My play Comrade Ackland and I was an Afternoon Drama for BBC Radio 4, broadcast in 2019 – selected as Sunday Times Radio Pick of the Week – and repeated in 2021. This seems like a long time ago, before the pandemic and when there was more radio drama being commissioned by the BBC…
But I recently came across some photos of the production being recorded at Media City in Salford, which reminded me what an interesting and enjoyable experience it was:
It stars Joanne Mitchell (on left) as Sylvia Townsend Warner, with Helen O’Hara as Valentine Ackland. (Full cast list and BBC introduction to the play here):
and it was directed by Sharon Sephton,
with a great team:
The photos also reminded me of the vital role the BBC have played historically in giving writers paid commissions for radio plays. The future of this source of work is under threat, like so many others; the Society of Authors is ‘deeply concerned’ about the cuts to BBC audio drama slots and the lack of certainty over continued commissioning opportunities. As Dylan Thomas’ great ‘play for voices’ Under Milk Wood celebrates its 70th anniversary, let’s hope that the BBC will be able to commission many more radio plays of many kinds from many writers with diverse and lyrical voices.
Words in company 