The Utopia Experiment 

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Dylan Evans

Barry Johnston

David Roper

Book of the Week: The Utopia Experiment: Episode 3

The Utopia Experiment

Episode 3

BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week, The Utopia Experiment, Episode 3

One man's attempt to survive a global catastrophe by setting up a commune in Scotland.

Numbers begin to swell at the commune in Scotland.  Written and read by Dylan Evans.

The commune is opened to the public and inspires unexpectedly dark thoughts about what might happen if an angry, hungry, post-apocalyptic mob did actually fall upon the community.

Written and read by Dylan Evans.
 
A true story that you couldn't make up - one man's attempt to survive a global catastrophe by setting up a commune in Scotland.

While lecturing in robotics, academic Dylan Evans became increasingly concerned by the visible impacts of global warming, population increase, terrorism - and by our inability to cope with a doomsday scenario in a world engineered to just-in-time living.
 
The concern became an obsession and Evans left his post to run an experiment. He set up a camp that would create the conditions for a post-apocalyptic world. It was established in the Scottish Highlands with a collection of people chosen for talents and skills necessary in a life without technology or comforts.
 
The resulting story is a Lord of the Flies for the modern day, treating serious and normally sombre topics with dark humour. At its heart, however, is one man's well-intentioned dream and the price he paid for trying to do something good.
 
Abridged by Barry Johnston.

Producer: David Roper

A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in March 2015.

Book of the Week: The Utopia Experiment

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

By Dylan Evans. True story following one man's attempt to survive a global catastrophe by setting up a commune in Scotland. Read by the author. Abridged by Barry Johnston.

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