Polly Thomas Radio Plays
From Monday 5 April to Friday 9 April, Manchester based Polly Thomas concludes our Producer's Choice season as she selects her favourite 45 minute productions:
Monday - A Higher Education by Lloyd Peters (20/6/00): a fast moving comedy set in a University Drama Department, starring Rik Mayall and Helen Lederer.
Tuesday - Out of the Pirate's Playhouse by Shelagh Delaney (6/3/03): a touching tale all about the trials and tribulations of growing up, starring Daniel Hanbridge and Alexander Slater.
Wednesday - Erskine May by Dan Rebellato (14/7/00): a weird and wonderful tale of two 19th century architects challenged to re-build the Houses of Parliament in 12 hours flat, starring Alex Jennings and Amanda Root.
Thursday - Chin Hair by Rachel Mathews (7/9/01): a surreal story about a woman who discovers a whole new world of sound and the wonders of nature, starring Jo-Anne Horan.
Friday - Bottle Blonde and Beautiful by Vanessa Rosenthal (16/4/02): a tense drama in an unlikely setting starring Emmerdale's Cain Dingle, actor Geoff Hoardley.
NOTES...OTHER PLAYS by POLLY THOMAS
12 Aug 18: Classic Serial slot: Grain of Truth, 1
By Zygmunt Miloszewski, published in 2011; dram. Mark Lawson. Crime thriller. First episode: The Blood Painting. A state prosecutor inestigates a murder. Set in modern Poland. Teodor Szacki: Bryan Dick, Klara Dybus: Rachel Austin, Leon: David Fleeshman, with Claire Benedict, David Crellin, Ursula Holden Gill and Dan Carey. Producers: Polly Thomas and Eloise Whitmore. Director: Polly Thomas.
7 Jan 18: Classic Serial - Midwich Cuckoos
By John Wyndham ad. Roy Williams; Graeae company's version (disabled performers). Zellerby: Tyrone Huggins, Janet: Alexandra Mathie, Molly: Cherylee Houston, Michaela: Herman Berhane, Boy Cuckoo: Adam Ali, Girl Cuckoo: Terri Donovan. Producers: Polly Thomas and Jenny Sealey.
BIG PIES....2012
23 July: Afternoon Drama - Romantic comedy by Gill Adams. Ron runs a successful chippy, but when his wife dies, he loses his heart and half his custom. Elaine is trapped at home caring for her irascible Dad, stuck in Yorkshire when she'd much rather be back in Wales. She feels her failure at school holds her back, and her dad doesn't exactly help her self esteem. Ron is fed up at being nagged by best mate Keith about his soggy batter and lack of interest in romance. Goaded into action, they both reluctantly sign on at local night school.
Meanwhile, Keith and Elaine's Dad are caught up with the excitement of local UFO spotters with mysterious crop circles. Keith is adamant that if Ron will only absorb a few cosmic rays, his love life will be transformed.
Ron ...... George Costigan
Elaine ...... Katy Wix
Dad ...... Steffan Rhodri
Keith ...... Richard Nichols
Linda ...... Claire Cage
Producer ...... Polly Thomas. BBC Wales.
The Graduate
15 July 2012: Classic Serial -....2 x 60m. It's the summer of 1963 in suburban California and Benjamin Braddock has the world at his feet. He's just graduated from university with a teaching scholarship, his dad has bought him a fancy new Italian sports car, and all the Braddocks' friends and neighbours have been invited to a house party to celebrate. There's just one problem. Benjamin refuses to leave his room. He's worried about his future. His parents are perplexed. The stalemate is broken when Ben agrees to give the wife of his father's business partner, Mrs Robinson, a lift home. She's the same age as his mother, fabulously sexy, and bent on seduction.
Adapted from Charles Webb's novel by Polly Thomas. BBC Wales. Producer Kate McAll.
Benjamin Braddock ...... Danny Mahoney,
Mr Braddock ...... William Hope,
Mrs Braddock ...... Laura Brook,
Elaine ...... Samantha Dakin,
Mrs Robinson ...... Sian Thomas,
Mr Robinson ...... Michael Crossman,
Wendy ...... Julia Coulter,
Carl ...... David Blackwell,
Student ...... Stella Martin.
A Summertime....2004
Don Haworth returns to a setting he's used before - in "Challenged" -
an isolated farm run by a woman. It's February 1939, and she is trying to
keep the farm going whilst her husband is away in New Zealand. In the
middle of a blizzard and assorted problems, a stranger arrives
seeking directions. A tale of unforeseen happiness and its passing.
(paraphrased from Radio Times). With Rachel Ibborson, Julia
Rounthwaite, Glenn Cunningham, Stephen Thorne, Christine Brennan.
Director Polly Thomas.
