Emma Hearn
Radio Plays

Emma Hearn was educated at Manchester University. She is a freelance producer, director and production manager with 20 years experience of working in drama in theatre and radio. As production manager, her BBC dramas include His Master’s Voice, Bretton Woods, Ulysses, The Tempest, and Our Country’s Good. As producer, a few of her plays are listed below. She has worked for the Wireless Theatre Company and the BBC, and now works for the Cast Iron Radio & Recording Ltd. and Goldhawk Productions.

NOTES

SOMEONE DANGEROUS, a thriller by Andy Mulligan (R4, 1415, 8-9 Jan 20) concerned a couple moving into a house with an unpleasant history. The "qtalent" website describes it like this: 'The lives of recently married Jed and Ida are thrown into turmoil when they discover the previous occupant of the house they have just bought killed herself in the bath. When Ira finds the young woman's diary under the floorboards, she begins to suspect murder'. The couple were played by Rob Jarvis and Lizzie Aaryn-Stanton, with Harry Myers, Keir Charles and Emma Carter. Music was composed by Jon Quin, sound design was by Laurence Farr, and the producer was Emma Hearn, for John Dryden's Goldhawk Productions.

2018-05-20, A Tale of Two Cities: 1, Aleppo and London, 2011/2012
Adapted by Ayeesha Menon; inspired by Charles Dickens'story of love, revolution and redemption, updated and set in contemporary Aleppo and London. The story of a chance resemblance between a feckless lawyer and a troubled exile, both in love with the same woman, is updated to modern-day London and war-torn Syria. In episode 1 it's the Arab Spring and peaceful protests in Syria lead to a release of political prisoners. When Dr Mahmoud is freed after 30 years, he is sheltered by Taghreed and Emad, and brought to the UK by his old friend Jarvis and the daughter he has never met, Lina. Back in London, Jarvis persuades his nephew Sid Carton, a lawyer, to represent Syrian emigre doctor Shwan Dahkurdi against terrorism charges. When Lina and Shwan meet, they are immediately attracted. But Dr Mahmoud's release has set in train a series of events that none of them can escape. Taghreed .... Fatima Adoum , Lina .... Lara Sawalha , Jarvis .... Phil Davis , Shwan Dahkurdi .... Khalid Abdalla , Sid .... Shaun Parkes , Dr Mahmoud .... Nadim Sawalha , Cameraman .... Shiv Grewal, Emad .... Raad Rawi , Yakub .... George Georgiou , Samia .... Nathalie Armin , Syrian Protestor .... Ahmed Aziz, Produced by Gill Parry. Directed by Polly Thomas. Producer for Goldhawk Productions: Emma Hearn. Executive Producer: John Dryden. Indie (Goldhawk).

13 June 17: Tumanbay, 8 (conclusion)
By John Dryden. General Qulan's rebel army gets ready for combat: its target - the city. Rufus Wright, Hiran Abeysekera, Aiysha Hart, Vincent Ebrahim, Nina Yndis, Tanya Ranljen, Danny Ashok, Gareth Kennerley, Byron Mondahl, Jacob Frichefski, Tia-Lana Chinapyel, Zaqi Ismail, Jonas Khan, Danny Carmel, Lara Sawalha and Ayaan Arya. Music: Sacha Puttnam and Jon Quin. Producers: Emma Hearn, Nadir Khan and John Dryden.

16 May 17: Tumanbay, 4
By Andy Mulligan. Episode title: healing the Sick. Ibn, an honest slave trader, is accused of collecting heretical texts. He seeks justice from the new regime's religious courts. Then news arrives of plague nearby. Gregor: Rufus Wright, Barakat: Hiran Abeysekera, Manel: Aiysha Hart, Cadali: Matthew Marsh, Ibn: Nabil Eloushabi, Heaven: Tanya Ravljen, Dorin: Vincent Ebrahim, General Qulan: Christopher Fulford, Alkin: Nathalie Armin, Effendi Red: Sagar Arya, the Maid: Flaminia Cinque, Madu: Danny Ashok, Khaled: Zaqi Ismail, Abujaan: Jacob Krichefski, Vasi: Tia-Lana Chinapyal, Young Gregor: Xavier Moras Spencer. Producers: Emma Hearn, Nadir Khan and John Dryden. Director: John Dryden.

