Episode 1

The immortal stories of The Arabian Nights are brought to life in an inventive fresh adaptation by Glen Neath, reviving favourites such as Ali Baba and The Forty Thieves and The Fisherman and The Demon along with lesser known tales.

This is a world of wonder, magic and comedy - but also of contemporary realism. Successive generations in the east and the west have reinterpreted these tales, recognising the inept rulers, the resourceful slaves and the wondrous magicians. That’s why this is one of the most enduring and influential books in literature.

In this opener, we join Ata Madri (Indira Varma) as she heads to modern day Cairo to track down an elusive medieval copy of The Nights - one that is said to contain the original ending. A sea of stories awaits her.

An extraordinary ensemble of actors from east and west come together to tell the tales.

Narrator....................Nadim Sawalha
Madri.........................Indira Varma
Clive, King Yunan.......Ewan Bailey
Taxi Driver, Hasan......Nayef Rashed
Ali Baba......................Muzz Khan
Ali Baba's wife............Noa Bodner
Cassim, King of the City's Vizier......Noof McEwan
Cassim's wife.............Alyssa Kyria
Marjaneh....................Laura Hanna
Cobbler, Vizier............Niall Ashdown
Robber........................Waleed Elgadi
Captain.......................Alexei Sayle
Ali Baba's son, Young Man..............Amir El-Masry
Shopkeeper, Fisherman..................Nabil Elouahabi
Professor, Demon........Stewart Scudamore
Sage Duban.................Renu Setna
King of the City............Bhasker Patel
Evil Wife.......................Sharlit Deyzac

Sound design by Alisdair McGregor
Music by Michael Ward with David Lewin and Peter Rophone

Director: Boz Temple-Morris

A Holy Mountain production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in December 2015.