Andrew Mark Sewell
Andrew Mark Sewell is a radio drama producer and director, frequently working through his production company, B7 Media, on cinematic-style audio for the BBC. The more serious dramas are mainly on Radio 4; the more lighthearted ones (e.g. Dan Dare adventures; a lot of episodes) are generally broadcast on Radio 4 Extra.
I've listed some of the plays below. Note that they are in reverse chronological order, which means that recent stuff is at the top of the page.
24 Dec 25: The Truth about Phyllis Twigg
By Paul Kerensa. In 1924, the world’s first radio drama was broadcast by the BBC. Richard Hughes was credited as the writer - but Phyllis Twigg had already written a children’s radio play performed live on the BBC on Christmas Eve a year earlier. This is a light-hearted drama about giving credit where it's due, even if it's 100 years late. It's set in 1922. The BBC is six weeks old. It is desperate for content. Arthur Burrows, its first Director of Programmes, is accosted by children’s author Phyllis Twigg outside Marconi House: could they put a play on the radio? She has already written for gramophone, so broadcasting is the natural next step.
Then we move to 2025: In the British Library, "HerStory" podcast producer Jenny Adams fumbles with her phone as she attempts to record a voice note for her season finale. She suspects children's author Moira Meighn and Phyllis Twigg the dramatist are the same person, and the proof is somewhere in its stacks. She also intends to right an injustice; this is not the first time that a man been credited with a woman’s historical first. Phyllis Twigg .... Tamsin Greig, Arthur Burrows .... Rory Kinnear, Jenny .... Aja Dodd, Rajesh .... Amit Shah Mr White .... Will Harrison-Wallace, Lift Boy .... Haydn Watts, Anne .... Flora Saner. Other roles played by members of the cast. "Dear Santa" written and performed by Hannah Brine. Sound Design .... Eloise Whitmore, Studio Manager .... Rohan Onraet, Original Music .... Neil Brand, Producer/Executive Producer .... Andrew Mark Sewell, Director .... Helen Quigley. Indie (B7 Media)
3 Aug 24: Saturday Play: Mahabharata Now, 3: Dance of Defiance
By Richard Kurti and Bev Doyle. The saga continues as Yash and Padma arrive in Manchester to begin their four year exile. Now they are an ethnic minority in a country where race is an increasingly charged issue and, with no money, they are powerless to insulate themselves from trouble. Meanwhile, in Mumbai, Dhruv is working hard to secure his grip on power. (Pt. 4 was broadcast on 10 Aug; pts 5,6,7 were on Sept 1, 8 and 15. Pt. 8, which I think is the final part, was on 6 Jul 2025).
Dhruv: Neil Bhoopalam,
Yash: Tavish Bhattacharyya,
Padma: Ira Dubey,
Shaks: Vivek Madan,
Karthik: Sukant Goel,
Gopi: MIna Anwar,
Nyra: Abir Abrar,
Swati: Rina Fatania,
Emmi: Ayla Wheatley,
Landlord: Dean Harris,
Andy: Kenny Blyth,
Warehouse Supervisor: Sean Connolly.
Other characters played by Abir Abrar, Omkar Kulkarni, Devika Shahani Punjabi and Prerna Chawla.
Sound Supervisor (Mumbai): Ayush Ahuja.
Sound Design and Post Production: Wilfredo Acosta.
Original Music: Imran Ahmad.
Producer (Mumbai): Nadir Khan.
Producers in England: Helen Quigley and Andrew Mark Sewell.
Director: Jatinder Verma.
Indie (B7 Productions).
13 Feb 22: Classic Serial slot - Mahabharata Now, 1
By Richard Kurti and Bev Doyle, in two 55m parts. A modern adaptation of the ancient Indian poem Mahabharata. Dramatised as a family epic set in 21st century Mumbai, this series is powered by the tensions and rivalries of a turbulent business empire. One of India’s biggest business empires is facing a crisis that threatens its existence. Fifty years ago, two brothers, Sanjay and Paras set up a small business that would eventually grow into Hasta Enterprises, a vast conglomerate encompassing everything from finance to hotels. When Paras died young from a heart attack, control of the empire passed to Sanjay, and for many years all was well. Recently however, Sanjay has started to show signs of ill health. Looking to the future, he prays to the Gods and decides to publish a will. That is when the chaos begins. (pt. 2 was broadcast a week later). Repeated in Sept 2023.
Sanjay: Rajit Kapur,
Dhruv: Neil Bhoopalam,
Yash: Tavish Bhattacharyya,
Kala: Anahita Uberoi,
Gita: Shernaz Patel,
Padma - Ira Dubey,
Shaks: Vivek Madan,
Karthik: Sukant Goel,
Vihaan: Omkar Kulkarni,
MC: Aseem Hattangady,
Paramedic: Abir Abrar,
Consultant: Shivani Tanksale,
Gopi: Prerna Chawla.
Other characters played by Shivani Tanksale; Abir Abrar; Omkar Kulkarni and Aseem Hattangady.
Sound Supervisor (Mumbai): Ayush Ahuja.
Sound Design and Post Production: Wilfredo Acosta.
Original Music: Imran Ahmad.
Producer (Mumbai): Nadir Khan.
Producer: Helen Quigley and Andrew Mark Sewell.
