BBC Radio 4 LW

80 Not Out

80 Not Out: Demerara Jazz

The Iceman Returneth

Demerara Jazz

BBC Radio 4 - 80 Not Out, Demerara Jazz

Yvonne Brewster reads an extraordinary, multi-strand story about the power of breathing.

A multi-layered story about an 80 year actor, playwright and theatre director, set in the UK and Guyana. Read by Yvonne Brewster and written by Jacqueline Crooks.

At the age of 80, Coral Samuels has written her first play, which she is also directing at the community theatre she has established in order to help disadvantaged people. 

The man she has chosen to play American playwright James Baldwin is homeless.  She knows he is struggling to find the control to communicate with an audience. 

Her determination to help him revives memories of growing up in Guyana and how she tried so hard to help her young nephew to find ways to breathe freely.  She also remembers coming to London and hearing the jazz players of the time using every breath in their body.  

This story has been specially written  by Jacqueline Crooks.  

Producer:  Martin Jenkins
Director:  Marina Caldarone
Sound Designer:  David Thomas
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4

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BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

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

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Specially commissioned stories performed by five actors who have reached 80.

Specially commissioned stories by outstanding writers to be performed by five actors who have reached 80.

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