A BBC Radio Immersive drama collection

Murmurs: Crack in Reality

Ten mind-altering tales from some of the best new drama writers 
 
There's a crack in reality. Our world has brushed up against another, and something is breaking through. Ordinary people are experiencing strange disruptions, as inexplicable events and bizarre elements from the other side start to interfere with their lives... 
 
A ghost soldier embarks on a time-travelling mission. A homeless woman discovers a portal to a parallel universe. A librarian becomes gradually invisible. A queue stretches across the North of England, as people wait years for an answer to one question. And a mother and daughter realise that someone - or something - is listening in on their conversations, and fixing their problems. These are just some of the intimate, immersive stories in this collection; all set in the same shared universe, and including seven standalones and one three-part drama. 
 
With echoes of The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror, Murmurs mixes horror, sci-fi and fantasy to gripping effect. Told through phone calls, answerphone messages, radio broadcasts, voice notes and other 'found recordings', and enhanced by an eerie, otherworldly soundscape, it will intrigue, disturb, disorientate and burrow deep under your skin. But don't be alarmed - just listen to the murmurs... 
 
Among the casts are Peter Bankole (Peaky Blinders), Abra Thompson (This Country), Camille Coduri (King Gary), Valene Kane (The Fall) and Alex Lawther (The End of the F***ing World). 
 
 
Production credits 
Music by Mary Epworth 
A BBC Cymru Wales Production 
First broadcast on BBC Sounds, 9 January 2021 
 
Over and Out 
Lieutenant Beaumont - Peter Bankole 
Kim - Katrina Allen 
Amira - Helene Maksoud 
Jimmy - Adam Courting 
 
Written by Tom Crowley 
Directed by David Devereux 
 
When We Are Heard (Part 1) 
Millie - Abra Thompson 
Beth - Camille Coduri 
 
Written by Janina Matthewson 
Directed by James Robinson 
 
Night Jungle 
Eve - Aimee-Ffion Edwards 
Alison - Larissa Hope 
Mr Wensum - Ben Crowe 
June - Claire Cage 
 
Written by Beth Crane 
Directed by Helen Perry 
 
A Miracle 
Precious - Danielle Vitalis 
Temi - Doyin Ajiboye 
Crazy Lady - Janice Acquah 
The Reporter - Adam Courting 
 
Written by Eno Mfon 
Directed by John Norton 
 
When We Are Heard (Part 2) 
Millie - Abra Thompson 
Beth - Camille Coduri 
 
Written by Janina Matthewson 
Directed by James Robinson 
 
Last Night on Earth 
Germaine - Georgia Henshaw 
Detective Blake - Don Gilet 
Booker - Lloyd Everitt 
Ryan - Dom Francis 
 
Written by Greer Ellison 
Directed by John Norton 
 
Disappearances 
Mo - Valene Kane 
Midge - Dylan Llewellyn 
Midge's Mum - Eiry Thomas 
Library Technician - Saikat Ahamed 
 
Written by Jesse Schwenk 
Directed by Helen Perry 
 
Man's Best Friend 
Lloyd - Alex Lawther 
Nadia - Monica Sagar 
Jacquie - Heather Craney 
Marco - Lucio Veronesi 
Police Officers - Adam Courting &amp; Scarlett Courtney 
 
Written by Robert Valentine 
Directed by John Norton 
 
The Queue 
Elena - Adelle Leonce 
Bronwyn - Gwyneth Keyworth 
Neal - Ian Smith 
Wilkes - Jessica Turner 
Claire - Laura Christy 
Carlson - Ikky Elyas 
 
Written by Jen and Chris Sugden 
Directed by David Devereux 
 
When We Are Heard (Part 3) 
Millie - Abra Thompson 
Beth - Camille Coduri 
Nurse - Scarlett Courtney 
Train Announcer - Adam Courting 
 
Written by Janina Matthewson 
Directed by James Robinson 
 
 
©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Ten mind-altering tales from some of the best new drama writers 
 
There's a crack in reality. Our world has brushed up against another, and something is breaking through. Ordinary people are experiencing strange disruptions, as inexplicable events and bizarre elements from the other side start to interfere with their lives... 
 
A ghost soldier embarks on a time-travelling mission. A homeless woman discovers a portal to a parallel universe. A librarian becomes gradually invisible. A queue stretches across the North of England, as people wait years for an answer to one question. And a mother and daughter realise that someone - or something - is listening in on their conversations, and fixing their problems. These are just some of the intimate, immersive stories in this collection; all set in the same shared universe, and including seven standalones and one three-part drama. 
 
With echoes of The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror, Murmurs mixes horror, sci-fi and fantasy to gripping effect. Told through phone calls, answerphone messages, radio broadcasts, voice notes and other 'found recordings', and enhanced by an eerie, otherworldly soundscape, it will intrigue, disturb, disorientate and burrow deep under your skin. But don't be alarmed - just listen to the murmurs... 
 
Among the casts are Peter Bankole (Peaky Blinders), Abra Thompson (This Country), Camille Coduri (King Gary), Valene Kane (The Fall) and Alex Lawther (The End of the F***ing World). 
 
