Four BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations

Tales from the Perilous Realm

Michael Hordern narrates five full-cast radio dramatisations of stories by JRR Tolkien.

Four BBC radio dramatisations starring Michael Hordern as Tolkien – plus a special archive compilation exploring Tolkien’s life and work 
 
The tales in this collection all reflect an aspect of what Tolkien himself called ‘the perilous realm of Faerie’. Adapted for radio by Brian Sibley, co-writer of the acclaimed BBC radio production of The Lord of the Rings, they are rich in myth, magic and adventure. Among the supporting cast are Brian Blessed, Nigel Planer, Sorcha Cusack, Paul Copley and James Grout. 
 
In Farmer Giles of Ham, having accidentally shot a giant, Farmer Giles’ brave reputation is tested by Chrysophylax the dragon. In Smith of Wootton Major, a young boy eats a piece of cake containing 
a silver star, and is granted access to the magical land of Fäerie. Leaf by Niggle is a thought-provoking allegory of the creative process, and The Adventures of Tom Bombadil features Tom and the Hobbits in scenes from The Lord of the Rings which were not included in the BBC Radio 4 dramatisation. 
 
Also included is J R R Tolkien: An Audio Portrait, in which Brian Sibley draws together interviews from radio and television programmes featuring the author himself, his original publisher Rayner Unwin, his biographer Humphrey Carpenter and many others torelate the story of both Tolkien the man and the worlds he created. 
 
Duration: 5 hours 50 mins

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

Tony Robinson stars in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of E.T.A. Hoffmann's renowned Christmas story, which inspired Tchaikovsky's ballet 'The Nutcracker'

Tony Robinson stars in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of E.T.A. Hoffmann's renowned Christmas story, which inspired Tchaikovsky's ballet 'The Nutcracker' 
 
It is Christmas Eve, and young Mary and Fred are opening presents from their godfather, Drosselmeier the toymaker. Mary’s favourite gift is a nutcracker soldier, and she is disappointed when his jaw breaks on a particularly hard nut. 
 
She puts him away carefully, promising that Drosselmeier will mend him – and at that moment he seems to come alive. Surely she is just imagining things? But as the grandfather clock begins to chime midnight, all her toys spring to life! Led by the Nutcracker, they rush into battle with an army of mice who emerge from beneath the floorboards – including the seven-headed Mouse King… 
 
Hoffmann's classic children’s tale is adapted by Brian Sibley (who also dramatised 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Chronicles of Narnia' for radio). Starring Tony Robinson as the Nutcracker, Edward de Souza as Drosselmeier, Eric Allen as the Mouse King and Angela Shaftoe as Mary, it is sure to delight fans of Tchaikovsy's famous ballet - and anyone who loves the magic of a good fairy tale.

John Bunyan

Brian Sibley

Anton Rodgers

Neil Dudgeon

Peter Bowles

Don Warrington

Anna Massey

Full Cast

A Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisation

The 17th Century classic brought to life in a bold new telling 
 
The Pilgrim's Progress is regarded as one of the most significant works of theological fiction in English literature and is considered by some to be the first novel written in English. First published in 1678, it has been translated into more than 200 languages and had never been out of print. John Bunyan's seminal work has influenced writers across the centuries from Charlotte Brontë to Enid Blyton and beyond. 
 
In this innovative and beautifully paced production of John Bunyan's classic novel, dramatist Brian Sibley takes us deftly on the pilgrim Christian's life changing journey to the Celestial City, whilst also delicately weaving into the narrative the author's own journey. Arrested and imprisoned in the late 1600s for holding improper religious services, the drama unfolds through Bunyan's plight behind bars as he wrestles with his relationship to God, sense of duty and creativity - and begins to pen the novel from his cell. 
 
Sibley delivers a fresh perspective and wonderful re-telling of the adventures of Christian, a pilgrim who embarks on a perilous journey from his hometown, the allegorical City of Destruction, to the Celestial City, or Heaven. Dramatised across three episodes, we follow Christian as he meets with death, despair, hope and ultimately salvation. It is the story of the everyman pilgrim who seeks to gain knowledge, making mistakes along that way that inform and inspire him on his path to grace. 
 
Starring Anton Rodgers (May to December) as Bunyan and Neil Dudgeon (Midsomer Murders) as Christian, this full-cast production also features the well-known voices of Anna Massey and Peter Bowles. Brian Sibley is perhaps best known as the writer behind the hugely popular, landmark BBC radio adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. 
 
Written by Brian Sibley based on the novel by John Bunyan 
Directed by Pam Fraser Solomon 
 
Cast 
Bunyan - Anton Rodgers 
Christian - Neil Dudgeon 
Evangelist - Alec McCowen 
Beelzebub - Don Warrington 
Interpreter - Anna Massey 
Caged Man - Peter Bowles 
Elizabeth - Caroline Lee Johns 
Jailer - Ioan Meredith 
Judge - Derek Waring 
Pliable/Watchful/Sincere - Philip Fox 
Obstinate/Clerk/Knowledge - Chris Moran 
Help/Prudence/Angel - Jaimi Barbakoff 
Goodwill/Charity/Angel - Lydia Leonard 
Angel/Piety/Deceiver - Cherie Taylor-Battiste 
Child - Sophie Levy 
Child - Nyla Lev 
Faithful - Graham Crowden 
Cobb/Giant Despair - Stephen Thorne 
Discretion - Eve Karpf 
Talkative/Ignorance - Rachel Atkins 
Timorous/Experience - Damian Lynch 
Hopeful - Paul Medford 
Mrs Despair - Frances Jeater 
False-Confidence - Declan Wilson 
 
First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4 January 2004 
 
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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