I’m currently working on a series of Shakespeare plays that have been adapted to relate to contemporary North Dublin. The plays have been selected to fit in with the current Leaving Cert curriculum.

I’ve already recorded ‘Larry’ which was an adaptation of King Lear. Currently we’re rehearsing ‘The Ghosts of Priory Hall’ which is a contemporary version of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and set on a ghost estate. We’ll be recording next week and coming up after that we will be having open readings for the Macbeth adaptation.

A new audio drama that I produced airs next week.

Shopping for Beginners by Maurice Newman is a new 2 part audio drama that takes place in a shopping centre in north County Dublin as two older men from drastically different backgrounds strike up an unlikely friendship.

It broadcasts at 6.30pm on February 2nd and 9th on Near FM 90.3 and will be available here and on the podcast shortly afterward.

Made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the television license fee.

To coincide with the Paris Climate Summit, Near FM have produced a three part radio drama series dealing with the topic of climate change. Introducing listeners to the topic in an entertaining and informative manner.

This first play ‘The Zombie Way‘ examines how successive international climate conferences fall prey to procrastination and indecision on these important environmental issues.

CAST

Ajib – Michael Sharp
Yuki – Peter Prior
Allura- Rebecca Blomfield
Dave – John O’Connor
Dee – Adrianne Murphy
Hotel Manager – Frank O’Connor

Script by Jack Byrne

Directed by Declan Cahill

Production assistant was Deborah Gaffney

Music by Ken Tuohy

Episodes 5 and 6 of audio drama Rivitn’ History have now been broadcast and are available for download.

Haven’t done an update in a while. But first off the entirety of “Lost Easter Voices” is now available online:

We got a pretty good response from the series with people even calling up the National Archive to ask about the cylinders.

We just finished up recording parts 5 and 6 of “Rivitin’ Histoy” and I currently have it in post prodcution and they should be ready for broadcast late August or early September.

You can listen to parts 1-4 online now:

We also just got 2 new drama projects successfully funded under the Sound and Vision Scheme. One is a 2 part comedy series called “Shopping for Beginners” and the other is an anthology series of 3 Shakespeare plays updated to take place in contemporary North Dublin. More updates on these soon.

The new radio series I’ve been busy working on for a while starts broadcasting on the 21st March at 1pm and runs every day at the same time up to Easter Sunday.

You can hear the promo here:

Near 90.3fm will broadcast a unique 1916 series during Holy Week (21st to 27th March). This series, titled ‘Lost Easter Voices’ offers listeners a chance to hear what is purported to be the last interviews recorded with the executed proclamation signatories, starting with Patrick Pearse and concluding with James Connolly.

At the time of the 1916 executions, social historian, Richard Maxwell, a nephew of General Sir John Maxwell, Commander in Chief of British Forces in Ireland, obtained permission to bring his early Edison recorder into Kilmainham jail to record interviews with the seven Proclamation signatories shortly before their capital punishment. During the turbulent weeks that followed the executions, Richard Maxwell returned to England with his recordings. Eventually, in ill health, he moved to Estuarios in Spain to live with relatives. Apparently, these unique recordings have lain in an attic in Spain for one hundred years. Now a great-granddaughter of Richard Maxwell, Senora Maxwell-Hogan, has returned to Ireland with these historic recordings and has offered to donate them to the National Archive. But first, she has permitted Near fm to digitise and clean these unique recordings and the community station now presents them as part of the centenary commemorations. Each programme will be followed by a panel discussion expanding on the topics raised by the rebels. The entire production was handled by the Near Drama company. Are these authentic recording? Are these the final words of such iconic figures? Listen and make up your own mind. The series will be broadcast Monday 21st March to Sunday 27th March each day at 1 o‘clock.