Shorts Works [Storytellers]

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Love Is Mortifying, She Named Us

20240413

20240418 (RU)

‘Love is Mortifying

A chance encounter one night leads to a surprising connection and relationship. As time passes, the couple faces challenges and their story takes an unexpected turn.

The Author

Gina Donnelly is a multi-award winning writer based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Along with her writing partner Seón Simpson, she has gained recognition for their play ‘Two Fingers Up' after winning the Abbey Theatre Dublin Fringe Creative Thinking Award in 2019 and the Summerhall Lustrum Award in 2022 at the Edinburgh Fringe. Her other writing credits include ‘Maybe If We'd Stayed Angry' for Origins First Irish Festival New York, 'Tea' as part of Now for the North and 'Don't Tell Me to Smile' for Fortnight Magazine's 50th Anniversary special. As writing partners, Gina and Seón were both part of the 2022 BBC Writersroom Belfast Voices.

‘She Named Us

A musician looks back at the punk band he left weeks before they hit the big time.

Matthew McDevitt was the recent recipient of the Element Pictures NI Writer's Award. He was a participant in the BBC Writersroom's Drama Room and Belfast Voices schemes. His credits include BBC NI's ‘Soft Border Patrol', Radio Ulster's ‘Lock In' and the Radio 4 short story ‘Handy Number'. Matthew also has a series of failed musical projects behind him that may or may not have been 'ahead of their time'.

Produced by Michael Shannon

Executive Editor Andy Martin

Original short fiction by Gina Donnelly and Matthew McDevitt.

Love is Mortifying, written by Gina Donnelly, read by Catherine Rees.

She Named Us, written by Matthew McDevitt, read by Nigel O'Neill.

Mister Derek, Goosegrass

20240420

20240425 (RU)

‘Mister Derek

On a visit to London, a young woman attempts to reunite with an unlikely acquaintance she made when she lived in the city.

The Author

Alice Malseed is a writer and theatre maker based in Belfast. She has been writing and producing since 2014. Her work has appeared across the UK, Ireland, in Sri Lanka and New York. Alice was part of BBC Writersroom Belfast Voices group 2018-2019 and Lyric New Playwrights Programme 2018. She was awarded a Jerwood New Work Fund in 2019 and received the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival Theatre Award in 2021.

‘Goosegrass

The news of her son's engagement causes a single mother to look for fulfilment elsewhere in her life.

Emma Kane is currently completing an MA in Creative Writing at Queen's University Belfast. Her previously published work can be found in On the Grass When I Arrive: An Anthology, The Bangor Literary Journal, The Cormorant and What Could Be Carried, part of an ekphrasis project for the Ulster Museum. Her story 'Mother's Daughter' was broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster in 2023 as part of the Storytellers series.

Produced by Michael Shannon

Executive Editor Andy Martin

Short fiction by Alice Malseed and Emma Kane, read by Ruby Campbell

and Andrea Irvine.

Mister Derek written by Alice Malseed, read by Ruby Campbell

Goosegrass written by Emma Kane, read by Andrea Irvine.

Motherdaughter Daughtermother, Daphne

20240406

20240411 (RU)

‘Motherdaughter Daughtermother

At a busy airport, whilst navigating the stresses and strains of travel, Bronagh and Julia find their respective roles as parent and child begin to blur.

The Author

Susannah Dickey is the author of four poetry pamphlets, I had some very slight concerns (2017), genuine human values (2018), bloodthirsty for marriage (2020), and Oh! (2022). Her poetry has been published in The TLS, Poetry London, and Poetry Ireland Review. Her short fiction has been published in The Dublin Review and The White Review. In 2019 she won the Vincent Buckley Poetry Prize, and in 2021 she was longlisted for the Sunday Times Short Story Award. She is an Eric Gregory Award winner, a prize granted for a collection by poets under the age of 30. Her debut poetry collection, Isdal, will be published in 2023. She is the author of Tennis Lessons (2020) and Common Decency (2022), both published by Doubleday UK.

‘Daphne

After learning that the starlings that gathered above the Albert Bridge in Belfast may have been displaced due to light pollution, Daphne is inspired to conserve nature elsewhere.

Born in Belfast, Lucy Caldwell is the award-winning author of four novels, several stage plays and radio dramas and two collections of short stories: Multitudes (Faber, 2016) and Intimacies (Faber, 2021). She is also the editor of Being Various: New Irish Short Stories (Faber, 2019). In 2021 she won the BBC National Short Story Award with her story “All the People Were Mean and Bad. ? Her most recent novel, These Days (Faber, 2022), was a Sunday Times, Times, Irish Independent, Spectator and Good Housekeeping Book of the Year.

Produced by Michael Shannon

Executive Editor Andy Martin

Original short fiction by by Susannah Dickey and Lucy Caldwell.

Motherdaughter Daughtermother, written by Susannah Dickey, read by Lola Petticrew. Daphne, written by Lucy Caldwell, read by Michelle Fairley.

Where Life Starts, The Suit

20240330

Where Life Starts.

A recently retired woman moves back to the coastal town where she grew up and is inspired to try sea swimming. Read by Maggie Cronin.

