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Drama on 4: Charlotte Jones - The Diva in Me

The Diva in Me

05/05/2011

Charlotte Jones - The Diva in Me

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Charlotte Jones - The Diva in Me

Phillipa can sing anything from Bjork to Bassey, but the world has turned its back. Why?

Phillipa can sing in any style, from Bjork to Bassey, but the world has turned its back on her. Why? Stars Phillipa Stanton.

Phillipa spends Saturday night  eating toast and fantasizing about a boy-man from Southern Electric. She can sing anything from Bjork to  Bassey with a touch of Judy Garland thrown in but the world has turned its back her.  Why? A comedy with music by award-winning writer Charlotte Jones.

Phillipa...Philippa  Stanton
Shadwell...Stuart McLoughlin
Vicki...Sally Orrock
Gene Kelly...Daniel Rabin
Mona...Joanna Monro
Trevor...Brian Bowles

Directed by Claire Grove

This  comedy with music has been specially written by award-winning playwright Charlotte Jones for actress and extraordinary mimic  Philippa Stanton. Philippa  sings Garland, Kitt,  Boyle, Winehouse, Bjork, Gaga  and  Bassey. The music is woven into the narrative and is an essential part of the story because this is a woman with an extraordinary facility to recreate the voices of the famous. And although the world has turned its back on her talent she finally discovers the  ingredient that makes a diva truly great. 

Charlotte Jones is an outstanding dramatist whose play 'Humble Boy' for the National Theatre won Best New Play 2001, and transferred to the West End to enormous box office and critical success. Her screenplay Bessie and the Bell won won the New York Film and TV Festival Award 2006. Her comedy  MARTHA JOSIE AND THE CHINESE ELVIS  for the Octagon Theatre, Bolton and Liverpool Playhouse, won the 1999 TMA Best Play Award. Charlotte Jones dramatised  A WOMAN IN WHITE  for Andrew Lloyd Webber and  Matilda for Radio 4. She is currently writing for televison.

Philippa Stanton's credits  include Paula Vogel's award winning play 'How I Learned to Drive' at the Donmar Warehouse, two seasons at Shakespeare's Globe, appearing opposite Mark Rylance in 'The Golden Ass'.  Her television credits include 'Jill' in both series of  'How Do You Want Me' with Dylan Moran, and 'Clara' in the BBC's Great Expectations with Ioan Gruffudd. Her film credits include: The Clandestine Marriage with Joan Collins, Nigel Hawthorne and Timothy Spall. Unconditional Love  with Cathy Bates, Rupert Everett and Richard Briers and Swinging with the Finkels with Martin Freeman.

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