Nicola Baldwin Radio Plays
BBC RADIO PLAYS & READINGS
2021-05-23, 00-30, Empty Stages, Madison Chorus, rpt
2021-05-22, 00-30, Empty Stages, Madison Chorus, rpt
2021-05-21, 15-45, Empty Stages, Madison Chorus
2021-04-22, 14-15, Camberwell Green. Part 2
2021-04-21, 14-15, Camberwell Green. Part 1
2018-08-17, 14-15, Abdication: The Crisis of Wallis Simpson,rpt
2016-12-09, 14-15, Abdication: The Crisis of Wallis Simpson
2016-10-03, 14-15, Euston to Whitechapel, rpt
2015-07-14, 14-15, Tony and Rose
2015-04-21, 14-15, Euston to Whitechapel
2013-05-07, 14-15, Tony and Rose
2008-05-09, 14-15, Edward Alleyn's Devil
2008-02-29, 14-15, Have Your Cake. 6/6. Unusual Christening Cake
2008-02-22, 14-15, Have Your Cake. 5/6. Lady's Cake By
2008-02-01, 14-15, Have Your Cake. 2/6. Private Parkin
2008-01-25, 14-15, Have Your Cake. 1/6. Bitter Chocolate
2006-12-27, 14-15, Drama, Edward Alleyn's Devil
2001-07-13, 21-00, Friday Play, Poppy Q (rpt from R3, The Wire)
NOTES ON SOME OF THE PLAYS
21 May 21, Empty Stages - Madison Chorus
When drama graduate and part-time usher Madison is laid off during the pandemic by the famous London theatre where she works, she joins a skeleton team of night cleaners - all of them young actors - on a temporary contract to check and clean the building overnight. Working in rotation, each of them alone, they take turns to sweep and polish the empty stage, sometimes spontaneously performing to the vacant auditorium. On Madison's shift, she reflects on her difficult journey into acting and speculates about her uncertain future.
Read by Lisa McGrillis.
Directed by Celia de Wolff.
Indie (Pier).
2021-04-22, Camberwell Green, 2: On Diversion
Thriller, continued. With her husband Steve held hostage by Bianca's armed robbers, bus controller Marilyn is forced to engineer traffic chaos to help their escape. The play is set against the backdrop of Covid and its impact on the people who kept the country running despite enormous personal risks.
Marilyn ..... Chizzy Akudolu,
Vincent ..... Lloyd Hutchinson,
Frankie ..... Michelle Greenidge,
Steve ..... Nicholas Gleaves,
Nell ..... Tia Bannon.
Other roles played by:
Nick Armfield, Ginny Holder, Alice Hoskyns, Sean Kearney and Finlay Paul. Produced by Celia de Wolff.
Indie (Pier).
2021-04-21, Camberwell Green, 1: All Routes
A two-part crime thriller set in a London bus control centre. On her first day as a bus controller, Marilyn faces severe disruption when a street protest turns violent. Liaising with emergency services and redirecting drivers, she must rescue her old friend Frankie, and her passengers, trapped by the demonstration on Waterloo Bridge.
Marilyn ..... Chizzy Akudolu,
Vincent ..... Lloyd Hutchinson,
Frankie ..... Michelle Greenidge,
Steve ..... Nicholas Gleaves,
Nell ..... Tia Bannon.
Other roles played by:
Nick Armfield, Ginny Holder, Alice Hoskyns, Sean Kearney and Finlay Paul .
Produced by Celia de Wolff.
Indie (Pier).
2018-08-17, Abdication: The Crisis of Wallis Simpson
I thought everything which could be said about the abdication of Edward VIII had already been said, but THE KING'S MATTER, by Christopher Lee and THE CRISIS OF WALLIS SIMPSON, by Nicola Baldwin (R4, 8-9 Dec 2016) looked at the events leading up to the abdication from two different viewpoints. Christopher took the king's perspective, where Stanley Baldwin and the Archbishop of Canterbury decided that Edward VIII should not impose his will on the governance of England by marrying Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee. Nicola looked at the affair from Wallis's point of view; Wallis escapes to France to escape press harassment, and then tries to persuade the king not to abdicate, saying that they can continue their relationship without marrying. It didn't work.
Wallis was played by Frances Barber; both plays were produced by Celia de Wolff. Incidentally I thought that Wallis emerged very creditably from this unfortunate event. (ND, Diversity Website review, Dec 2016)
2015-04-21, Euston to Whitechapel
When London taxi driver Marshall detours suddenly off the rank at Euston Station to pick up a passenger he mistakes for his estranged daughter, he does not expect what happens next. Over a 45-minute trip to the Royal London Hospital, Marshall revisits the story of his life.