The Author

David Park is one of Northern Ireland's most acclaimed writers. His first novel 'The Healing' won the Authors' Club First Novel Award. 'The Truth Commissioner' was awarded the Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize and adapted for film; 'The Light of Amsterdam' was shortlisted for the IMPAC Prize; 'The Poets' Wives' was Belfast's One City One Book and 'Travelling in a Strange Land' won the Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award. He has received a Major Artist Award from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the American Ireland Fund Literary Award. His latest novel 'Spies in Canaan' was published in 2022.

The Suit.

When her father receives an unexpected summons, a woman finds herself pulled back home to Northern Ireland. As read by Roísín Gallagher.

The Author.

Colin Carberry is a writer of screenplays and fiction from Belfast. With Glenn Patterson, he co-wrote the film Good Vibrations, for which the pair were nominated for Outstanding Debut at the 2014 BAFTA Film awards. They had previously won Best Script at the 2013 Irish Writers Guild Awards, and Best Script at the 2012 Dinard British Film Festival. They were also nominated for Best First Script of 2013 by the Writers Guild of Great Britain. He is currently working on a collection of short stories and is developing a number of projects for film, television and theatre.

Produced by Michael Shannon

Executive Editor Andy Martin

Short stories by David Park and Colin Carberry, read by Maggie Cronin and Ro\u00eds\u00edn Gallagher

Where Life Starts written by David Park, read by Maggie Cronin. The Suit written by Colin Carberry, read by Roísín Gallagher.

Where Life Starts, The Suit

20240330

20240404 (RU)

Where Life Starts.

A recently retired woman moves back to the coastal town where she grew up and is inspired to try sea swimming. Read by Maggie Cronin.

The Author

The Suit.

When her father receives an unexpected summons, a woman finds herself pulled back home to Northern Ireland. As read by Roísín Gallagher.

The Author.

Produced by Michael Shannon

Executive Editor Andy Martin

Short stories by David Park and Colin Carberry, read by Maggie Cronin and Ro\u00eds\u00edn Gallagher

Where Life Starts written by David Park, read by Maggie Cronin. The Suit written by Colin Carberry, read by Roísín Gallagher.

