Jim Poyser radio plays

JIM POYSER Jim Poyser is an experienced radio writer and producer. A few of the plays in which he's been involved are listed below. I have no biographical details; please contact me if you are able and willing to assist.

8 Oct 22: Saturday Play - The Downing Street Doppelganger
It is 1922. The Prime Minister Henry Bonar-Baldwin is gravely ill. The people around him don't want the news to get out as it may precipitate a crisis. How can they give the impression that all is well? Someone has heard there is a music-hall comedian who does an uncanny impersonation of the P.M. Danny/PM..........John Thomson, Wilcox.......................Jonathan Keeble, Tewkes/Boris..........Malcolm Raeburn, Ruthy/Mrs Bonar-Baldwin..........Emily Pithon, Carla..........................Verity Henry, Chisholm/Livingstone........James Quinn, Ridley Scott/Rosen...........Hamilton Berstock. Sound - Sharon Hughes. Production Co-ordinator - Vicky Moseley. Director/Producer - Gary Brown.

2019-06-15, 21-00 Vanity Fair, 3
By Thackeray. Dram. by Jim Poyser with additional material by Al Murray. Satire on money, class and sex in nineteenth century England in a new adaptation. In three parts. Thackeray (narrator)....Al Murray (descendant of Thackeray), Becky Sharp.......Ellie White, Amelia Sedley...Helen O'Hara, Rawdon Crawley..............Blake Ritson, Jos Sedley...........Thom Tuck, George Osborne..............Rupert Hill, Dobbin.................Graeme Hawley, Mrs Bute..........Emma Gregory, Mr Sedley...........Jonathan Keeble, Mr Osborne.....Malcolm Raeburn, Pitt.........Lloyd Peters, Miss Briggs.......Fiona Clarke, Producer - Gary Brown.

2015-11-15, Classic Serial slot - The Day of the Locust
By Nathanael West; dram Jim Poyser in one episode. Tod is a young scene designer in 1930s Hollywood trying to earn a living and maintain his artistic integrity. He falls in love with Faye, an aspiring actress and gets sucked into the periphery of Hollywood. Tod ....... Simon Lee Phillips, Faye ....... Laura Aikman , Homer and Miguel ....... Kerry Shale , Abe and Harry: ....... John Guerrasio, Mrs Loomis and Mrs Johnson ....... Teresa Gallagher, Claude ....... Louis Labovitch, Earl ....... Todd Kramer, Producer ....... Gary Brown.

2015-02-23, 11-30am: The Architects
By Jim Poyser, with Neil Griffiths. Series 2: DIY. Sir Lucien abandons Brutalism and decides to go into house building. His loyal team must follow, negotiating marshland, unexploded bombs and homicidal relatives. Other titles in the series: Refurb, Airport, Turret. Sir Lucien ....... Geoffrey Whitehead, Tim ....... Alex Carter , Sarah ....... Anna Crilly , Matt ....... Dominic Coleman , Lucy ....... Jane Slavin , Darvo ....... Ian Conningham, Council Receptionist ....... Ian Conningham, Producer ....... Toby Swift.

2014-03-14, 11-30am; The Architects, Series 1: What's the Point?
By Jim Poyser and Neil Griffiths. New comedy series set in a struggling architect's office. With Sir Lucien's brutalist style out of fashion, he seeks to overcome his creative block in the spas of Baden-Baden. Other titles in the series: Fracking Hell, Mad Helene, Multi-Faith. There was also one episode (a pilot?) on 27 Mar 2013. Matt ........ Dominic Coleman, Sarah ........ Ingrid Oliver, Sir Lucien ........ Geoffrey Whitehead, Tim ........ Alex Carter, Hayley ........ Aisling Bea, Gregory Nettles ........ Sean Murray, Mr Russell ........ Steve Toussaint, Nurse ........ Carolyn Pickles, Lotte ........ Georgie Fuller, Producer...... Toby Swift.

2013-04-09, 14-15: Chopin in Manchester
By Jim Poyser. Chopin's agent gets him a gig in England to escape the revolting peasants in Paris. A cosmopolitan artiste meets industrial Manchester and some of its citizens. Based on a true event, apparently. Comedy. Chopin ........ Neil Stuke, Julia ........ Verity-May Henry, Salis ........ Ian Puleston-Davies, Simon amd old man ........ Ben Crompton, Delabiliere and Bright ........ Eric Potts, Producer ........ Gary Brown.

