Episodes
Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
---|---|---|
01 | 20080825 | Doris Lessing's 20th-century classic, dramatised by Sarah Daniels.
In the summer of 1957, writer Anna Wulf is welcoming home her friend Molly, just returned from a year's travelling. The two friends have a lot to catch up on.
Anna ...... Susannah Harker
Directed by Polly Thomas.
The ground-breaking novel about motherhood, breakdown, marriage and communism. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |
02 | 20080826 | Doris Lessing's 20th-century classic, dramatised by Sarah Daniels.
Anna becomes embroiled in the conflict between Molly and her ex-husband Richard over their son Tommy's future.
Anna ...... Susannah Harker
Directed by Polly Thomas.
Molly is reunited with her son Tommy, but she is in conflict with her ex-husband. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |
03 | 20080827 | Doris Lessing's 20th-century classic, dramatised by Sarah Daniels.
As Anna tries to shake off the painful memories of her unhappy affair with a married man, she finds herself turning them into a story about her alter ego Ella.
Anna ...... Susannah Harker
Directed by Polly Thomas.
Anna is suffering writer's block, so starts to write about an old affair to try to move on Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |
04 | 20080828 | Doris Lessing's twentieth-century classic, dramatised by Sarah Daniels.
Anna finally exorcises the painful memory of her affair as she concludes the story of her alter ego Ella being left by her married lover.
Anna ...... Susannah Harker
Directed by Polly Thomas.
Anna finally exorcises the painful memory of her affair with a married man. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |
05 | 20080829 | Doris Lessing's twentieth-century classic, dramatised by Sarah Daniels.
Anna is bombarded by her friends' problems as she continues to struggle with her own. Then Tommy takes dramatic action that shocks them all.
Anna ...... Susannah Harker
Directed by Polly Thomas.
In need of help, a questioning Tommy arrives at Anna's house uninvited and agitated. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |
06 | 20080901 | Doris Lessing's twentieth-century classic, dramatised by Sarah Daniels.
Tommy's blindness has an unsettling effect on his family and friends. Anna is once again called in by everyone to sort out their conflicts, at the same time as her own depression and anxieties start tipping her into mental turmoil.
Anna ...... Susannah Harker
Directed by Polly Thomas.
Anna is once again called in by everyone to sort out their conflicts. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |
07 | 20080902 | Doris Lessing's twentieth-century classic, dramatised by Sarah Daniels.
Anna's fragile mental state is made worse by the increasing demands of her friends to resolve their problems. She does so, to their delight, but her own troubles are increasing.
Anna ...... Susannah Harker
Directed by Polly Thomas.
Anna's fragile mental state is made worse by the increasing demands of her friends. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |
08 | 20080903 | Doris Lessing's twentieth-century classic, dramatised by Sarah Daniels.
When Anna's daughter goes off to boarding school, she loses her grip on reality. Her new lover Saul is equally unstable, and it is only when she buys a Golden Notebook that Anna begins to see a way out of her chaotic life.
Anna ...... Susannah Harker
Directed by Polly Thomas.
When Anna's daughter goes off to boarding school, she loses her grip on reality. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |
09 | 20080904 | Doris Lessing's twentieth-century classic, dramatised by Sarah Daniels.
Anna finally admits the cause of all her problems - she has been unable to write. She finishes with Saul, but not before he has given her the first line of her new novel.
Anna ...... Susannah Harker
Directed by Polly Thomas.
Anna finally admits the cause of all her problems - she has been unable to write. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |
10 | 20080905 | Doris Lessing's twentieth-century classic, dramatised by Sarah Daniels.
Anna and her friend Molly finally find their feet again as they put aside the chaos of earlier times and take more control of their lives.
Anna ...... Susannah Harker
Directed by Polly Thomas.
Anna and Molly finally find their feet again as they put aside the chaos of earlier times. Classic and contemporary original drama and book dramatisations |