Tony Fitzpatrick, UK. blog@tonyfitz.uk

Diana, Princess of Wales, in her dealings with the press and the court of public opinion, was merely following the trail started by the high spirited Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (Caroline Amelia Elizabeth; 17 May 1768 – 7 August 1821). Caroline married her cousin George, Prince of Wales, in 1796. It was an arranged marriage, they had never met, and George was already (illegally) married to Mrs Maria Fitzherbert. George hated Caroline, and by 1806 was trying to divorce her, raking up all sorts of contrived evidence to prove her adultery. She however was very popular with the public, whilst "fat" and indulgent George was widely despised. When he became King George IV in 1820, he tried to have the Pains and Penalties Bill passed by Parliament to be rid of her, but he and the bill were so unpopular and Caroline so loved by the masses, that it was withdrawn by the Government of Lord Liverpool. The King barred Caroline from his coronation in July 1821, and she fell ill and died three weeks later. She was buried in her native Brunswick. This BBC radio play by Shelagh Stephenson from 2008 presents the bare facts of this story in an amusing and fast paced way, and also highlights the way in which radical and anti-monarchy elements tried unsuccessfully to co-opt naive Caroline to their cause. Cast included Alex Jennings, Rebecca Saire, Julian Rhind Tutt, Chris McHallem, Richard Howard, Mark Lambert, Jill Cardo and Nial Cusack. Directed by Eoin O'Callaghan. First broadcast December 2008.

A further set of New Testament stories set in a modern context, akin to the tradition of Mystery Plays of York, Coventry and elsewhere. I listened to the first set last year (see https://tonyfitz1959.postach.io/post/new-mystery-plays-bbc-radio-drama-listened-28-5-23-3-5). This collection consisted of five stories - re-writes of the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builder, The story of the Good Samaritan, The Parable of the Sower, the story of Lazarus, and the Parable of the Good Servant. All set at Christmas, very well done, and cleverly re-thought. I am a big fan of biblical stories reinterpreted in this way. Re-pitching the story of Lazarus being brought back from the dead as a conflict between modern medicine and a faith healer was, possibly, not as effective, but I still enjoyed them all very much. Written by Dawn King, Katie Hims, Frazer Flintham, Winsome Pinnock and Tom Wells. Introduced by Rev Dr Giles Fraser. Cast included Ben Crowe, Patrick Brennan, Will Howard, Paul Stonehouse, Liza Sadovy, Sarah Gordy, Lizzy Watts, O-T Fagbenle, Rosie Cavaliero, Will Howard, Christine Absalom, Adam Nagaitis, Noma Dumezweni, Robert Blythe, Sarah Thom, Stephanie Racine, Katie Angelou, Eleanor Crooks, Shaun Aylward, Jack Boulter and Ellie Hopkins. Directed by Jessica Dromgoole. First broadcast December 2012.

BBC radio drama exploring the rather sad story of the possible love affair between 18th century novelist Jane Austen and Irish trainee barrister, Tom LeFoy. They supposedly met in December 1795, and their courtship continued over the year during which Pride and Prejudice was written - he was possibly the inspiration for Mr Darcy. The relationship was not to be, with Tom's Aunt interfering to stop any plans for marriage; Jane being an unsuitable match for her nephew. LeFoy became a noted politician and judge, and served as an MP for the constituency of Dublin University in 1830–1841, Privy Councillor of Ireland in 1835–1869 and Lord Chief Justice of Ireland in 1852–1866. A fictional account of their relationship is at the centre of the 2007 film "Becoming Jane", and this 1999 BBC radio play explores the same story. Jane remained unmarried and died at the age of 41 in 1817, and LeFoy travelled from Ireland to England to pay his respects to her. LeFoy died in 1876 at the age of 93. Lovely play, and the 18th century dialogue is gorgeous. Written by Harriet O'Carroll. Cast included Helen McCrory, John Light, John Rowe, Paula Jacobs, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Frances Jeater, Tilly Gaunt, Giles Pagan and Harry Myers. Directed by Cherry Cookson. First broadcast December 1999.

