The Havana Quartet

Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Saturday Drama

Drama

Thrillers, mysteries, love stories and detective fiction.

Thrillers, mysteries, love stories and detective fiction, as well as an occasional special series

BBC Radio 4 Extra

BBC Radio 4 FM

Leonardo Padura

Jennifer Howarth

Zubin Varla

David Westhead

Lanre Malaolu

Lorna Gayle

Ben Crowe

Adjoa Andoh

David Acton

Hannah Genesius

Bettrys Jones

Jude Akuwidike

Elaine Claxton

Jane Slavin

Ian Conningham

Michael Bertenshaw

Sam Dale

Mary Peate

Saturday Drama: The Havana Quartet by Leonardo Padura: Havana Blue

Havana Blue

The Havana Quartet by Leonardo Padura

BBC Radio 4 - Saturday Drama, The Havana Quartet by Leonardo Padura, Havana Blue

Leonardo Padura's award-winning Cuban detective series featuring Lieutenant Mario Conde

New Year's Day 1989: Lieutenant Mario Conde wakes up to a terrible hangover and a new case, close to home. Starring Zubin Varla.

by Leonardo Padura
adapted by Jennifer Howarth

The first story in Padura's much-loved detective series set in Havana. It's New Year's Day 1989 and Lieutenant Mario Conde wakes up with another terrible hangover and a case which is close to home - his schoolboy rival, now a party grandee, is missing.
 
Cast:
Mario Conde ..... Zubin Varla
Rangel ..... David Westhead
Manolo ..... Lanre Malaolu
Josefina ..... Lorna Gayle
Skinny ..... Ben Crowe
Tamara ..... Adjoa Andoh
Rene Maciques ..... David Acton
Zaida ..... Hannah Genesius
Zoilita ..... Bettrys Jones
Miki ..... Jude Akuwudike
Maria Antonia ..... Elaine Claxton
China ..... Jane Slavin
Neighbour ..... Ian Conningham
Minister ..... Michael Bertenshaw
Garcia ..... Sam Dale

Directed by Mary Peate

Leonardo Padura's series, published in English as the Havana Quartet, is set over the course of 1989 - starting with Havana Blue which opens on New Year's Day.

Leonardo Padura is a novelist and journalist who was born in 1955 in Havana where he still lives. He has published a number of short-story collections and literary essays but he is best known internationally for the Havana Quartet series, all featuring Inspector Mario Conde.

In 1998, Padura won the Hammett Prize from the International Association of Crime Writers and in; 2012, he was awarded the National Prize for Literature, Cuba's national literary award.

Saturday Drama: The Havana Quartet by Leonardo Padura

BBC Radio 4

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

Leonardo Padura's award-winning Cuban detective series featuring Lieutenant Mario Conde.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Saturday Drama

The Havana Quartet by Leonardo Padura

Havana Blue

Contributors

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4