Episodes
| Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 20220131 | A ground-breaking series capturing contemporary life across the UK with bitesize dramas, monologues, poetry and song. Each episode features five short works by writers from across the UK, and each programme responds to a different theme. In this episode - Rewinding. Chorlton cum Hardy - an interview with Wyllie Longmore Manchester acting and teaching legend Wyllie Longmore, considers what rewinding means to him, from his Jamaican childhood to his English training and career, and now as a grandparent. What is legacy. for this classical trained man, who spans cultures? Sound design by Jon Nicholls. Produced by Polly Thomas and Yusra Warsama. Penrhos, Anglesey Audio poem in the voice of a community about a much-treasured natural landscape under threat of development, recorded on location. Written by Ness Owen and performed by Ness Owen, Sian Miriam and Owen Arwyn Sound design by Nigel Lewis Produced by Emma Harding Holywood Top of the Pops was an iconic and inspirational show for millions of young people in and around the UK, but for one little Indian girl from Holywood, County Down in Northern Ireland, her adoration for this eclectic pop culture threatened to destroy the relationship between her and her Indian mother, known as Ma ji. Written and performed by Lata Sharma Sound Design David Chilton and Lucinda Mason Brown Produced by Celia de Wolff Dunfermline A teenage tragedy casts a long shadow for two old friends. Written by Jane Livingstone Performed by Simon Donaldson and Robin Laing Sound design by Joanne Willott and Niall Young Produced by Gaynor Macfarlane Cromer In the beginning, there is Adam and Eve. They date and make each other mixtapes after meeting at an 80s night in Cromer. Then Eve tells Adam something that mixes up their lives forever. An LGBTQ themed comedy drama about gender identity, pop music and making mixtapes. Written by James McDermott Performed by Misha Butler Programme illustration by Eleanor Hibbert Original music composed by Niroshini Thambar Curated by Celia de Wolff for Pier Productions, BBC Cymru Wales, BBC Scotland, BBC Northern Ireland and Naked Productions for BBC Radio 4 A bold series of short dramas reflecting life across the UK. | |
| Falling | 20220110 | A ground-breaking new series capturing contemporary life across the UK with bitesize dramas, monologues, poetry and song. Each episode features five short works by five writers from across the UK, and each episode responds to a different theme. SOUTHEND-ON-SEA Meet Bev - Essex's only female nightclub bouncer - as she takes us for a stroll of Lucy Road. Written and performed by Anne Odeke Sound design by Lucinda Mason Brown and David Chilton Produced by Celia de Wolff ST WOOLOS Two teenage friends break into a Newport cemetery at night. But one knows more about the afterlife than he's letting on. Written by Connor Allen Performed by Jailen O'Daim, Ethan Watkins and Seren Medi Davies Sound design by Nigel Lewis Produced by Emma Harding WHALSAY Shetland's past and present merge in a poem about history and injustice. Written by Chloe Irvine Performed by Marnie Baxter Sound design by Joanne Willott Produced by Gaynor Macfarlane ORANGEFIELD Chip shop worker Nicole spends her days frying up fish and daydreaming about finding her one true love. Written by Caitlin Magnall-Kearns Performed by Ellen McCormick and Tara Thomas SCAR TOP Barnard Castle is literally falling down - Ben and his mum have differing views on how to save it. Written by Naomi Sumner Chan Performed by Aaron Smith and Rachel Stockdale Sound design by Jon Nicholls. Produced by Polly Thomas and Yusra Warsama Programme illustration by Eleanor Hibbert Original Music composed by Niroshini Thambar Falling was curated by Emma Harding for BBC Cymru Wales, Pier Productions, BBC Scotland, BBC Northern Ireland, and Naked Productions for BBC Radio 4. A bold series of short dramas reflecting life across the UK. |