2013-01-14, Chequebook and Pen
By Andrew Lynch and Johnny Vegas; directed by Jim Poyser. Johnny Vegas pays tribute to Les Dawson in a comic flight of fancy. BBC blurb: "Nicholas Parsons is Farson, a resplendent foil for Dawson.... imagining how the BBC might have engaged the iconic Les to become a game show great in its eighties flagship, Blankety Blank." Originally broadcast in 2010. Les ..... Johnny Vegas, Farson ........ Nicholas Parsons, Helen ........ Shobna Gulati, Dave Parkins ........ Mick Miller, BBC Executive ........ Mark Chatterton, Number Two ........ Paul Foot, Doris (Barmaid) ........ Catherine Kinsella, Other parts ..... Peter Slater (and cast). Producer ........ Sally Harrison. Indie (Woolyback).

2012-10-08, 11-30 Everyone Quite Likes Justin
By Justin Moorhouse and Jim Poyser. In one version of his life, Justin is a loveable celebrity who is successful, funny, and stopped in the street by adoring fans. He's the man who has everything. In the more realistic version he's a DJ in a slightly shabby local radio station who gets hassled by the occasional oddball on the street. Series 2, Episode 6. Justin's still living with his father-in-law, still working with his ex-wife and still calling on his Gran for her words of wisdom. This week he also has to cope with the build up to the wedding of the year. Recorded in front of an audience in Manchester. Justin ..... Justin Moorhouse, Gran ..... Anne Reid, Lisa ..... Christine Bottomley, Bryn ..... Lloyd Langford, Ray ..... Paul Copley, Tanya ..... Victoria Elliott, Miles ..... Rob Rouse, Producer: Steven Canny.

2012-04-04, 11-30 Shedtown - Storm
A layer-cake of disaster threatens the creosoted community. Other titles in the series: Night Screams, Foundations, Something's Gonna Change. Originally broadcast June 2011. Barry ...... Tony Pitts Jimmy & Johnny ...... Kevin Eldon Colin ....... Johnny Vegas Diane ...... Suranne Jones Dave ....... Shaun Dooley Eleanor ...... Ronni Ancona Deborah Dearden ...... Emma Fryer William ....... Adrian Manfredi Carly ...... Jessica Knappett Father Michael ...... James Quinn Wes ......Warren Brown Petshop Owner ...... Caron May Narrator...Maxine Peake Music......Paul Heaton Written and created by Tony Pitts Directed by Jim Poyser; produced by Sally Harrison. Indie (Woolyback).

2011-02-07, 14-15: Market: The Joey
By Jim Poyser; comedy. 'Market' is a series of six plays about people who work in and around its stalls. In this episode, Sean's family own a fish stall down the market. Except Sean doesn't want to join them. He's become a 'Joey' for his best friend Darren who's a highly paid footballer. A Joey is a sort of friendly factotum, a 'Go to Guy'. Sean.... John Catterall, Darren.... Greg Wood, Tony.....Ben Crompton, Shaneice/Sharon.... Danielle Henry, Dad/Halibut.....Peter Slater, Ronny....Bernard Wrigley, Original Music by Steven D Reid. Produced by Gary Brown.

2010-07-27, 23-00 Happy Tuesdays - Everyone Quite Likes Justin
By Justin Moorhouse and Jim Poyser. Series 1. Justin starts dating again but everything seems to have changed since he last tried. Justin ..... Justin Moorhouse, Ray ..... Paul Copley, Gran ..... Anne Reid, Lisa ..... Katherine Kelly, Bryn ..... Lloyd Langford, Tanya ..... Sally Lindsay Produced by Steven Canny.

2009-01-28, 18-30 Justin Moorhouse: The Big Am I
About to become a dad for a second time, Manchester's Justin Moorhouse has a nagging doubt he may not have got it right the first time round. Mixing stand-up and sketches and aided by a great comedy cast, Justin asks himself a big question - am I a good dad? Written and performed by Justin, with additional material by Jim Poyser. Also featuring John Thomson, Steve Edge and Janice Connolly. Produced by Ben Walker.

2008-03-07, 11-30 The Cavity Within
By Jim Poyser. 4-part comedy series. 1/4. Marty has finally committed to a life in dentistry, like his father and grandfather. But the practice he has joined seems rather dysfunctional. Marty ...... Chris O'Dowd, Pete ...... Jeff Rawle, Daisy ...... Sara Crowe, Tim ...... Mark Straker, Anna ...... Christine Kavanagh, Mr. Holmes ...... John Rowe, Sarah/Girl ...... Emma Noakes, Mum/Mrs Finegan ...... Tracy Wiles, Mr Burgess ...... Sam Dale, Produced by Peter Kavanagh.

