Radio 4, Talawa Theatre Company – the UK’s leading Black British theatre company, and producers feral inc, will come together to showcase original audio dramas by three promising young writers; Sian Davila, Charles Entsie and Roberta Livingston, from 7 May. These new works will be brought to life by casts including Sharon D Clarke, Don Gilet, Jocelyn Jee Esien, Lydia West, Don Warrington and more.
In Running with Lions (Friday 7th May 2021, 2.15pm – 2.45pm) a death challenges a British-Caribbean family as each of them experiences their unique reactions to loss. Sian Davila’s script is directed by Talawa Theatre’s Artistic Director, Michael Buffong. Charles Entsie tackles sexuality and identity in his play NSA (Friday 14th May 2021, 2.15pm – 2.45pm), directed by Jade Lewis. Roberta Livingston offers a comedic exploration of class and gender in Precious Little Things (Friday 21st May 2021, 2.15pm – 2.45pm), directed by Anastasia Osei-Kuffour.
Between them Davila, Entsie and Livingston have presented work at institutions including The National, King’s Head, and The Gate theatres – and each now adds a Radio 4 drama debut to their credits. The broadcasts coincide with Talawa Theatre Company’s 35th anniversary.
Talawa Stories will be some of the first Radio 4 titles to broadcast as part of a renewed approach to bring audio drama to a wider audience. New half hour dramas are being commissioned to appeal to both on air and on-demand audiences, with some titles being available as box sets ahead of broadcast for people who prefer to listen to great new series that way. This follows the success of hit Radio 4 dramas such as Tracks, Tumanbay, The Lovecraft Investigations, and also hybrid docu-dramas such as Fake Heiress. Listeners can expect brilliant quality drama and sound design, fresh approaches to storytelling, and to hear work by new writing, acting and production talents. These new audio dramas will broadcast on Friday afternoons and more titles will be announced soon.
Alison Hindell, Radio 4 Commissioning Editor for Drama and Fiction says, Radio 4 has a long history of developing new talent across a broad range of voices and we’re excited to continue this by working with Talawa and these three young writers. It’s also an exciting time more generally in audio drama with producers, dramatists and performers extending the boundaries and many listeners enjoying drama podcasts and on-demand listening as well as on air. It’s great to be able to bring these new dramas to a wide audience, helping to serve the next generation of audio drama fans, alongside all of the brilliant classic drama the station is also renowned for.
Michael Buffong, Artistic Director of Talawa Theatre Company adds, In its 35 years, Talawa Theatre Company has consistently worked with writers to develop new stories. With these three stories, Talawa’s commitment to broadening and enriching the canon of British playwriting takes us in new directions. We are the UK’s outstanding Black theatre company for a reason; the quality of our artists’ work. And to be able to share that on Radio 4 is a delight.
