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Classic Serial: John Wyndham - The Chrysalids

Matthew Beard

Verity-May Henry

Sydney Wade

Henry Devas

Carla Henry

Emma Cunniffe

Conrad Nelson

John Wyndham

Nadia Molinari

Classic Serial: John Wyndham - The Chrysalids: Episode 2

Drama: SciFi & Fantasy

The Chrysalids

Episode 2

John Wyndham - The Chrysalids

BBC Radio 4 - Classic Serial, John Wyndham - The Chrysalids, Episode 2

Will David be forced to flee to the lawless Fringes, or risk discovery?

Will David be forced to flee to the Fringes, the lawless territory inhabited by mutants, or risk discovery? Stars Matthew Beard, Ben Hanley, Isobel Doran and Conrad Nelson.

John Wyndham's post-apocalyptic science fiction classic dramatised by Jane Rogers.

Genetic mutation has devastated the world. Any deviation is seen as the work of the devil, ruthlessly hunted out and destroyed. David Strorm is one of a group of young people who can communicate by transferring thought-shapes. In God fearing, law abiding Waknuk, David and his friends would be classed as Mutants. Will David be forced to flee to the Fringes, the lawless territory inhabited by mutants or risk discovery?

Directed by Nadia Molinari


Written in 1955 Wyndham's novel explores the dangers inherent in discrimination and the threats posed by religious fundamentalism. The 'Old People' who caused the apocalypse are depressingly like us: ' They were shut off by different languages and different beliefs. They created vast problems then buried their heads in the sands of idle faith.' The children of the future (the Chrysalids) are able to 'think-together' and so can rise above the selfish violence and conflicting religions of the past. Wyndham's story of a group of persecuted teenagers is more timely than ever in our post-Fukushima, war-riven, genetically engineered and religiously divided world. Jane Rogers is a playwright and novelist, her latest novel The Testament of Jessie Lamb won the Arthur C Clarke Award this year.

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John Wyndham's post-apocalyptic science fiction classic, dramatised by Jane Rogers

John Wyndham's post-apocalyptic science fiction classic, dramatised by Jane Rogers, in which a group of young people with telepathic powers are persecuted for their difference

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