| Fearing | 20210830 | A groundbreaking five-part series from exciting new writers celebrating and revealing life across the United Kingdoms in short, sharp drama, comedy, news reports, song and poetic monologue. Stories, lives and voices making a kaleidoscope of now. Each episode features five short dramas by different writers - a total of 50 writers and 100 actors have been brought together, showcasing new writing and performing talent from every corner of the United Kingdom. Episode 1: Fearing - a moving and powerful look at 21st Century United Kingdoms. MUSSELBURGH - An exhausted woman retires to bed for three days and reflects on her failings, only to realise they are a key to hope not fear. ERYRI, SNOWDONIA - A narrative song that explores how a child overcomes their fear about fitting in to a Welsh-speaking community. Sound Design by Nigel Lewis RANDALSTOWN, COUNTY ANTRIM - A conversational poetic monologue that discusses how fear uses semantics as camouflage and a place to hide in, as though fear is a spirit that inhabits words and is loosed into our neural pathways as a result.? UNTHANK - A surreal comedy about your life shrinking, literally. Ivy is learning to live with her wheelchair, but fear of change has a dramatic effect on her Cumbrian farmhouse. TANKERTON - When house-mates leave and your zero hours contract ends, where else is there to turn in lockdown, if not home? But home is no place for the in-between, the non-conforming, so they pitch their tent on the edge of the sea and allow the waves, the sky and land to be home. Musselburgh written by Hannah Lavery Performed by Nalini Chetty Produced by Kirsty Williams Eryri written by Lisa Jꀀn Brown Performed by Lisa Jꀀn brown and Martin Hoyland Produced by Martin Hoyland and James Robinson Randalstown written and performed by Clare Dwyer Hogg Sound Design Lucinda Mason Brown Produced by Celia de Wolff Unthank written by Karen Featherstone Performed by Cherylee Houston (Ivy), Kerry Willison-Parry (Reporter) and Lekhani Chirwa (Rose) Sound Design by Eloise Whitmore Co-Produced by Polly Thomas and Dermot Daly Original Music composed by Niroshini Thanbar Tankerton written by Shelley Silas Performed by Tigger Blaze Sound Design by Lucinda Mason Brown Programme Illustration by Eleanor Hibbert Episode Sound Designers: Lucinda Mason Brown and David Chilton, Essential Music Ltd Curated by Celia de Wolff for Pier Productions and BBC Northern Ireland for BBC Radio 4 A bold series of short dramas reflecting life across the UK. |
| Flying | 20220124 | United Kingdoms: Flying A ground-breaking new series capturing contemporary life across the UK with bitesize dramas, monologues, poetry and song. Each episode features five short works by five writers from across the UK, and each episode responds to a different theme. BALLYNHINCH Secrets don't stay secret long in this small town as Grace soon learns. Written and performed by Charis McRoberts Sound design by Lucinda Mason Brown and David Chilton Produced by Celia de Wolff DYFI VALLEY A love song to the beautiful, contested landscape of west Wales, with bilingual Welsh-English rap. Written by Izzy Rabey and performed by Izzy Rabey and Molly McBreen Sound design by Nigel Lewis Produced by Emma Harding GOVANHILL Two strangers meet on a Glasgow street in the snow. Written by Maryam Hamidi Performed by Barbara Rafferty and Marisa Coveci Sound design by Kris McConachie, Fraser Jackson and Joanne Willott Produced by Gaynor Macfarlane LEEDS A woman remembers her dreams of flying above the streets of Leeds; she sees family, Chapeltown Town Carnival, the People, Culture, Spirit and music. Written and performed by Khadijah Ibrahiim Sound design by Jon Nicholls Produced by Polly Thomas and Yusra Warsama HEADINGTON A woman reflects on her memories of a park, questioning why it is that she's constantly moving on. Written by Sofie Drew Performed by Joe Bolland and Poppy Gilbert Original music composed by Niroshini Thambar Illustration by Eleanor Hibbert Flying was curated by Gaynor Macfarlane for BBC Scotland. It is a co-production with Naked Productions, BBC Cymru Wales, Pier Productions and BBC Northern Ireland. A bold series of short dramas reflecting life across the UK. |