 
Production credits 
Music by Mary Epworth 
A BBC Cymru Wales Production 
First broadcast on BBC Sounds, 9 January 2021 
 
Over and Out 
Lieutenant Beaumont - Peter Bankole 
Kim - Katrina Allen 
Amira - Helene Maksoud 
Jimmy - Adam Courting 
 
Written by Tom Crowley 
Directed by David Devereux 
 
When We Are Heard (Part 1) 
Millie - Abra Thompson 
Beth - Camille Coduri 
 
Written by Janina Matthewson 
Directed by James Robinson 
 
Night Jungle 
Eve - Aimee-Ffion Edwards 
Alison - Larissa Hope 
Mr Wensum - Ben Crowe 
June - Claire Cage 
 
Written by Beth Crane 
Directed by Helen Perry 
 
A Miracle 
Precious - Danielle Vitalis 
Temi - Doyin Ajiboye 
Crazy Lady - Janice Acquah 
The Reporter - Adam Courting 
 
Written by Eno Mfon 
Directed by John Norton 
 
When We Are Heard (Part 2) 
Millie - Abra Thompson 
Beth - Camille Coduri 
 
Written by Janina Matthewson 
Directed by James Robinson 
 
Last Night on Earth 
Germaine - Georgia Henshaw 
Detective Blake - Don Gilet 
Booker - Lloyd Everitt 
Ryan - Dom Francis 
 
Written by Greer Ellison 
Directed by John Norton 
 
Disappearances 
Mo - Valene Kane 
Midge - Dylan Llewellyn 
Midge's Mum - Eiry Thomas 
Library Technician - Saikat Ahamed 
 
Written by Jesse Schwenk 
Directed by Helen Perry 
 
Man's Best Friend 
Lloyd - Alex Lawther 
Nadia - Monica Sagar 
Jacquie - Heather Craney 
Marco - Lucio Veronesi 
Police Officers - Adam Courting &amp; Scarlett Courtney 
 
Written by Robert Valentine 
Directed by John Norton 
 
The Queue 
Elena - Adelle Leonce 
Bronwyn - Gwyneth Keyworth 
Neal - Ian Smith 
Wilkes - Jessica Turner 
Claire - Laura Christy 
Carlson - Ikky Elyas 
 
Written by Jen and Chris Sugden 
Directed by David Devereux 
 
When We Are Heard (Part 3) 
Millie - Abra Thompson 
Beth - Camille Coduri 
Nurse - Scarlett Courtney 
Train Announcer - Adam Courting 
 
Written by Janina Matthewson 
Directed by James Robinson 
 
©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Brett Neichin

Janina Matthewson

Anya Cholatra

Chance Perdomo

Enzo Cilenti

George Takei

Olivia Popica

Hera Hilmar

Samuel Adewunmi

Full Cast

Nabil Elouahabi

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast drama

The hit hopepunk sci-fi thriller starring Anya Chalotra and Chance Perdomo 
 
'Pulse-pounding, breathtaking... like an HBO mini-series for the ear' LA Weekly 
 
When the cryptic Parallax puzzle appears online, it quickly becomes the world's most talked-about conundrum. A complex, multi-level cipher, it has the brightest minds on the planet baffled: but who created it, and why? 
 
Sixteen-year-old Sabrina is obsessed with cracking it - but when she does, she discovers it isn't a game. Caught up in a sinister global conspiracy, she becomes involved with a mysterious international task force, and is recruited to hunt down a serial killer who may not be from this world. 
 
Joined by geeky New Yorker Benny, the second solver of the Parallax, Sabrina embarks on a dangerous journey that turns her world upside down and sees her questioning her past, her parentage, and everything she's ever known... 
 
A fast-moving, heart-stopping story about finding yourself while finding a killer, this blockbuster drama combines edge-of-your-seat storytelling and powerful sound design to create a totally immersive experience. And for those who want to dig deeper, there are also several 'Easter eggs' scattered within the story, in the form of puzzles and pop culture references planted by writer Brett Neichin. A must-listen for fans of Doctor Who, Stranger Things and The OA, The Cipher stars Anya Cholatra (The Witcher) as Sabrina and Chance Perdomo (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) as Benny, with a stellar cast including Enzo Cilenti (Jonathan Strange &amp; Mr Norrell), Hera Hilmar (Mortal Engines), Olivia Popica (Tyrant), Samuel Adewunmi (The Last Tree) and George Takei (Star Trek). 
 
NB: Contains very strong language and violent scenes 
 
Production credits 
Produced by Emma Hearn 
Director and Executive Producer: John Scott Dryden 
Commissioning Editor: Jason Phipps 
Commissioning Producers: Rachel Simpson, Ella Woods and Eli Sessions 
Written and created by Brett Neichin with additional writing by Janina Matthewson 
Script editing by Mike Walker 
Music by Benbrick and Mark Henry Phillips 
Editing &amp; Sound Design by Steve Bond 
Sound Assistant: Makashe Ogbon 
Assistant Producer: Eleanor Mein 
Trails by Jack Soper 
Recorded at Sonica Studios, London 
A Goldhawk Production for BBC Sounds 
 
Cast 
Sabrina - Anya Chalotra 
Benny - Chance Perdomo 
Harry - Enzo Cilenti 
Isabella - Hera Hilmar 
Mr Ahmed - Nabil Elouahabi 
Dr Usman - Cyril Nri 
Efrat - Olivia Popica 
Lucy - Molly Harris 
Janitor/Ken - Akie Kotabe 
Fergus - Samuel Adewunmi 
Ian - Kerry Shale 
Sara - Nina Yndis 
Katrin/Diane Trumbo - Clare Corbett 
Lucy Rabbit - Molly Harris 
Quentin - Carl Prekopp 
Vincent - Dave McRae 
Lynn - Leanne Best 
Dr Aoki - George Takei 
Japanese Girl - Chloe Okada-Howells 
 
Other parts played by Stephen Mitchell, Philip Desmeules, George Georgiou, Ayeesha Menon, John Scott Dryden, Hugo Dryden 
 
First broadcast BBC Sounds, 26-29 December 2020 
 
©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Janina Matthewson

Books by Janina Matthewson

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