Episodes

Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
Love Is Mortifying, She Named Us	20240413	20240418 (RU)	‘Love is Mortifying A chance encounter one night leads to a surprising connection and relationship. As time passes, the couple faces challenges and their story takes an unexpected turn. The Author Gina Donnelly is a multi-award winning writer based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Along with her writing partner Seón Simpson, she has gained recognition for their play ‘Two Fingers Up' after winning the Abbey Theatre Dublin Fringe Creative Thinking Award in 2019 and the Summerhall Lustrum Award in 2022 at the Edinburgh Fringe. Her other writing credits include ‘Maybe If We'd Stayed Angry' for Origins First Irish Festival New York, 'Tea' as part of Now for the North and 'Don't Tell Me to Smile' for Fortnight Magazine's 50th Anniversary special. As writing partners, Gina and Seón were both part of the 2022 BBC Writersroom Belfast Voices. ‘She Named Us A musician looks back at the punk band he left weeks before they hit the big time. Matthew McDevitt was the recent recipient of the Element Pictures NI Writer's Award. He was a participant in the BBC Writersroom's Drama Room and Belfast Voices schemes. His credits include BBC NI's ‘Soft Border Patrol', Radio Ulster's ‘Lock In' and the Radio 4 short story ‘Handy Number'. Matthew also has a series of failed musical projects behind him that may or may not have been 'ahead of their time'. Produced by Michael Shannon Executive Editor Andy Martin Original short fiction by Gina Donnelly and Matthew McDevitt. Love is Mortifying, written by Gina Donnelly, read by Catherine Rees. She Named Us, written by Matthew McDevitt, read by Nigel O'Neill.
Mister Derek, Goosegrass	20240420	20240425 (RU)	‘Mister Derek On a visit to London, a young woman attempts to reunite with an unlikely acquaintance she made when she lived in the city. The Author Alice Malseed is a writer and theatre maker based in Belfast. She has been writing and producing since 2014. Her work has appeared across the UK, Ireland, in Sri Lanka and New York. Alice was part of BBC Writersroom Belfast Voices group 2018-2019 and Lyric New Playwrights Programme 2018. She was awarded a Jerwood New Work Fund in 2019 and received the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival Theatre Award in 2021. ‘Goosegrass The news of her son's engagement causes a single mother to look for fulfilment elsewhere in her life. Emma Kane is currently completing an MA in Creative Writing at Queen's University Belfast. Her previously published work can be found in On the Grass When I Arrive: An Anthology, The Bangor Literary Journal, The Cormorant and What Could Be Carried, part of an ekphrasis project for the Ulster Museum. Her story 'Mother's Daughter' was broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster in 2023 as part of the Storytellers series. Produced by Michael Shannon Executive Editor Andy Martin Short fiction by Alice Malseed and Emma Kane, read by Ruby Campbell and Andrea Irvine. Mister Derek written by Alice Malseed, read by Ruby Campbell Goosegrass written by Emma Kane, read by Andrea Irvine.
Motherdaughter Daughtermother, Daphne	20240406	20240411 (RU)	‘Motherdaughter Daughtermother At a busy airport, whilst navigating the stresses and strains of travel, Bronagh and Julia find their respective roles as parent and child begin to blur. The Author Susannah Dickey is the author of four poetry pamphlets, I had some very slight concerns (2017), genuine human values (2018), bloodthirsty for marriage (2020), and Oh! (2022). Her poetry has been published in The TLS, Poetry London, and Poetry Ireland Review. Her short fiction has been published in The Dublin Review and The White Review. In 2019 she won the Vincent Buckley Poetry Prize, and in 2021 she was longlisted for the Sunday Times Short Story Award. She is an Eric Gregory Award winner, a prize granted for a collection by poets under the age of 30. Her debut poetry collection, Isdal, will be published in 2023. She is the author of Tennis Lessons (2020) and Common Decency (2022), both published by Doubleday UK. ‘Daphne After learning that the starlings that gathered above the Albert Bridge in Belfast may have been displaced due to light pollution, Daphne is inspired to conserve nature elsewhere. Born in Belfast, Lucy Caldwell is the award-winning author of four novels, several stage plays and radio dramas and two collections of short stories: Multitudes (Faber, 2016) and Intimacies (Faber, 2021). She is also the editor of Being Various: New Irish Short Stories (Faber, 2019). In 2021 she won the BBC National Short Story Award with her story “All the People Were Mean and Bad. ? Her most recent novel, These Days (Faber, 2022), was a Sunday Times, Times, Irish Independent, Spectator and Good Housekeeping Book of the Year. Produced by Michael Shannon Executive Editor Andy Martin Original short fiction by by Susannah Dickey and Lucy Caldwell. Motherdaughter Daughtermother, written by Susannah Dickey, read by Lola Petticrew. Daphne, written by Lucy Caldwell, read by Michelle Fairley.
Where Life Starts, The Suit	20240330		Where Life Starts. A recently retired woman moves back to the coastal town where she grew up and is inspired to try sea swimming. Read by Maggie Cronin. The Author David Park is one of Northern Ireland's most acclaimed writers. His first novel 'The Healing' won the Authors' Club First Novel Award. 'The Truth Commissioner' was awarded the Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize and adapted for film; 'The Light of Amsterdam' was shortlisted for the IMPAC Prize; 'The Poets' Wives' was Belfast's One City One Book and 'Travelling in a Strange Land' won the Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award. He has received a Major Artist Award from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the American Ireland Fund Literary Award. His latest novel 'Spies in Canaan' was published in 2022. The Suit. When her father receives an unexpected summons, a woman finds herself pulled back home to Northern Ireland. As read by Roísín Gallagher. The Author. Colin Carberry is a writer of screenplays and fiction from Belfast. With Glenn Patterson, he co-wrote the film Good Vibrations, for which the pair were nominated for Outstanding Debut at the 2014 BAFTA Film awards. They had previously won Best Script at the 2013 Irish Writers Guild Awards, and Best Script at the 2012 Dinard British Film Festival. They were also nominated for Best First Script of 2013 by the Writers Guild of Great Britain. He is currently working on a collection of short stories and is developing a number of projects for film, television and theatre. Produced by Michael Shannon Executive Editor Andy Martin Short stories by David Park and Colin Carberry, read by Maggie Cronin and Ro\u00eds\u00edn Gallagher Where Life Starts written by David Park, read by Maggie Cronin. The Suit written by Colin Carberry, read by Roísín Gallagher.
Where Life Starts, The Suit	20240330	20240404 (RU)	Where Life Starts. A recently retired woman moves back to the coastal town where she grew up and is inspired to try sea swimming. Read by Maggie Cronin. The Author David Park is one of Northern Ireland's most acclaimed writers. His first novel 'The Healing' won the Authors' Club First Novel Award. 'The Truth Commissioner' was awarded the Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize and adapted for film; 'The Light of Amsterdam' was shortlisted for the IMPAC Prize; 'The Poets' Wives' was Belfast's One City One Book and 'Travelling in a Strange Land' won the Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award. He has received a Major Artist Award from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the American Ireland Fund Literary Award. His latest novel 'Spies in Canaan' was published in 2022. The Suit. When her father receives an unexpected summons, a woman finds herself pulled back home to Northern Ireland. As read by Roísín Gallagher. The Author. Colin Carberry is a writer of screenplays and fiction from Belfast. With Glenn Patterson, he co-wrote the film Good Vibrations, for which the pair were nominated for Outstanding Debut at the 2014 BAFTA Film awards. They had previously won Best Script at the 2013 Irish Writers Guild Awards, and Best Script at the 2012 Dinard British Film Festival. They were also nominated for Best First Script of 2013 by the Writers Guild of Great Britain. He is currently working on a collection of short stories and is developing a number of projects for film, television and theatre. Produced by Michael Shannon Executive Editor Andy Martin Short stories by David Park and Colin Carberry, read by Maggie Cronin and Ro\u00eds\u00edn Gallagher Where Life Starts written by David Park, read by Maggie Cronin. The Suit written by Colin Carberry, read by Roísín Gallagher.