Mother Courage and Her Children

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Drama on 4: Mother Courage and Her Children (Part 1)

Mother Courage and Her Children (Part 1)

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Mother Courage and Her Children (Part 1)

Innovative version of Brecht’s timeless anti-war play with Maggie Steed as Mother Courage.

An innovative new version of Brecht’s timeless 1939 anti-war play with songs. Maggie Steed plays Mother Courage, partly recorded in Kyiv, Ukraine, making it hugely relevant today.

An innovative new two-part radio production of Brecht’s timeless anti-war play with songs. A narrator observes from present day Ukraine, and unconventional techniques mirror Brecht’s “alienation effect”. 

Recorded in London and Kyiv, with a mixed cast, Mother Courage and her three adult children pull her cart through a land ravaged by the Thirty Years War (1618-48), loaded with supplies for sale to whoever will buy them. They follow armies across Germany and Sweden for over two decades, trading with soldiers, and turning a profit, selling anything armies desire or require; morals don’t enter into it. The more desperate they are, the more she charges them. Nothing comes before making a profit, not even her three children. 

Many consider Mother Courage to be the greatest anti-war play ever and one of the 20th century's greatest plays. Bertolt Brecht's classic drama with songs (last produced on BBC radio in 1990), is now all the more pertinent and relevant, with war returning to Europe. A resonant new Mother Courage for Europe today.

Adapter/director Turan Ali has 3 decades of award-winning radio drama under his belt. 
Musical Director Tim Sutton composed new music and adapted Brecht’s lyrics for the 7 songs. 

CAST
Mother Courage - Maggie Steed 
Narrator (in Kyiv) - Rob Feldman 
Chaplain - Guy Henry  
Cook - William Brand 
Yvette - Sirine Saba  
Kattrin - Fiona Skinner 
Eilif  - Andre Antonio 
Swiss Cheese - Taheen Modak 
Sergeant - Richard Glover 
Rec. Officer - David Holt   
Commander - Mark Straker  

Musicians : Sophie Creaner, Freddie Gavita, Beth Higham-Edwards, Justin Quinn, Ian Watson.

New music and adapted lyrics by Tim Sutton
Adapted for radio and directed by Turan Ali 
A Bona Broadcasting production for BBC Radio 4

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