Meanwhile, paramedic Corinne is called to attend a road accident outside Euston and also travels to the Royal London, transporting an unconscious patient. As her patient's condition deteriorates it requires all her skill to keep her passenger alive.
Indie (Pier).
Marshall ........ Matthew Marsh ,
Corinne ....... Julia Ford ,
Rachel ...... Kellie Shirley ,
'The Turtle' ....... Arthur White ,
Danny ...... Tom Bevan,
Producer..... Celia de Wolff.
2013-05-07, Tony and Rose
By Nicola Baldwin. When architect Tony returns to England from his home in Germany to attend his Aunt Ruth's funeral, he struggles to come to terms with the strange behaviour of his mother Rose. She's seriously ill. Dementia.
Tony ....... Robert Glenister ,
Rose ...... Marcia Warren ,
Monica .... Hazel Ellerby,
Care Worker ..... Aicha Kossoko,
Care Manager ..... Emma Kiley,
Producer..... Celia de Wolff.
Indie (Pier)
2008-02-29, Have Your Cake
6/6. Unusual Christening Cake
The cake club is preparing for the christening of Chrissie's baby, but both Tess and Maggie are struggling with secrets that could change everything.
Maggie ...... Lesley Sharp,
Tess ...... Tamsin Greig,
Ray ...... Neil Dudgeon,
Sabina ...... Nisha Nayar,
Nicky ...... Matthew Dunster,
Janice ...... Sheila Hancock,
Chrissie ...... Stephanie Leonidas,
Leanne ...... Loo Brealey,
Matty ...... Joe Prospero.
2008-02-22, Have Your Cake
5/6. Lady's Cake
Tess and Nicky face temptation and bad news during a terrible storm. Maggie is confronted by a ghost from her past.
Maggie ...... Lesley Sharp,
Tess ...... Tamsin Greig,
Ray ...... Neil Dudgeon,
Sabina ...... Nisha Nayar,
Nicky ...... Matthew Dunster,
Matty ...... Joe Prospero.
2008-02-01, Have Your Cake
2/6. Private Parkin
A mysterious man gatecrashes the cake club. Is he the chef he claims to be or something more sinister?
Maggie ...... Lesley Sharp,
Tess ...... Tamsin Greig,
Nicky ...... Matthew Dunster,
Sabina ...... Nisha Nayar.
2008-01-25, Have Your Cake
Series of plays about a cake-making club.
1/6. Bitter Chocolate Cake
Every year. old school friends Tess and Maggie meet up to do something they've never done together. This time they decide to try their hand at baking. But when they come across a neighbour in distress, they end up making a cake with a difference.
Maggie ...... Lesley Sharp,
Tess ...... Tamsin Greig,
Ray ...... Neil Dudgeon,
Sabina ...... Nisha Nayar,
Leanne ...... Loo Brealey,
Neil ...... Stephen Hogan.
2006-12-27 Edward Alleyn's Devil
London 1605: Edward Alleyn was the most famous actor of the Jacobean theatre. At the height of his fame he believed he saw a devil on stage. The play investigates what really happened.
Producer: Steven Canny,
Edward Alleyn: Richard McCabe,
William Grogan: Brian McCardie,
Philip Henslowe: Philip Jackson,
Fardinandoo Black: Desmond McNamara,
Joan Alleyn: Christine Kavanagh,
Sir Francis Calton: Sam Dale,
John Pyg: Joe Prospero,
Robert Shaa: Joseph Kloska,
Miss Wills: Bethan Walker,
Isack Shackerley: Paul Richard Biggin,
Singer: Miranda Keeling,
Schoolboys: Dulwich College Boys.
2001-07-13 Poppy Q
Friday Play. Nicola Baldwin 's thriller set on the edge of a northern rural town - a shoddy underworld where friendship isn't what it seems. Poppy Q is always on the run - but from what? And what dark secret is Anita sheltering from Poppy's past? Originally broadcast on Radio 3 (The Wire).
Producer: Polly Thomas.
Poppy Q: Katy Cavanagh,
Anita: Claudie Blakley,
Lisa: Emma Ashton,
Marlene: Susan Twist,
Alex: Graeme Hawley,
Big Scary Bob: Glenn Cunningham.
Nigel Deacon / Diversity Website; updated June 2024