Executive Producer: Andrew Mark Sewell.
Director: Jatinder Verma.
Indie (B7 Media).
6 Nov 21: Saturday Play - Barred
By Thandi Lubimbi and Richard Kurti. Thriller about a young black barrister trying to establish her career. She believes the law is a wonderful thing, but the Head of Chambers believes the law is just a way of making as much money as possible. Thandi Lubimbi spent much of her childhood growing up in deprived areas of the country. She joined the army to get away, worked for a law enforcement agency and then retrained as a barrister.
Tamika - Kerri McLean,
Kris - Susannah Harker,
Dominic - Andrew Wincott,
Patrick - Andrew Lancel,
Carol - Ali Bastian,
Max - Liam Woodlands-Mooney,
Franki - Anton Rice,
Wallace - Sam Devereaux,
Sam - Becky Wright,
Thornton - Jonathan Rhodes,
Security Guard - Russell Shaw,
Elliott - David O’Mahony,
Della - Sally Walker Taylor,
HHJ Dyson - Pavel Douglas,
Prosecutor - Edwin Flay,
DS Sullivan - Sean Connolly,
Grace - Katy Maw,
HHJ Graves - Tanya Rich,
Prosecutor Steadman - Will Harrison-Wallace,
Helena - Marta da Silva,
Faversham - Christopher Tester,
Police officer 1 - Alistair Lock,
Police Officer 2 - Helen Quigley;
other roles were played by members of the cast.
SM - Wilfredo Acosta,
Sound Design - Alistair Lock,
Theme Music - Tim Arnold,
Incidental Music - Anna Phoebe,
Producer - Helen Quigley,
Director - Andrew Mark Sewell.
Indie (B7 Media). [Marta da Silva received a nomination at the BBC Audio Drama Awards for her performance].
R4X- 2019-03-16, The Boy from Aleppo Who Painted the War
From the novel by Sumia Sukkar. Dramatised for radio by Richard Kurti and Bev Doyle.
The Syrian conflict through the eyes of Adam, a teenage boy with Asperger's syndrome, who can only speak the truth. Indie production (B7).
Music: Imran Ahmad,
Sound Design: Wilfredo Acosta,
Producer: Patrick Chapman,
Director: Fiona McAlpine,
A B7 Production for BBC Radio 4.
Adam ...... Farshid Rokey,
Yasmine ........ Jalleh Alizadeh,
Khalid ..... Noof Ousellam,
Baba ..... Bijan Daneshmand,
Tariq ...... Amir El-Masry,
Wasim ...... Adam El Hagar,
Nabil ..... Ashraf Ejjbair,
Miss Basma ........ Abla George
Aunt Suha ...... Shazia Nicholls.
(...I've included this in Andrew's list of credits because although he didn't have an active role in the production, he is noted as 'Executive Producer', and he is director/owner of B7 Media. Once Independent production started it became mandatory for all Indie productions made for the BBC to have an Executive Producer. In many cases this role simply involves listening to another producer's work and signing off the compliance - ND.)
Other Dan Dare adventures on R4X with A.M.S as producer:
2018 The Red Moon Mystery 2 x 30m
2018 Marooned on Mercury 2 x 30m
2019 21st Century Spaceman 2 x 30m
2020 Operation Saturn 2 x 30m
2020 Prisoners of Space 3 x 30m
2022 Reign of the Robots 2 x 30m
Radio 4 Extra - 2018-08-05, Dan Dare,1: Eagle: The Space Age Weekly
Adventures based on the Eagle comic strip 'Dan Dare' created in 1950 by the Reverend Marcus Morris and Frank Hampson. 30m.
Starring Ed Stoppard as Dan Dare, Geoff McGivern as Digby, Heida Reed as Professor Peabody and Raad Rawi as the Mekon, Bijan Daneshmand as Sondar, Amber Aga as Treen General, David O'Mahony as the Flight Engineer, Kelly Burke as Flight Control and Dianne Weller as the On-board Computer.
Dramatised by Richard Kurti and Bev Doyle.
Director: Andrew Mark Sewell.
Indie; made by B7 Productions.
Radio 4 Extra - 2018-08-12, Dan Dare,2: The Voyage to Venus
Arriving at Venus, will brilliant test pilot, Dan Dare, be able to hold his own against a cunning new enemy? Concluding episode with same production team as last week (below). Producer: Andrew Mark Sewell. Indie (B7 Media).
21 June 14: Saturday Play - The Martian Chronicles
By Ray Bradbury, dramatized by Richard Kurti and Bev Doyle. Astronauts taking part in Earth's first mission to Mars disappear. A second expedition is sent, with instructions to find out what happened to the first lot. However, the Captain has another agenda. Derek Jacobi as the Captain, with Hayley Atwell, Anna Madeley, Mark Lewis-Jones, John Altman, Zoe Tapper, Jonathan Rhodes, Dean Harris, Ryan Sewell, Melissa Aston-Munslow, Owen Sewell, Rachel Naylor, Jacob James, Robert Lock. Producer - Andrew Mark Sewell. The Mayflower Rocket Kids were played by the pupils of Polehampton Junior School. (very well done!) Sound design - Alistair Lock. Repeated R4 Sep 2025; also on R4X in 2017.