| Hoping | 20210913 | A ground breaking five part series from exciting new writers celebrating and revealing life across the United Kingdoms in short, sharp drama, comedy, news reports, song and poetic monologue. Stories, lives and voices making a kaleidoscope of now. Each episode features five short dramas by different writers - a total of 50 writers and 100 actors have been brought together, showcasing new writing and performing talent from every corner of the United Kingdom. Episode 3: Hoping - an optimistic, sometimes unexpected look at 21st century United Kingdoms CORYTON - That moment when you just want to speak to someone. KEIGHLEY - Jyoti, a successful West Yorkshire businesswoman, resists when Tara, her daughter, pushes for a more environmentally friendly business. South Asian tappay, call and response rhyming couplets accompanied by the Dholki drum, help them to resolve their differences. LISBURN - Fat Frida is in an Abba tribute band and being Frida is her passion in life - nothing feels like being Frida. It feels like being her best self. BARGEDDIE - A disabled parent's imaginary conversation with his toddler twins in which they think about their abilities and his. COLCHESTER - Victim and Perpetrator, two sides of a stabbing, based on a true story. Credits Coryton written by Leila Navabi Performed by Saran Morgan and Esyllt Sears Keighley written by Anjum Malik Performed by Balvinder Sopal and Sameena Hussain The Dholki performed by Sunny Tabladon Singh Lisburn written by Shirley-Anne Mcmillan Performed by Bronagh Taggart Bargeddie written by Robert Softley Gayle Performed by Colin Young and Reuben Joseph Colchester written and performed by Dan Whitlam Original music composed by Niroshini Thambar Illustration by Eleanor Hibbert Curated by Polly Thomas and Dermot Daly for Naked Productions, BBC Scotland, BBC Northern Ireland, Pier Productions, and BBC Cymru-Wales for BBC Radio 4 A bold series of short dramas reflecting life across the UK. |
| Laughing | 20220103 | A ground-breaking series capturing contemporary life across the UK with bitesize dramas, monologues, poetry and song. Each episode features five short works by writers from across the UK, and each episode responds to a different theme. In this episode - Laughing. Llanelli Is Enfy's dog laughing at her? Or perhaps he knows something she doesn't? Written by Julie Ma Performed by Di Botcher Sound Design by Nigel Lewis Produced by Emma Harding Hereford We follow a queer working class man growing up in rural Herefordshire, and the laughs that teach him what it is to be a man. Written by 1990s Chris Performed by 1990s Chris and Charlie Staunton Sound Design by Lucinda Mason Brown and David Chilton Produced by Celia de Wolff Coleraine If you were asked to sum up your career in eight minutes, what would you talk about? The promotions, the workload, the Christmas do's? Or your friends and the day to day of the job? For this NI police officer, she is doing just that, focusing on the smallest yet most important points of her career in the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Written by Rachel Wilkinson Performed by Lloyd Hutchinson and Riona O Connor Caputh Farmer and stand-up comedian, Jim Smith, muses on single life in rural Perthshire. Written and performed by Jim Smith Produced by Gaynor McFarlane Digbeth A man flows about smiling and laughing through the shifts of life, reminding us to take responsibility for choices. A grime rhythm articulating the triumph of pushing through. Written and performed by RTKal Music Engineer: Rowan Coleing Produced by Polly Thomas and Yusra Warsama Programme illustration by Eleanor Hibbert Original Music composed by Niroshini Thambar Curated by Celia de Wolff for Pier Productions, BBC Cymru Wales, BBC Scotland, BBC Northern Ireland, and Naked Productions for BBC Radio 4 A bold series of short dramas reflecting life across the UK. |
