And you can hear Part 5, 'Titus Abroad', also on Radio 4, tomorrow, Sunday 7 August, at 15:00.
Having deserted his ancestral home, Titus finds himself in an alien world with many enemies, but fortunately a couple of caring friends: the eccentric Muzzlehatch and loving Juno, played by Gerard Murphy and Maureen Beattie...
It was an unexpected delight to work with Gerard who thirty years ago this year (in what was his first ever radio role and in the very same BBC studio) narrated my dramatisation of The Lord of the Rings!
You can read my thoughts on the challenge of taking Titus out of the crumbling confines of Gormenghast into the wider world on the BBC Radio 4 blog.
All of the episodes, as they are broadcast, will remain accessible via the BBC iPlayer until the series is complete. Then, eight days later, it will be possible to download and purchase all six hours of drama.
Photo: Islay Bell-Webb
13 comments:
Fantastic production
We are enjoying this series tremendously. I was a bit concerned how things would go once Titus had left Gormenghast, but you really kept up the pace this afternoon.
It's interesting to see some of the actors dressing in character in the photos from the studio - is that to help their performance or just for a photocall?
Also, it's reassuring to note that the i-Player episodes will be available until 12:00AM Thu, 1 Jan 2099!
Chris – Thanks!
Sheila – The dressing-up was not for a photo-call (the BBC's publicity actually declined to send a photographer, so the photos are by one of the directors and Islay who was with the BBC on work experience!) they are rehearsal skirts, worn so that there is a rustle of material when the female characters are moving around.
Not sure the iPlayer information is alogether accurate!!
I would like to own the production on CD - I'm too old for downloads (47!) - any news on that front?
Sadly not, Michael. But if you have a computer (and you must have to have left this comment) it really isn't difficult...
Michael – You may find this page helpful.
Many thanks for introducing me to this novel and a great eye opener of a production.
It' s a radio triumph; What a great production.
P.S. There are some great photos on your blog!
The PS was to Michael.
To James: many thanks and you are very welcome!
I think I posted this in the wrong place :P
Titus Groan is your very best radio play! I am really impressed by how amazingly good it is. A classic.
Congratulations!
~ ReRaphaelite
Does anyone know why episode 5 is not on the iplayer website?
Not sure what happened, Tom, but Episode 5 in on BBC iPlayer now!
Thanks for your efforts to enlighten me & polite comments about my blog! I can listen to stuff on iPlayer, but I still prefer to record progs on to audio cassette & listen to them when I'm driving. Makes the journeys go a lot quicker.
Coincidentally, before I knew about this production I'd recently listened to your original dramatisation again - Bernard Hepton & Judy Parfitt in particular were just fantastic.
Any chance you'll be asked to do a new version of the Hobbit? The BBC's late 1960's radio dramatisation is a travesty (Paul Daneman excepted) & almost unlistenable in parts!
Post a Comment