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Anton Lesser

Michelle Fairley

Amaka Okafor

Jonathan Harden

Lloyd Hutchinson

Eoin O'Callaghan

Mark Lawson

Drama on 4: The Unseen Government

The Unseen Government

14/09/2018

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, The Unseen Government

Are Northern Ireland's civil servants doing a better job than its absentee politicians?

After 600 days without a government, are Northern Ireland's civil servants doing a better job than their absentee political masters? An imagined satirical drama by Mark Lawson.

An imagined satirical drama by Mark Lawson about the current impasse in the Northern Ireland government.

Just arrived from London in Belfast's George Best Airport, Ali is a special advisor to the UK government in Westminster. She is met by Jean-Christian, an advisor on non-elected governance to Northern Ireland's senior civil servants. Belgian Jean-Christian has a particular interest in Northern Irish affairs - in August 2018, Northern Ireland overtakes Belgium's world record of 589 days for the longest post-election period without an elected government. 

Ali reveals London's fear that the Northern Ireland "government" may be about to collapse. Jean-Christian responds, "How do you know it hasn't already?" And it is with this this alarming possibility hanging heavily in the air that Ali embarks on a journey through the Wonderland of Northern Irish politics.

Ali has been sent to Belfast to observe a series of role-playing simulation exercises, aiming to report back to Westminster on the likeliest outcomes. In a university seminar room, Jean-Christian moderates the scenarios, with a group of civil servants playing the main roles. At this point, as the problems unfold, the recent revelation that Ali's given name is Alice starts to seem quite apt.

Written by Mark Lawson.

Cast:
JEAN-CHRISTIAN...................................................Anton Lesser
MAIRE........... .... .....................................................Michelle Fairley
ALI... .......................................................................Amaka Okafor
ASH.........................................................................Jonathan Harden
PAUL .....................................................................Lloyd Hutchinson

Written by Mark Lawson

Director: Eoin O'Callaghan
A Big Fish Radio production for BBC Radio 4.

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