United Kingdoms

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United Kingdoms: Reflecting

Reflecting

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A bold series of short dramas reflecting life across the UK.

A series of themed, mixed form, short dramas reflecting life across the UK.  Reflecting brings voices from Belfast, Cardiff, Leith, Birmingham and Nottingham.

A ground breaking five part series from exciting new writers celebrating and revealing life across the United Kingdoms in short, sharp drama, comedy, news reports, song and poetic monologue. Stories, lives and voices making a kaleidoscope of now.

Each episode features five short dramas by different writers - a total of 50 writers and 100 actors have been brought together, showcasing new writing and performing talent from every corner of the United Kingdom.


Belfast - A reflection on a long-ago conversation between the writer's parents about her brother’s first birthday party, the 12th July Orange Day Parade, and a strange meeting in the park. Then the phone rings and, without warning, her mother’s world is turned upside down.

Cardiff Gate - Going back to work with a stoma is no joke. In this surreal comedy, Greg Glover reflects on his real-life experiences of coming to terms with an ileostomy.

Leith - Jo reflects back on her life as a father and grandmother.

Sparkhill - I (Roland Gift) went back to Sparkhill and, for the first time since leaving town, I spent the night in a house of a friend on the road where I was born. Since then, nothing in my world has been the same.

Nottingham - Falling can feel like floating if the conditions are right. Contextualising a dream and rooting it in reality allows for progress to be made.


Belfast written by Zarina Yousuf-Bonass
Performed by Lata Sharma
Music by Louis Gift
Sound Design by Lucinda Mason Brown
Produced by Celia de Wolff

Cardiff Gate written by Greg Glover
Performed by Gareth Pierce, Lisa Zahra and Dom Francis
Sound Design by Nigel Lewis.
Produced by John Norton

Leith written by Jo Clifford
Performed by Jo Clifford and Catriona Innes
Sound Design by Joanne Willott
Produced by Kirsty Williams

Sparkhill written by Roland Gift
Performed by Roland Gift
Music by Roland Gift
Sound Design by Lucinda Mason Brown
Produced by Celia de Wolff

Nottingham written by Ravelle-Sadé Fairman
Performed by Ravelle-Sadé Fairman and Leon Schoburgh
Sound Design by Eloise Whitmore
Produced by Dermot Daly

Programme Illustration by Eleanor Hibbert
Original music composed by Niroshini Thambar

Episode Sound Designers:  Lucinda Mason Brown and David Chilton, Essential Music Ltd
Curated by Celia de Wolff for Pier Productions and BBC Northern Ireland for 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.

Drama

Bold series of short dramas reflecting life across the UK.

Groundbreaking series of themed, mixed-form, short dramas reflecting life across the United Kingdom.

A groundbreaking five-part series from exciting new writers celebrating and revealing life across the United Kingdoms in short, sharp drama, comedy, news reports, song and poetic monologue. Stories, lives and voices making a kaleidoscope of now.

Each episode features five short dramas by different writers - a total of 50 writers and 100 actors have been brought together, showcasing new writing and performing talent from every corner of the United Kingdom.

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