| Raging - United Kingdoms | 20220117 | A groundbreaking five part series celebrating and revealing life across the United Kingdoms in short, sharp dramas from exciting new writers. This ambitious State of the Nations series about life outside London offers the audience a myriad of images through drama, comedy, interviews, song and poetic monologue. These are the stories, the lives and the voices we don't often hear. The dramas are being made by production teams from Northern Ireland, Southern England, Scotland, Northern England and Wales. Each episode features five short dramas by different writers, bringing together a total of 50 writers and 100 actors. Episode 3: Raging Downhill A young woman traverses along the Northern Irish North Coast near its iconic Mussenden Temple. Women aren't supposed to rage, but what happens when the tempest inside her no longer can be contained? Written by Shannon Yee Performed by Ro퀀s퀀n Gallagher and Sabrina Wu Sound design by Lucinda Mason Brown and David Chilton Produced by Celia de Wolff Treorchy Stephen wakes to the cold realisation that his girlfriend has left him. And that his life has spiralled out of control. Written and performed by Samuel Bees Sound design by Nigel Lewis Produced by Emma Harding Slough Iravat wouldn't describe herself as a particularly angry person. That is, until he walks onto the bus. Written by Priyanka Jha Performed by Preeya Kalidas Avoch A woman remembers how a vicious attack drove her to make a realisation about her dad. Written by Luke Sutherland Performed by Molly Innes Sound design by Joanne Willott Produced by Gaynor Macfarlane Burnley A woman, a Lancashire river and a rage that conquers everything. Written by Clare Shaw Performed by Clare Shaw and Rachel Austin Sound design by Jon Nicholls Produced by Polly Thomas and Yusra Warsama Original music composed by Niroshini Thambar Illustration by Eleanor Hibbert Sound designer: Jon Nicholls. Executive Producer: Eloise Whitmore. Curated by Polly Thomas and Yusra Warsama for Naked Productions, BBC Scotland, BBC Northern Ireland, Pier Productions, and BBC Cymru-Wales for BBC Radio 4 What is life really like in 21st-century United Kingdoms? Bold series of short dramas reflecting life across the UK. |
| Reflecting | 20210927 | A ground breaking five part series from exciting new writers celebrating and revealing life across the United Kingdoms in short, sharp drama, comedy, news reports, song and poetic monologue. Stories, lives and voices making a kaleidoscope of now. Each episode features five short dramas by different writers - a total of 50 writers and 100 actors have been brought together, showcasing new writing and performing talent from every corner of the United Kingdom. Belfast - A reflection on a long-ago conversation between the writer's parents about her brother's first birthday party, the 12th July Orange Day Parade, and a strange meeting in the park. Then the phone rings and, without warning, her mother's world is turned upside down. Cardiff Gate - Going back to work with a stoma is no joke. In this surreal comedy, Greg Glover reflects on his real-life experiences of coming to terms with an ileostomy. Leith - Jo reflects back on her life as a father and grandmother. Sparkhill - I (Roland Gift) went back to Sparkhill and, for the first time since leaving town, I spent the night in a house of a friend on the road where I was born. Since then, nothing in my world has been the same. Nottingham - Falling can feel like floating if the conditions are right. Contextualising a dream and rooting it in reality allows for progress to be made. Belfast written by Zarina Yousuf-Bonass Cardiff Gate written by Greg Glover Leith written by Jo Clifford Sparkhill written by Roland Gift Nottingham written by Ravelle-Sad退 Fairman Programme Illustration by Eleanor Hibbert Episode Sound Designers: Lucinda Mason Brown and David Chilton, Essential Music Ltd A bold series of short dramas reflecting life across the UK. Bold series of short dramas reflecting life across the UK. |