25 Apr 17: Tumanbay, 1
Series 2. Historical saga by John Dryden and Mike Walker. The wealthiest city on earth has been conquered by religious barbarians, led by Maya. Barakat is a zealot responsible for rooting out heretics and putting an end to them in whatever way he sees fit. The whole city is ruled by fear. Gregor: Rufus Wright, Cadali: Matthew Marsh, Barakat: Hiran Abweysekera, Effendi Red: Sagar Arya, General Qulan: Christopher Fulford, Ibn: Nabil Elouahabi, Heaven: Tanya Ravljen, Dorin: Vincent Ebrahim, Alkin: Nathalie Armin, Madu: Danny Askok, the Hafiz: Anthony Bunsee, Bello: Albert Welling, The Iblis: Byron Mondahl, Father: Nadir Khan, Mother: Lara Sawalha, Child: Ayaan Arya, the maid: Flaminia Cinque. Producers: Emma Hearn, Nadir Khan, John Dryden. Director for this episode: John Dryden.

22 Nov 16: The Truth About Anna, 1
By Michael Butt: two-part thriller, based on a true story and set in California. Eco-terrorists planning to blow up a dam become suspicious of a new recruit. Anna: Julianna Jennings, Greg: Philip Desmeules, Angela: Jammy Kasongo, Melissa: Gillian Saker, Al: Jared Zeus, Franklin: Trevor White, Jackson: Trevor White, Librarian / Receptionist: Lorna Nickson-Brown. Producer: Emma Hearn, director: Carl Prekopp. Indie production: Goldhawk.

18 May 16: School Drama, 1
By Andy Mulligan. First episode in a four-part series from Indie production company Goldhawk; further episodes broadcast tomorrow, Thursday, Friday and a 60m episode on Saturday. A formerly well-known TV star is brought into a failing school to help stage a production of Romeo and Juliet. As ever in Goldhawk productions, location recordings are used throughout. There are also some uncomfortable truths about certain parts of the UK education system; I hope the Education Minister was listening. Cast - Tom Hollander, Sian Gibson, Tony Gardener, Heather Craney, Rob Jarvis, Divian Ladwa, Rebecca Emerton, Rory Greenwood, Rob Merriam, Finn Elliot, Floss Willcocks, Susie Baxter, Vincent Ebrahim, and students from Portsmouth Grammar School. Music by Jon Quin. Producer: Emma Hearn; director John Dryden.

27 Jan 16: Tumanbay,9
By Mike Walker. Episode title: Jaws Of Victory. A trade delegation brings Tumanbay the latest war merchandise, while the sultan prepares to use his armies to destroy the upstart woman Maya. Gregor: Rufus Wright, Cadali: Matthew Marsh, Wolf: Alexander Siddig, Sarah: Nina Yndis, Ibn: Nabil Elouahabi, Maya's envoy: Nadir Khan, Madu: Danny Ashok, Daniel: Gareth Kennerley, Slave: Akin Gazi, Heaven: Olivia Popica, Frog: Deeivya Meir, Frog's mother: Sirine Saba, Al-Ghuuri: Raad Rawi, General Qulan: Christopher Fulford, Physician: Vivek Madan, the Hafiz: Antony Bunsee, Bello: Albert Welling, Don Siego: John Sessions, Dona Ana: Anabelle Dowler, Boy: Darwin Brokenbro, Rider: Akbar Kurtha. Producers for the series: Nadir Khan, John Dryden, Emma Hearn. Indie (Goldhawk).