Sappho (Greek: Σαπφώ c. 630 – c. 570 BC) was an Archaic Greek poet from Eresos or Mytilene on the island of Lesbos, widely known and celebrated for her lyric poetry, written to be sung while accompanied by music. Most of her poetry is now lost; we only have some in fragmentary form. She is believed to be from a wealthy family from Lesbos, and had three brothers: Charaxos, Larichos and Eurygios. This BBC radio play suggests that her family life was rather dysfunctional, with an overbearing mother, and demanding, needy, brothers. Sappho is presented as a "superstar" (in the Taylor Swift mould) with hangers on and groupies following her continuously. Her brothers are a problem, and impacting her public reputation. Her brother Charaxus is besotted with a concubine of the Egyptian Pharaoh, and demands Sappho's help in "buying her" from her current employer. Sappho's mother insists she helps, and prays for his safe return. Caught in the middle of all of this is her servant, Timas, devoted to her every need, but abused terribly. The play focuses on the relationship between Sappho, her servant, brothers and mother. Cleverly done, and amusing. Written by Hattie Naylor and inspired by the few fragments of Sappho's poetry that have survived. Cast included Thalissa Teixeira, Rhiannon Neads, Anna Spearpoint, Juliana Lisk, Joseph Tweedale, Oliver Hembrough, Ian Dunnett Jnr and Amanda Lawrence. Produced by Mary Ward-Lowery. First broadcast February 2024.

Before the second world war, Winston Churchill rarely appeared on the BBC. John Reith, the BBC's founding managing director hated him. During the General Strike of 1926, Stanley Baldwin put Churchill (the Chancellor) in charge of producing the Government's newspaper, aimed at giving positive propaganda in the face of the TUC's blacklisting of all other print news outlets. Churchill wanted the BBC commandeered for Government purposes, Baldwin and the Cabinet held out against this, and Reith stuck to his principle that BBC news should be impartial. This entertaining radio drama describes the events of the eleven days of the strike through the eyes of Reith's personal assistant, Isobel Shields, who saw all the comings and goings between Savoy Place, Downing Street and elsewhere. The contrasting positions of Reith, Churchill, as well as the Trades Union supporting female MP, Ellen Wilkinson, ("Red Ellen"), were well described. Baldwin acted as a very steady and calm mediator - playing off Churchill's demands to "crush the Bolshevik uprising" with the splits in the Union movement, and calmer voices in the Government. Every British Government since has always regarded the BBC as biased against them, so the parallels with more recent history are obvious. Written by Mike Harris. Cast included Tom Goodman-Hill, Christian McKay, Emily Pithon, Helen O'Hara, Jonathan Keeble, Jonathan Forbes, Joanna Monro, and Roger Ringrose. Director/Producer Gary Brown. First broadcast November 2022.

The fictional but historic tourist attraction of Lander Castle has a ghost tower, and a jobbing actor is employed to play the ghost of one "Sir Fulke Treville" who, aged 48, was murdered in the 17th century by his teenage bride, before she threw herself off the battlements to her death. The actor doesn't have a lot to do as the minutes tick down to closing time, so he muses on his past, and in particular recent events relating to the suicide of his ex-girlfriend. His life, now aged 30, is at a dead end, but his school mates have all gone on to better jobs, university etc. It turns out that his relationship with the girl was abusive, she was under age, he over 20, and the trauma of his behaviour caused her to take her life. He basically tries to justify everything to himself - how he behaved, how he really loved her etc. As the story develops, the nature of his actions becomes ever clearer, and his justifications ever more tenuous. The parallels with Sir Fulke in the 17th century are clear, and the actors inability to understand the unacceptability of his behaviours and attitudes is highlighted by a succession of complaints about him to the Castle HR department by teenage female employees. Very powerful way of illustrating the self pitying mindset of an abuser, and how many men feel confused in the face of a modern attitudes and norms they don’t fully understand. Written by Will Close and Joe Von Malachowski. Performed by Will Close, with additional parts played by Rhiannon Neads, Kitty O'Sullivan, Josh Bryant-Jones, Tyler Cameron and Will Kirk. Produced by Sasha Yevtushenko. First broadcast February 2024. Originally a stage drama. Inspiration I suspect came from Warwick Castle, down the road, where Sir Fulke Greville does haunt a tower - his portrait is below.

The Mozart Great Mass in C Minor was written in 1782/83 just after Mozart's marriage to Constanze Weber, against his fathers wishes. It was incomplete at his death (as was the Requiem), lacking the Angus Dei, much of the Creed, and some of the orchestration of the Credo and Sanctus. A partial performance took place in August 1783, with Constanze as one of the soloists. Modern editing has made the work performable, and it is wonderful stuff. Coupled at this concert with JS Bach's Magnificat - the canticle of the Blessed Virgin Mary - written in 1783 for the Christmas Vespers in Leipzig. Although a relatively short work it is powerful and moving music. Armonico Consort performed both superbly, with a large and appreciative audience.

