The River

BBC Radio 4 LW

Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

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

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

The River: Soul Estuary: The Mouth of the River

Soul Estuary: The Mouth of the River

BBC Radio 4 - The River, Soul Estuary: The Mouth of the River

Alan Read explores Estuary Soul in Essex.

Alan Read, Professor of Theatre at Kings College London recalls childhood in Essex in this series about our relationship with Rivers.

“While we existed on dry land, and swam in the river, we lived for the sea”, says  Alan Read, Professor of Theatre at Kings College London as he explores Estuary Soul and recalls the time he spent growing up by the riverine estuary of Essex. “Those of us without boats, and that was all of us, swam through the summers and other colder months too, and when after hours of up and down, in and out, going nowhere, we rested, it was in the water still.” The mouth of the estuary was their playground, and the history of this landscape fed into the estuary soul; the music, people, industry and culture “in the end, we knew we were all at the end, of the river, together, alone.“

Written and presented by Alan Read
Actor Susan Jameson 
Additional sound recordings by Chris Watson
Producer Sarah Blunt


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

Documentaries

Factual: Science & Nature

Five illustrated talks by different writers on the theme of the river.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The River

Soul Estuary: The Mouth of the River

Genres

Series

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4