The Brummie Iliad [Drama On 3]

The Brummie Iliad, by Roderick Smith.

This high-octane verse-dramatisation of Homer's epic poem tells the story of the Trojan War from the death of Patroclus to Achilles' terrible revenge and its tragic aftermath. With a cast of Brummie voices, who perfectly capture the essence of the ancient oral tradition and bring fresh life to the original. The Birmingham accent is not normally associated with the classical world's epic poetry, but its hard-edged, cynical and wistful qualities turn out to be a perfect vehicle for a story of bloodthirsty warriors, long-suffering women and meddling gods.

And with music drawn from Birmingham's own heavy metal rock gods, Black Sabbath and Judas Priest.

Homer - Roderick Smith

Achilles - John Light

Zeus - Kevin McNally

Thetis - Annette Badland

Patroclus / Polydamas / Agamemnon - Nicolas Tennant

Hector - Joe Dixon

Priam / Ajax / Odysseus - Mark Spalding

Iris / Andromache..... Flora Spencer-Longhurst

Athena / Cassandra - Helen Adie

Pyraechmes / Glaucus / Hephaestus - Pushpinder Chani

Apollo / Menelaus / Xanthus - Jack Loxton

Antilochus / Sarpedon - Simeon Blake-Hall

Chorus 1 / Hecuba - Doကa Croll

Chorus 2 / Hera - Susie Riddell

Chorus 3 / Hermes - Chris Nayak

Directed and Produced by Fiona McAlpine

Adaptation for Radio by Robin Brooks

Sound by Lucinda Mason Brown

An Allegra Production for BBC Radio 3

Roderick Smith's fierce and funny verse-dramatisation of The Iliad with Brummie voices.