Stephen Dinsdale
No biographical details, unfortunately. Please email if you can assist. As for the plays - Stephen has
written (or shared the writing in) three excellent
radio plays and two comedy-drama series. Information about these, so far as I have it, is below.
THE PLAYS
28.06.94 Anorak of Fire
15.11.95 The Colour Norman
11.06.97 Nimby
30.07.14 The Future of Radio, Series 1
03.02.16 The Future of Radio, Series 2
NOTES
ANORAK OF FIRE....1994
A hilarious play about life, love and trainspotting. By Stephen Dinsdale. 28 Jun 94 & 14 Sep 95.
'I was born a spotter.' Thus we are introduced to Gus Gascoigne,
young, spotty, perpetually cheerful and completely bemused by
anything that isn't involved with his sole interest - trainspotting.
Touching, ironic and consistently hilarious, Anorak of Fire
enjoyed a long run at London's Arts Theatre, after the
Edinburgh Fringe.
BBC blurb: Stephen Dinsdale 's comic monologue enjoyed a triumph at the Edinburgh Festival and then transferred to the West End. Now the adventures of Gus Gascoigne ,fanatical train spotter, are brought to radio with James Holmes starring as Gus. Director: Anne Pivcevic.
The Colour Norman....1995
15.11.95. Science student Norman invents a new colour, and is
besieged by all and sundry, anxious to get their hands
on it. A superb comedy by Stephen Dinsdale and Jerome Vincent.
BBC info: The second of four new comedies for Radio 4 is written by Stephen Dinsdale and Jerome Vincent. Science student Norman Gittings invents a new colour and is besieged by fashion designers, greedy lawyers and M15, all desperate to get their hands on it. Norman: Richard Pearce, Simon: Roger May, Dr. Himsk: David March, Bletchley: John Hollis, Jane and Tina: Rebecca Front, Mum and Miss Fish: Tessa Worsley, Dad and Smoo: John Turner, Stroop and fashion commentator: David Timpson. Dredge and reporter 4: Andrew Branch, Raven and Tanya: Sandra James-Young; Pillbeam, Reporter 1 and TV announcer: Geoffrey Whitehead. Producer: Anne Pivcevic.
NIMBY....1997
BBC info: By Stephen Dinsdale and Jerome Vincent. The demolition work for the new slip road is about to begin, when Eamon sees a fairy standing on his gear stick. Varta: Rachel Atkins, Urst: Ioan Meredith, Eamon: Mark Bonnar, Flint: Sean Barrett, Thynne: Geoffrey Whitehead, Bench: Gerard McDermott, with Tracy Ann Oberman, Amanda Gordon and Carolyn Jones. Producer: David Blount.
THE FUTURE OF RADIO, SERIES 1....2014
What is the future of radio? In a world of digital overload can the public be expected to just listen to something without any pictures? Is the radio era over? The Institute of Radiophonic Evolution (IRE), based in South Mimms, is working hard to give radio a bright future. Their secret work is revealed in these programmes which draw on conference calls, voice notes and life-logs, to tell a compelling and strange story of the technological lengths to which the researchers will go to keep radio relevant. Each week a jiffy bag of sound files arrives at BBC Radio 4. We listen to the contents to discover what backroom boffins Luke Mourne and Professor Trish Baldock (ably assisted by Shelley - on work experience) have been up to.
30 Jul, 11pm: The Sweet Smell of Success.
By Jerome Vincent and Stephen Dinsdale. In this week's episode, the boffins discover that radio can transmit smells and use them to enhance the output of the Radio Drama Department.
Luke ...... William Beck, Trish ...... Emma Kilbey,
Shelley ...... Lizzy Watts, Felix ...... David Brett,
with Joan Walker and Chris Stanton. Producer ...... David Blount.
Pianist: Mike Woolley. Indie (Pier Productions).
6 Aug, 11pm: Plastic Fantastic.
By Jerome Vincent and Stephen Dinsdale. Now Luke and Trish seem to have cracked the old Star-Trek conundrum - how do you transport physical objects through space?
Luke ...... William Beck,
Trish ...... Emma Kilbey,
Shelley ...... Lizzy Watts,
Felix ...... David Brett,
Aileen ...... Joan Walker,
Stella ...... Joan Walker,
Lawrence ...... Chre Woolley.
Producer ...... David Blount. Indie (Pier Productions)
13 Aug, 11pm: Breaking Small.
By Jerome Vincent and Stephen Dinsdale. Luke invents a nano radio pill that can be taken orally. But the ingested radio molecules have curious side-effects.Usual production team, plus Ben Crowe.
20 Aug, 11pm: Good Vibrations.
By Jerome Vincent and Stephen Dinsdale. Luke discovers that certain low frequencies add a whole new dimension to Book At Bedtime. usual production team, including Ben crowe and Chris Stanton.
27 Aug, 11pm: The Absence App.
By Jerome Vincent and Stephen Dinsdale. Luke Mourne and Professor Trish Baldock (ably assisted by Shelley - on work experience) develop the Absence App and use it to disrupt a politically controversial radio broadcast.
THE FUTURE OF RADIO, SERIES 2....2016
3 Feb, 11pm: Mashup Heaven.
By Jerome Vincent and Stephen Dinsdale. Luke, the Professor and Shelley help audio graffiti artist Skanksy to mashup Radio 4 - and try to unmask his secret identity at the same time.
Luke ..... William Beck,
Trish ..... Emma Kilbey,
Shelley ..... Lizzy Watts,
Felix ..... David Brett,
Prunella ..... Sarah Badel,
Pontius ..... Chris Stanton,
Producer ..... David Blount.
Indie (Pier).
10 Feb, 11pm: Bad Continuity.
By Jerome Vincent and Stephen Dinsdale. Luke, the Professor and Shelley develop an algorithm to replace continuity announcers - resulting in industrial unrest and 'easy listening' on every BBC radio network - which is fine if you're a James Last fan.Usual production team; Indie (Pier).
17 Feb, 11pm: Friends Electric.
By Jerome Vincent and Stephen Dinsdale. Jealousy of a fellow inventor drives Luke to take Artificial Intelligence to the next level. Cast: as last week, but Eddie Ayre plays Leary and Sarah Badel is absent. Indie (Pier).
compiled by Nigel Deacon / Diversity website
