Monday 30 January 2012

AND THE WINNER IS...

I am thrilled that at last night's inaugural BBC Audio Drama Awards, I picked up the award for Best Adaptation for The History of Titus Groan, my serialisation of Mervyn Peake's 'Gormenghast' novels.

The awards were presented by David Tennant at a ceremony held in the Radio Theatre at Broadcasting House and here I am clutching it, shortly after the event...


Although Titus was unsuccessful the other two categories for which it was nominated (Best Use of Sound in a Audio Drama and Best Supporting Actor for Carl Prekopp who played Steerpike), the citation for the Adaptation Award praised all aspects of the production:
The judges described this as "a brilliant piece of radio drama. It was a hugely ambitious undertaking to adapt the darkly comic, surreal and visual world of Mervyn Peake's novels for sound and this adaptation is faithful to both the spirit and the landscape of the originals.

The almost Dickensian characters (wonderfully realised by an outstanding cast), the exquisite language and a rich and original soundscape works for both Peake aficionados and new listeners."
The award is engraved with a profile of Prospero taken from Eric Gill's famous statue, 'Prospero and Ariel' which has stood above the front doors to Broadcasting House for the past 80 years.


"The isle is full of noises..." and I've just won an award for adding to them!!


Post-Script on 2 February 2012:


It has been revealed that The History of Titus Groan was runner-up in the Best Use of Sound category in Sunday's Audio Drama Awards and the citation is a credit to the work of Peter Ringrose and his team of Studio Mangers: Anne Bunting, Martha Littlehailes, Jenni Burnett, Mike Etherden, and Alison Craig and the series' Composer Roger Goula:
A sumptuous listen in which the sound montage draws you into the location and psychological aspects of the drama, from the personal to the phantasmagorical, rendering each ambiance in almost forensic detail and beautifully capturing the spirit of the Gormenghast novels.

Images: BS by David Weeks; 'Prospero and Ariel' from R/DV/RS's Photostream

28 comments:

Ryan Rasmussen said...

Now that's a fantastic UP on the merry-go-round! Huge congrats, Brian!

Lo said...

Oh, my......so glad for you to have your brilliant efforts recognized and appreciated.. Congratulations.

docnad said...

It seems congratulations are in order, Brian! What a marvelous success!

Snow White Archive said...

Congratulations Brian. Well done!

Nancy Reyes said...

Congratulations.

Elena said...

Congratulations Brian!

Suzanne said...

Wonderful, Brian! Well done you!

scb said...

Congratulations, Brian! I'm so happy for you.

Anonymous said...

May I add another twig to the laurel? I'm so glad the judges picked you for the prize. Just be very careful when you're dusting it! Best wishes always. (RGP)

SharonM said...

Absolutely delighted that your wonderful creativity has been recognised in this way.

Roger O B... said...

We never doubted you, Brian (but it's something else to pack!)
Roger

ARMULIA: donkey on coat of arms

Phil said...

Congratulations! Very well deserved. The judges clearly have good taste when it comes to adaptations.

(But not such good taste in the other categories where Titus was a runner-up!)


Pyrized: Sibley's inaugural BBC Audio Award was among his most pyrized possessions...

SharonM said...

Roger - he can always board Buttons out with you and your hippos, to make room for it.

dragonladych said...

Yeepee! Well done Brian!

Veronica Zundel said...

Many congratulations Brian! How are you doing these days? (clearly well, but there are more things in life than work!). You look well in your photo...

I'm in a 'between writing jobs' phase but have a new book coming out early next year called 'Everything I know about God, I've learned from being a parent'. Sort of theological/spiritual reflections on parenthood, especially being a parent of a child with special needs. We are all God's 'special needs' children!

jan said...

excellent! you are da man, my dorch chum! we want full details next time we lunch.

Brian Sibley said...

Dear ALL! Thank you so very much for all your congratulatory comments: they are greatly appreciated! :)

Specifically...

Ryan, thanks for reminding me (in the words of my blog-title) that riding the merry-go-round of life is NOT all 'downs'!

Anon (RGP) - Dusting? What the hell's that?

Roger – I'll leave it for you to pack!

Sharon – Button's response was unprintable!

Veronica – Lovely to hear from you. many fond memories. How am I? Well, looks are a bit deceiving but cheered by this award...

Hippolyta said...

SharonM, I've suggested that Buttons should move in here more than once (after all, he'd only be swapping the home of one showbiz legend for another), but for some strange reason he is reluctant to join us ...

Matt Snowden said...

Congratulations. I've long admired your work and have been a Mervyne Peake fan since university, so it's great to read about this achievement. The award is very well-deserved - Titus was one of the most atmospheric, well acted, creativly produced and expertly adapted radio dramas it's been my good fortune to listen to.

Would love to hear or see a Sibley-adapted production of Hope Merlees seemly forgotten "Lud-in-the-Mist" or John Crowley's sadly overlooked "Little, Big"!

Anyway, well done on the award and good luck with the next project.

Boll Weavil said...

Great news Mr B ! I'm happy too that everyone on this site recognised it for what it was when it came out - something a bit special.As you know, our judgement is impeccable and its nice to see others have followed where we led in the appreciation !

Good Dog said...

Brian,

Congratulations on the very well deserved award for such a stunning piece of work. I hope this will be the first of many.

WendyLady@GoodBooks said...

Spiffy. (You and the award!) Congratulations!!!!

Geno said...

Well Done! And well deserved I am sure. I am looking forward to hearing this production, but decided I had better read the books first!About a quarter of the way through the first right now.

Andy Latham said...

I'm a bit late to the game here, but congratulations Brian! May many more be winging their way to you in the future :D

Phil said...

This evening I attended a talk by Sebastian Peake (in Wolverhampton). I was amused to see some of Mervyn Peake's artworks that were familiar to me through the Sibley blog, and some photos of Mervyn and Maeve that I'd seen here before.

I also learned that Peake's other son (Fabian?) worked for many years in the same art school that I now work in (Wolverhampton School of Art & Design).

Small world!

Jen & Ian said...

Just to add our congratulations and say how much we are enjoying the series again after downloading all the episodes from BBC. Brilliant & so deserved!

Michael Flowers said...

Only just seen the results of the Awards. Well done!

Any chance of a 90 min play of 'Turin Turambar' or 'Of Beren & Luthien', as no one would be able to dramatise 'The Silmarillion' would they?

Congratulations!

Joannechocolat said...

It was well-deserved! x