TOO UP TOO DOWN....2008
18 Feb 08. Comedy about love, life and five-a-side football. ...... Jason Done Susie ...... Emma Cunniffe Beanie ...... Ian Puleston-Davies Micky ...... Graeme Hawley Ursula ...... Emma Hughes-Jones Sharon ...... Helen Moon Tony/Hans ...... Greg Milburn Kosta ...... Hamilton Berstock. Directed by Gary Brown.

THE KILLING OF DR. MORGAN....2007
3 Mar 07. Saturday play. Thriller. Andrew lives a comfy middle class life - then his wife's best friend is murdered and his world crumbles. Andrew ...... Richard Lumsden, Lisa ...... Zara Turner, David ...... Philip Bretherton, Keegan ...... Andrew Dunn, Katya ...... Szilvi Naray-Davey, Timon ...... Parvez Qadir, Higgo ...... Hamilton Berstock.

HERO JONES....2005
27 Aug 05. Saturday Play. Adonis Anthony/Malcolm Raeburn/Reece Dinsdale/Rea Donovan/Sinead Douglas/Giuliano Crispini.

ANOTHER PART OF THE WOOD....2004
By Steve Jacobs, R4, 1415, 2 Apr 04. A couple move to rural France to get away from the rat race. For a while everything is fine. Then Bob meets local beauty Sylvie, whose husband Benoit is older, suspicious, and armed. With Christine Cox, Malcolm Scates, Caroline Preller, Alexander Delamere and Eric Potts; director Jim Poyser.

Find Me, by Matt Bloom (R4, 1415, 2 Oct 03) was a classic science fiction chiller. In the year 2020, an elderly woman has to travel to Sydney for her son's wedding. She reluctantly decides to use the new matter transportation machines which are becoming more popular than aeroplanes. They work by disintegrating the traveller at one end and reassembling him at the other. So Mary pays her money, and the matter transporter is switched on. Then there's a power cut. This was an outstanding play; in the same class as Asimov's "Satisfaction Guaranteed". JuliaWatson played Mary and the director was Jim Poyser. (....ND, Diversity website radio review, Dec 2003)

SEVEN FLOORS....2003
There were shades of Kafka in SEVEN FLOORS (R4, 1415, 18 Jun 03), by Dino Buzzatti, adapted by Martin Shea, James O'Neill and Eamonn O'Neill. Giovanni is sent to hospital even though there's nothing much wrong with him, and is given a bed on the top floor. But it's not a normal hospital; the patients are housed on each storey according to the severity of their conditions. When we reach the ground floor there are no doctors, only priests, and the rumour is that if you go this low, your number is up. A series of bureuacratic blunders starts Giovanni's descent...the play starred June Whitfield as the narrator, Adrian Scarborough as the victim, and Michael Begley, Sally Bretton, Zoe Hendry and Paul Hilton as the medics. The director was Jim Poyser. (....ND, Diversity website radio review, Sep 2003)

MY COMPUTER TOLD ME TO DO IT....2003
23 Sep 03. By Jim Poyser. A comedy about a guy who increasingly retreats into the virtual world of his computer rather than interact with real life.

EENIE MEENIE MACKA RACKA....2003
By Julia Copus, afternoon play, 4 Sep 03. Ten year old Jess masks the unhappiness of her broken home through a fantasy world of magic and film. But her childish daydreams are punctured when she starts learning the truth about the adults who surround her.

Jess ...... Poppy Rush
Mr Khan ...... Vincent Ebrahim
Alice ...... Rosie Fleeshman
Mum ...... Sian Reeves
Siddeeq ...... Parvez Qadir
Directed in Manchester by Jim Poyser. This play won a Bradley Award in 2002 in the 'serious drama' category.

MY DAD KNOWS....2003
By Gary Brown. A fast-paced comedy about football, sex and sacred Jewish scriptures, with some double-dealing thrown in. R4, 19 Jun 03, 1415. As Mark prepares for his bar mitzvah in 1973 he starts to realise that his father has a dark secret. With Sue Jenkins,Adam Paulden, Terence Mann, Lloyd Peters, Malcolm Raeburn, Naithan Arlane, Mark Chatterton, Laurence Josephson, Stuart Richman, Gregg Baines, Asad Waheed, George Feld, Ian Oster; director Jim Poyser.

