Song of the Reed

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Drama on 4: Song of the Reed: Bittern

Bittern

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Song of the Reed, Bittern

Conclusion of remarkable drama following the life of a nature reserve over one year.

Conclusion of the seasonal drama following life on a wetlands nature reserve in Norfolk over one year. Starring Sophie Okonedo and Mark Rylance.

Conclusion of this seasonal drama following life on a wetlands nature reserve in Norfolk over one year. Starring Sophie Okonedo and Mark Rylance.

Ian (Mark Rylance) returns to Fleggwick for the first time since suffering serious injuries during the winter’s flood and finds it as beautiful and full of life as ever, but still endangered as Liv (Sophie Okonedo) struggles to find a way to keep the Reserve going.

This is the fourth and final episode of an innovative drama, with instalments recorded on location at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen in Norfolk every three months, documenting the extraordinary wetlands habitat as it changes through the seasons. 

This episode features the Bittern as its special guest star – a characterful bird known for its booming call.

Song of the Reed, by Steve Waters, is informed by the sounds of the reserve as well as the real work and science of conservation taking place in the face of rapid environmental change in the wetlands of Norfolk, and everywhere. 


Cast:
Liv - Sophie Okonedo
Ian - Mark Rylance
Tam - Ella Dorman Gajic
Kay - Molly Naylor
Theo - Tom Goodman-Hill
Nikki - Karen Hill
Sadegh - Zaydun Khalaf
Voice of the Reed - Christine Kavanagh
Other parts played by staff and volunteers at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen

Written by Steve Waters
Music by Michael Somerset Ward with Rebecca Hearne
Sound design by Alisdair McGregor
Produced and Directed by Boz Temple-Morris	

A Holy Mountain production for BBC Radio 4

Drama on 4: Song of the Reed

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

Four seasonal dramas following life on a wetlands nature reserve in Norfolk over one year

Four seasonal dramas following life on a wetlands nature reserve in Norfolk over one year, starring Sophie Okonedo and Mark Rylance.

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