6 Jan 16: Tumanbay, 6
By John Dryden. Episode title: In The Beginning. With Tumanbay in chaos after a prominent person is murdered, Heaven and her slave companion are taken prisoner in the desert. Meanwhile, Gregor tries to find out the secret of the missing reliquary. Gregor: Rufus Wright, Heaven: Olivia Popica, Wolf: Alexander Siddig, Cadali: Matthew Marsh, Ibn: Nabil Elouahabi, Maya's envoy: Nadir Khan, Madu: Danny Ashok, Daniel: Gareth Kennerley, Slave: Akin Gazi, General Quilan: Christopher Fulford, The Hafiz: Antony Bunsee, Bello: Albert Welling, Boy: Darwin Brokenbro, Manel: Aiysha Hart, Shamsi/Maid/Sabira: Laure Stockley, Rajik: Akbar Kurtha, Pamira: Nathalie Armin. Producers: Emma Hearn and Nadir Khan. Directed by John Dryden. Indie (Goldhawk).

18 Dec 15: Greek Drama
By Matthew Solon, dir. John Dryden (Indie, Goldhawk). A docu-drama based on Matthew Solon's research into the Greek debt crisis and bail-out of summer 2014. As Greece and its creditors argued over terms, decisions were thrashed out in secret, behind closed doors. This is the inside story. Alexis Tsipras: George Georgio, Yanis Varoufakis: Pano Masti, Jeroen Dijsselbloem: Tice Oakfield, Angela Merkel: Gabrielle Schamitzky, Wolfgang Schauble: Eric Redman, George Chouliarakis: Christopher Sciueref, Illias Kartalis: John Ioannou. Producer: Emma Hearn.

2 Dec 15: Tumanbay, 1
By John Dryden and MIke Walker. Episode title: A Head Start. A historical drama set in medieval Egypt under the rule of the Mamluk slave dynasty. Reports of rebellion in Amber Province have reached the city. There are rumours of a mysterious force devouring the empire from within. There is fear and suspicion; no-one can be trusted. Gregor: Rufus Wright, Girl on the ship: Olivia Popica, her mother: Nathalie Armin, Slave merchant: Nabil Elouahabi, Cadali: Matthew Marsh, Frog: Deeivya Meir, Frog's mother: Sirine Saba, Basim: Alexander Siddig, Sarah: Nina Yndis, Envoy: Nadir Khan, Shajar: Sarah Beck Mather, Madu: Danny Ashok, Sultan Al-Ghuri: Raad Rawi, General Qulan: Christopher Fulford, Physician: Vivek Madan, Daniel: Gareth Kennerley, Maid: Laure Stockley, Ship's captain: Albert Welling. Other parts played by Christian Hillborg, Stefano Braschi and Alex Utgoff. Producers: Emma Hearn, Nadir Khan and John Dryden; directed by John Dryden. Indie (Goldhawk). This is episode 1 of 10.

TUMANBAY....2015
.........For me the other big drama event in this quarter was the new ten-part epic from Goldhawk (R4, beginning 2 Dec 15) by John Dryden and Mike Walker. This is a historical drama set in medieval Egypt under the rule of the Mamluk slave dynasty. Reports of rebellion in Amber Province have reached the city; there are rumours of a mysterious force devouring the empire from within. There is fear and suspicion; no-one can be trusted.

In the story, Tumanbay is the capital of a vast Egyptian empire where opportunities are plentiful and life is cheap. The first scene in the city's palace, where an envoy from a rebellious province has a grim gift for the Sultan, gives a sense of what to expect: intrigue and casual ISIL-type violence. John Dryden's direction, recorded on location, gives the play an eerie realism where the listener can never fully relax; it is truly excellent. There is an enormous cast including Rufus Wright, Olivia Popica, Nabil Elouahabi, Raad Rawi and Albert Welling (remember his play 'The Lintel'?). The series producers were Emma Hearn, Nadir Khan and John Dryden. It should be noted that historically, Tumanbay was not a city; it was the name of the Sultan in the late 1400s. (.......ND, Diversity Website review, Dec 2015)

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