| Sheltering | 20210906 | A groundbreaking new series capturing contemporary life across the UK with bitesize dramas, monologues, poetry and song. Each episode features five shorts works by five writers from across the parts of the UK and each episode responds to a different theme. Episode 2: Sheltering BRANDLESHOLME When Greta gets her first visit from her local befriending service, the person who turns up really isn't what she expected. Written by Shahid Iqbal Khan Performed by Sue Jenkins and Abdullah Afzal Sound Design by Eloise Whitmore Produced by Polly Thomas and Dermot Daly COUNTY DOWN A busker working an underpass takes in the months and years of his life making music for passing crowds. Written by Stephen Sexton Performed by Stephen Hagan Sound Design Lucinda Mason Brown Produced by Celia de Wolff GORBALS Iain lives for Sunday afternoons. That's when he goes to his local Toolshed - a place to create and to talk, a place to escape to. But when he finds out it's going to be shut down, Iain's past begins to haunt his every thought. Written by Andy Edwards Performed by Gavin Mitchell, Matthew Barker and Dani Heron Sound Design by Joanne Willott Produced by Kirsty Williams WRECSAM A young woman waits at the village bus stop, taking in the world around her when she realises she's standing next to someone from her past. Written and performed by Rachel Harper Sound Design by Nigel Lewis Produced by John Norton and James Robertson SEAFORD Poetic and moving meditation on living through a pandemic. Written by Danusia Samal Performed by Sam Dale, Eliza Collings, Danusia Samal and Tia Bannon Programme Illustration by Eleanor Hibbert Original Music composed by Niroshini Thambar Sheltering was curated by Kirsty Williams for BBC Scotland, BBC Northern Ireland, Pier Productions, Naked Productions and BBC Cymru-Wales for BBC Radio 4. Short-form dramas, monologues and poetic reflections on contemporary life. Bold series of short dramas reflecting life across the UK. |
| Survival | 20210920 | United Kingdoms: Survival A ground-breaking new series capturing contemporary life across the UK with bitesize dramas, monologues, poetry and song. Each episode features five short works by five writers from across the UK, and each episode responds to a different theme. NEW BRIGHTON On New Brighton Promenade, the New Years Eve sky radio' sings with a voice from long ago. Liz, with her trusty solid state tape recorder, realise that this voice and the feelings it elicits don't need to hold her back. Written by Jeff Young Performed by Liz Carr and Matthew Lewney Sound Design by Eloise Whitmore Produced by Dermot Daly CARRICK-A-REDE Bridges - a perfect metaphor for mental health or a perfectionist's worst nightmare? An anxious overachiever struggles to stop surviving and start living. Written by Claire Sullivan Performed by Claire Sullivan Sound Design by Lucinda Mason Brown Produced by Celia de Wolff NEWPORT Emily is running late for her holiday with Bae, but dodgy trains aren't the only obstacle to their flying away together. What happens when your favourite AI just doesn't want to be dumped? Written by Darragh Mortell Performed by Emily Burnett, Scarlett Courtney, and Tom Forrister Sound Design by Nigel Lewis Produced by John Norton SKYE When the daughter decides to bury her mother in the lawn of their family estate, a story of reparations and land rights unfolds. Written by Iain Finlay MacLeod Performed by Fiona MacNeil and Iain Macrae Sound Design by Joanne Willott Produced by Kirsty Williams CAMBORNE In a world of tourists hurrying to return to normal and grab what staycations they can, what of Nan and her attempts to survive the pandemic? How long will spinach grown in the bath and a sherry with the neighbours enjoyed from the safety of the poly-tunnel sustain her? A tale of everyday hope, fear and daytime telly from Cornwall's often over-looked heartland. Written by Rebecca Mordan Performed by Susan Penhaligon and Rebecca Mordan Programme illustration by Eleanor Hibbert Original Music composed by Niroshini Thambar Survival was curated by John Norton for BBC Cymru Wales, BBC Scotland, BBC Northern Ireland, Pier Productions and Naked Productions for BBC Radio 4 A bold series of short dramas reflecting life across the UK. |