Trespass 

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)

Drama on 4

Drama

Drama from BBC Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra.

BBC Radio 4 LW

Drama on 4: Trespass

Trespass

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Trespass

A satirical play about over-population, inherited wealth and a remarkable poetry festival.

In his last ever play, David Pownall looks at many of today’s problems through a moment in history when the peasant-poet John Clare takes part in a remarkable poetry festival.

Trespass is the last play written for radio by David Pownall, the distinguished dramatist, poet and novelist, who died in 2022. 

At the heart of this satirical, hard-hitting drama are a series of complex relationships in which people make personal discoveries about themselves and the world they live in.  When the accepted norm is turned upside down and long-standing rules of accepted behaviour are broken, values and beliefs are sorely put to the test.  

With the elderly Earl of Leighton Mar confined to an asylum, his alcoholic son, Lord Tim, has no relationship with his employees. He simply drinks the proceeds. One morning Tim tells Gregory, one of his gardeners, that his guest, Marjorie Ems, has praised the gardens as among the most beautiful in the world.  Gregory’s world is turned upside down when he is put in charge of a poetry festival at which the star turn will be the peasant-poet, John Clare. From the moment Clare arrives he is the centre of attention.  Having excited the crowds of workers, they turn against him when he declares himself a patriot.  

Marjorie, who is romantically involved with the old Earl, informs Tim that his father plans to break every rule in the book by disposing of his assets and renouncing his title. Concern spreads to the Powers-that-Be in London.  If the Earl carries out his plan, it could destabilise the country financially. Action is taken to prevent this.  Marjorie Ems too breaks the rules. To secure the future of Leighton Mar, she has a son by the old Earl.  However, in case the child should die, she propositions Gregory asking him to father a spare. 

Cast:
Lord Tim...............................Robert Glenister
John Clare............................Adrian Scarborough
Marjorie................................Clare Corbett
The Earl.................................Nigel Anthony
Gregory.................................Luke Nunn
Hugh......................................Hasan Dixon
Sarah......................................Lucy Phelps


David Pownall was one of the outstanding radio dramatists of the past 60 years, understanding perfectly the power and impact of the medium. From his first play for radio in 1972, he subsequently created 90 more, winning six awards for best original play, the most recent in 2013. His most recent play was Bed for the Night. David was also an award-winning stage playwright, novelist and poet. His great play Master Class is always in performance. A collection of his award-winning radio plays was published in 1988, as well as Sound Theatre, a book on radio drama in 2011.

Martin Jenkins, was Chief Producer, Radio Drama, when he left the BBC Radio Drama department in 1997, since when he has worked as a freelance. Some of his hundreds of radio productions have won awards in the UK, US, Norway and Canada. Prior to that he was with the RSC and was founding Artistic Director of The Everyman Theatre in Liverpool.  

Written by David Pownall
Directed by Martin Jenkins
Sound Design by David Thomas
Production Co-ordinator:  Sarah Tombling
Production Manager:  Sarah Wright

A Pier production 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.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Drama on 4

Trespass

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4