Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20110810 | 20130930 (R4) | ~Verse Illustrated is a new series of short story poems by some of the UK's leading spoken word artists, illustrated with sound and music. Each is narrated by its author, in their own distinctive style. And each takes us on a very different late night journey. In the first of the series, Laura Dockrill and Polar Bear tell two very different stories. Earwig' written and performed by Laura Dockrill A darkly modern fairy tale. When Mrs Budge attempts to squash an earwig, it grows in size until: 'He, giant like for a bug, is less of an earwig and more like a thug'. Homebase' written and performed by Polar Bear A tale of two teenage friends at a party they'll never forget: 'We went to cubs together, snuck into pubs together, dabbled in drugs together and now and then we blend in at uni student parties. Actors... Alex Tregear, Daniel Rabin, Peter Polycarpou, Carl Prekopp, Susie Riddell and Jonathan Forbes. Directed by James Robinson Two original story poems from spoken word artists Laura Dockrill and Polar Bear. Short story poems, illustrated with sound and music | |
| 02 | The Ballad Of Chris And Anne's Fish Bar, The Deadline | 20110817 | 20131007 (R4) | In the second of the series of illustrated poems, spoken word artists Luke Wright and Zena Edwards tell two very different stories. The Ballad of Chris and Anne's Fish Bar' written and performed by Luke Wright A tragic love story set in a chip shop: 'He'd banter with the customers, as she dipped cod in batter, and though their profits were quite slim, it didn't really matter. The Deadline' written and performed by Zena Edwards A deadline induced journey through an idyllic dream: 'The seas shushes its way up and down the shore, pushing and pulling its liquid love along the lip of the yellow-white sands. Actors - Jonathan Forbes, Susie Riddell and Elaine Claxton Directed by James Robinson. Two original story poems from spoken word artists Luke Wright and Zena Edwards. Short story poems, illustrated with sound and music |
| 03 | A Valentine At Waterloo, A Hell Of A Week | 20110824 | 20131014 (R4) | In the third of a series of illustrated poems, spoken word artists Salena Godden and Scroobius Pip tell two very different stories. A Valentine at Waterloo' written and performed by Salena Godden A post-apocalyptic vision of our sexual future: 'They have real flying femen, ladybirds and buttflies, cock-a-tails and flick beans, hermaids and mermaids, 8-breasted gooligans, whippers, flippers and strippers to-go-go... A Hell of a Week' written and performed by Scroobius Pip This should be 'one of the biggest solo spoken word shows ever to be recorded', exclusively for Radio 4. But where exactly is Scroobius Pip...? Actors - Carl Prekopp, Peter Polycarpou and Jonathan Forbes. Directed by James Robinson. Two original story poems from spoken word artists Salena Godden and Scroobius Pip. Short story poems, illustrated with sound and music |
| 04 | 20110831 | 20131021 (R4) | In the last in the series of illustrated poems, spoken word artists Inua Ellams and Ross Sutherland tell two very different stories. The Ballad of Abdul Hafiz' written and performed by Inua Ellams An encounter on a bus with a drunk Algerian man, who has a story to tell: 'I looked at him intently, at the almost black neckline at dried saliva on his lips, I wished he'd tell me why. Parade' written and performed by Ross Sutherland A hypnotic carnival of the subconscious: 'How unreal these buildings now seem. Their facades thin, like sets of Westerns. The wind faked with pulleys, the windows painted on. With LEDs mimicking the reflection of the sun. Actors... Peter Polycarpou and Alex Tregear. Directed by James Robinson Two original story poems from spoken word artists Inua Ellams and Ross Sutherland. Short story poems, illustrated with sound and music |