Henrik Ibsen (1826-1906) wrote his last play in 1899. A rather depressing tale involving Rubek, a celebrated sculptor, now spending his days handling commissions for rich society patrons, and his newish wife, Maia, who are on holiday at a Norwegian Spa resort. Both are bored with their marriage, he particularly regards his life and career as over, and his existence futile. By chance, he meets Irena, who used to be a model and muse for him. She equally regards her life as over since they parted, and even suggests she has killed all her lovers, husbands and children since. Rubek wishes to rekindle his relationship with Irena - she inspired him to do good work, and they both take a walk into the local mountains. Maia meets a local hunter - rough in ways - and visits his hunting lodge, also in the mountains. The hunter is depressed, Maia is intrigued but repelled, but bored with Rubek. The play ends with all four caught in the mist on the mountain, possibly leading to their deaths.

As a play on the meaning of life and death it is intriguing, but depressing. You despair for the characters, who have much, but regard their continued existence as pointless. They all have an intense desire for life, but not for the life they are living. With Rubek's attitude to his work (his significant achievements are behind him, and the sculptures he is doing now are just "hack work"), there are many parallels with Ibsen's attitude to his last few plays, and his obvious awareness of his own mortality.

When We Dead Awaken (Norwegian: Når vi døde vågner) was adapted for radio by Ian McDiarmid from the translation by Michael Meyer. Cast included Ian McDiarmid, Stella Gonet, Melody Grove, Sandy Grierson and John Dougall. Produced by Gaynor Macfarlane. Broadcast 31 March 2024.

A second radio drama reimaging the basic plot of Shakespeare's Hamlet, and setting it in a modern context. Tamsin Oglesby's play is set in the House of Commons, with a #metoo based story. Harriett, a rising political star, discovers her sister, Rachel, a communications lead has been raped by the Minister for whom she works. Sidelined with jumped up charges of expenses fraud, Rachel has disappeared. Gus (the Minister) is now having an affair with Rachel's replacement, Trudy. Harriett seeks to expose him, and in doing so, inadvertently causes the death of her on-off boyfriend Ofydd, the son of Paul, a whip. Paul, hiding behind a curtain trying to eavesdrop a conversation, dies from a heart attack after Harriett hits him over the head with a mirror! The focus is a conference, at which a pop star singer is engaged to entertain the delegates - Harriett gets the star to sing new words to her hit song, exposing Gus. Rachel appears backing up the story of rape, and the Minister resigns. Whew! So Gus is Claudius, Rachel is Old Hamlet the Ghost, Harriett is Hamlet, Paul is Polonius, Trudy is Gertrude, and Ofydd is Ophelia. The pop star's performance is the "play with a play". To expose him, or not to expose him, that is the question....

I enjoyed it very much. Getting the characters to slip between modern speech and Shakespearian language, lifted straight from Hamlet, was inspired. The recast of the story also worked, although ensuring that many of the key scenes of the play were included got a bit convoluted. Harriett discussing the shape of clouds with Paul was a bit odd for example! Written by Tamsin Oglesby. Cast included Jeany Spark, Jasper Britton, Natasha Little, Richard Elfyn, Mathew Gravelle, Steffan Cennydd, Nadia Williams, Katy Sobey, and Maia Watkins. Directed by Emma Harding for BBC Audio Wales. First broadcast November 2023.

The concept that most of Shakespeare's stories are simply universal tales set in a specific time and place but can be re-conceived to another set of circumstances is key to the way Directors approach the setting of his plays. Usually however the text is left alone, bar minor tweaks and a few cuts. I have seen Hamlet on stage where they have moved the setting for the play to, for example, a central African republic, but never reimagined like this. Kuwaiti-British writer Sulayman Al-Bassam’s wrote an award winning version of Hamlet, translated from Denmark to a modern Arab state in the throes of war with a neighbour, with a corrupt dictator and the risk of civil war. Rebellion against the usurping Claudius's régime takes the form of adopting strict Islamism. It was first performed at the Edinburgh Festival after 9/11. The basic plot remains the same, however Ophelia becomes a suicide bomber rather than drowning herself, Polonius is a nasty and manipulative henchman for his master, Claudius, and the collective decision is taken to ship an increasingly mad Hamlet off to London rather than back to University. The "play within a play" is alluded to in a "celebration party" ahead of Hamlet's banishment, and there is no graveyard scene! There is also the addition of an international arms dealer who acts as provocation to the other characters. It worked well and the translation of the story to an alternative corrupt regime was well done. Cast included Tommy Sim’aan, Sirine Saba, Kevork Malikyan, Paul Chahidi, Sulin Hasso, Zed Josef, Ewan Bailey and Samuel James. Written by Sulayman al-Bassam. Directed by Abigail le Fleming. First broadcast 17 March 2024.