1. Inferno

Blake Ritson, David Warner and John Hurt star in Stephen Wyatt's dramatisation of Dante's epic poem - the story of one man's incredible journey through Hell, Purgatory and Paradise.

Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita
mi ritrovai per una selva oscura,
ché la diritta via era smarrita.

In Episode 1: Inferno, the thirty-five year old Dante (Blake Ritson) finds himself in the middle of a dark wood, in extreme personal and spiritual crisis. But hope of rescue appears in the form of the venerable poet Virgil (David Warner), now a shade himself, who offers to lead Dante on an odyssey through the afterlife, that begins in the terrifying depths of Hell.

Many years later, the older Dante (John Hurt), still in enforced exile from his beloved Florence, attempts to finish his great poem and reflects on the events that have led him to its writing.

Dante the Poet .... Blake Ritson
Older Dante .... John Hurt
Virgil .... David Warner
Ulysees/Giant .... Sam Dale
Charon/Pope Nicholas III .... Michael Bertenshaw
Francesca da Rimini .... Priyanga Burford
Count Ugolino .... David Cann
Tree/ Adam .... Clive Hayward
Vanni Fucci .... Steve Touissaint
Angel .... Cassie Layton

All other parts are played by members of the company

The Divine Comedy is dramatised by Stephen Wyatt

Sound design is by Cal Knightley

Directed by Emma Harding and Marc Beeby

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2014.