Rumer Godden

Indira Varma

Sinead Cusack

Lesley Sharp

David Rintoul

Ronny Jhutti

Ellie Beaven

Michael Maloney

Abigail Docherty

Nickolas Grace

Geoffrey Whitehead

Full Cast

Dearbhla Molloy

Three Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisations

Full-cast radio adaptations of three of Rumer Godden's bestselling novels, plus a bonus interview with the author 
 
Rumer Godden is well known for her acclaimed novels for adults and children. She wrote over 60 works in her lifetime, nine of which were made into films. Included here are dramatisations of three of her classic tales, as well as a fascinating interview with the renowned author. 
 
Black Narcissus - A group of nuns establishing a remote mission in an old palace in the Himalayas is warned that it is no place for a nunnery. And as the Sisters' tragic destiny unfolds, those prophetic words are soon proved right. Sinead Cusack and Lesley Sharp star in this atmospheric dramatisation of Godden's 1939 novel, famously adapted as an Oscar-winning film by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. 
 
The Greengage Summer - When their mother falls ill during a holiday to France, the Grey children are left to entertain themselves. Over the course of the long, hot summer, they are caught up in an adult world of deception and lies... Starring Ellie Beaven, Abigail Docherty and Michael Maloney. 
 
The Dark Horse - Set in Calcutta in 1933, this is the story of a thoroughbred racehorse, a jockey seeking a second chance, a shrewd Mother Superior and a miracle - all based on true events. Geoffrey Whitehead, Indira Varma, Dearbhla Molloy and Ioan Meredith star in this heartwarming drama. 
 
Third Ear - Recorded in 1992, this illuminating Radio 3 interview sees the octogenarian Rumer Godden talking to Geoffrey Baskerville about how her life and beliefs are reflected in her writing. 
 
Text copyright © The Rumer Godden Literary Trust 1939 (Black Narcissus), 1958 (The Greengage Summer), 1981 (The Dark Horse) 
 
Black Narcissus 
Sister Clodagh - Sinead Cusack 
Sister Ruth - Lesley Sharp 
Mr Dean - David Rintoul 
Dilip Rai - Ronny Jhutti 
Sister Briony - Susan Engel 
Sister Philippa - Jenny Lee 
Sister Honey - Rachel Atkins 
The General/Father Roberts - Sam Dastor 
Ayah - Indira Joshi 
Mother Dorothea/Sister Adela - Carolyn Jones 
Con - Alastair Danson 
Kanchi - Sumitra Bhagat 
Joseph Anthony - Dhiraj Prasai 
Dramatised by April de Angelis 
Music by Elizabeth Parker 
Directed by Sally Avens 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 December 1997 
 
The Greengage Summer 
Cecile - Ellie Beaven 
Joss - Abigail Docherty 
Hester - Ciara Janson 
Eliot - Michael Maloney 
With Luke Newbury, Claire Marchionne, Rachel Atkins, Theo Fraser Steele, Sean Baker, Jenny Lee, Brian Parr and Chris Wright 
Dramatised by Dawn Lowe Watson 
Directed by Sally Avens 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 May 1988 
 
The Dark Horse 
Sister Morag - Dearbhla Molloy 
Levantine - Nickolas Grace 
Ted - Ioan Meredith 
John Quillan - Gareth Armstrong 
With Geoffrey Whitehead, Indira Varma, Siobhan Stamp, Frances Jeater, Nitin Chandra Ganatra, Richard Rees and David Antrobus 
Dramatised by Liane Aukin 
Directed by David Hunter 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5 September 1988 
 
Third Ear 
Presented by Geoffrey Baskerville 
With Rumer Godden 
Produced by Vivien Devlin 
First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 12 May 1992 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Rumer Godden

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