2003-05-17, Saturday Play: The Voice of Angels
By David Goodland; prod. Jim Poyser. This true story is about a famous miscarriage of justice: The Liverpool Poisoning, In 1889 this made international headlines when 28-year-old Florence Maybrick was tried for the murder of her husband James. But Florence put forth an extraordinary defence. Florence: Fiona Clarke, Gladys: Fiona Clarke, Older Florence: Margaret Robertson, Michael: Angus Wright, Russell: Alexander Delamere, Judge Stephen: Kenneth Alan Taylor, James: Joseph Mlllson, Alice: Vashti MacLachlan.

2002-04-26, Friday Play: Spider's War
By Andrew Farrell Readman; produced by Jim Poyser. Spider joins the navy during the early eighties recession because he needs the work and he thinks life on board ship will be good. And for the first six months he's right: it's fun when you're 17, cruising around the Mediterranean. But then the Argentinians invade South Georgia and suddenly the British Navy is at war. The writer, Andrew, served in the British task force. Spider: Jason Done, Buster: Paul Viragh, Smudge: Joe Caffrey, Jonah: Paul Barrow, Annie: Carla Henry, Commander: Malcolm Raebum.

2002-04-15, Fat Camp
By Gary Brown; produced by Jim Poyser. Josh is three stone overweight; he can't get a girlfriend and his mum has married his dead father's brother. To make matters worse, he's being sent to a fat camp for the summer holidays. While there, things pick up when he meets funny, confident Dan. But things start to go wrong. Josh: Andrew Knott, Dan: Danny J Burns, Janey: Emma Hughes-Jones, Howard: Lloyd Peters, Stevie: John Griffin, Craig: Brian Gorman, Mother/Dinner lady: Sarah Parks.

2002-03-27, 11-30, Three Ivans, Two Aunts and an Overcoat
Six comic plays by Jim Poyser set in 19th-century Russia and based on the absurdist short stories of Nikolai Gogol. 1: The Two Ivans. In the sleepy Russian town of Mirgorod. next-door neighbours Ivan Ivanovich and Ivan Nikiforovich are best friends, until one day a careless insult changes everything. Marfa: Ann Rye, Demyan: Rob Pickavance, Gapka: Emma Clarke, Ivan Ivanovitch: Griff Rhys Jones, Ivan Nikiforovich: Stephen Moore. Producer - Susan Roberts. Narrator - Brian Cant.

2002-02-15, AFT: Going Naked is theBest Disguise
By Steve Jacobi. In Manchester in the late sixties an unnamed ten-year-old boy grows up under the influence of an eccentric and domineering German mother and a quiet but odd jeweller father. The cosy world of childhood security gradually unravels as the boy makes disconcerting discoveries about the secret lives of his parents. Producer: Jim Poyser, Boy: Charlie Ryan, Mother: Janice McKenzie, Father: Michael Begley, Aunty Betty: Judith Barker, Nanna: Judith Barker, Rainer: Ralph Gassman, Grandad: Malcolm Raeburn.

2001-03-04, Classic Serial: Inside Mr Enderby
By Anthony Burgess; dramatised in two parts by Jim Poyser. 1: Walter Enderby, mediocre poet, bursts on to an unsuspecting world, scattering bread crumbs and bad verse. Misadventures abound as he becomes the bemused recipient of the attentions of Vesta Bainbridge. Enderby: Philip Glenister, Vesta: Valerie Edmond, Rawcliffe: Russell Dixon, Harry: David Fleeshman, Stepmother: Ann Rye, Mrs Meldrum: Pauline Jefferson, Walpole: Malcolm Raeburn, Nurse: Liz Stooke. All other parts played by members of the cast. Producer: Polly Thomas.

2000-10-04, 11-30, Stockport, So Good They Named it Once
By Damian Lanigan and Jim Poyser. Another series; six parts. 1: Jason and Michael stake their claim in cyberspace. Meanwhile the Conroys become the subject of an academic study. Jason: Andrew Knott, Maureen: Beverley Callard, Eddie: John Henshaw, Michael: Jason Done, Larry: Rolf Saxon. Music - Big George. Producer - Neil Mossey.

1999-08-25, 11-30, Stockport ... So Good They Named It Once
By Jim Poyser and Damian Lanigan following the lives of the Conroys, a family living in Stockport. Ep.1 of 6: Barbie. Eddie needs a loan to start up his own taxi business. Jason: Dominic Monaghan, Maureen: Beverley Callard, with John McArdle , Jason Done , Stefan Escreet. Emma Clarke , Jo-Anne Knowles. Music by Big George; producer Neil Mossey.

compiled by Nigel Deacon / Diversity website

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