill 'Heaven and Hell', with Denholm Elliot as Luby. This BBC Radio 4 'Afternoon Play' production, starring Jeremy Irons as the protagonist, was first broadcast 31 December 2008 and repeated 15 February 2011. Stephen Critchlow, Marsha Fitzalan, Chris Pavlo, Donnla Hughes, Dan Starkey and Flaminia Cinque also feature amongst the cast.

John Clifford Mortimer, John Mortimer (Author), A Full Cast, Chris Pavlo, Dan Starkey, Donnla Hughes, Flaminia Cinque, Jeremy Irons, Marsha Fitzalan, Stephen Critchlow (Narrator)

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My Name is Iqbal Masih (BBC Radio 4: Afternoon Play)

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast drama about a young Pakistani boy forced into bonded labour in a carpet factory at the age of four, and who became a figurehead for the Bonded Liberation Movement aged eleven. Originally broadcast as the 'Afternoon Play' on 25 February 2009, and repeated on 18 January 2011. Despite the valiant efforts of many, there are still thousands of child labourers in factories across Asia - often working long hours in terrible conditions to provide cheap clothing and other goods for our high street stores. This play, the extraordinary and moving story of Iqbal Masih, brings to the foreground one of the less savoury elements of an increasingly global economy, and contributes to the continuing debate about our wider responsibilities as consumers. It also celebrates the tragically short life of a remarkable individual. 'My Name is Iqbal Masih' won the 2009 Clarion Radio Drama Award, and stars Sagar Radia in the title role, with Bhasker Patel as Khan, Kaleem Janjua as the carpet master and Manjeet Mann as Inayat. Also featured amongst the cast are Inam Mirza, Gagan Sharma, Janice Acquah, Chris Pavlo and Saikat Ahamed.

Bettina Gracias (Author), A Full Cast, Bhasker Patel, Chris Pavlo, Gagan Sharma, Inam Mirza, Janice Acquah, Kaleem Janjua, Manjeet Mann, Sagar Radia, Saikat Ahamed (Narrator)

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Pouring Poison ( BBC Radio 4: Afternoon Play)

A BBC Radio 4 bittersweet romantic drama by award-winning writer Lou Ramsden, starring Kathryn Hunt and Nicholas Boulton, originally broadcast as the 'Afternoon Play' on 15 April 2011. Hazel (Kathryn Hunt) spends her life describing plays for visually impaired people. But when she starts to describe the real world to her new friend Davy (Nicholas Boulton), is she giving an accurate picture of the world around her? She's looking for an escape from the pressures of looking after her disabled mother, but is she looking in the right place? 'Pouring Poison' was written by Lou Ramsden after spending time with audio describers in London theatres, and also stars Jonathan Keeble, Alison Pettitt, Marian Kemmer and Dan Hagley amongst the cast.

Lou Ramsden (Author), A Full Cast, Alison Pettitt, Dan Hagley, Jonathan Keeble, Kathryn Hunt, Marian Kemmer, Nicholas Boulton (Narrator)

Audiobook

Radio Theatre Audiobooks in Drama