The Ballad of Syd & Morgan

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Drama on 4: The Ballad of Syd & Morgan

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Syd Barrett encounters EM Forster in Cambridge in 1968, and revelations flow.

Syd Barrett, recently ex-Pink Floyd, encounters novelist EM Forster in Cambridge, 1968. The two men discover surprising similarities about the departure of creativity.

Syd Barrett (22), recently ex-Pink Floyd, encounters novelist E M Forster (89) in King’s College, Cambridge in 1968.

Their meeting in this dramatisation by Roger James Elsgood of Haydn Middleton’s novel of the same name leads to a conversation between two men belonging to very different eras of the 20th century and at markedly different stages in their lives, about the loss and the continued absence of creativity.

Creative success usually comes after much-unrecognised toil when it is rewarded by public recognition. But E M Forster and Syd Barrett were successful artists almost from the get-go, having had no great struggle to establish themselves. 

Success arrived early in their lives, but then the impulse to be creative suddenly no longer seemed to be important, and they effectively downed tools. 

Forster stopped writing novels at the age of 45 and lived for as many years again; Barrett withdrew from writing and performing music at 25 and spent a further 35 years substantially musically silent. 

But both men’s cultural significance and legacy had already been secured. It had the effect of making them, their lives, and their work even more enigmatic and compelling to their followers. 

Forster, who is completely at ease with his long absence of creative activity, imparts understanding and wisdom to the younger man who is confused by the turn his life has recently taken. 

In return, Barrett's sudden youthful presence in Forster's life provides the eminent Edwardian with an unexpected release from long-resident inner demons, significantly the need to be circumspect about his sexuality. 

Starring Simon Russell Beale as E M Forster, Tyger Drew-Honey as Syd Barrett and Madeleine Leslay as a college bedder.

Sound design by Giovanni Sipiano
Directed by Willi Richards
Produced by Roger James Elsgood

An Art and Adventure production for BBC Radio 4

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