Pericles

A gripping new production of one of Shakespeare's later and least performed plays, Pericles, in which murder, incest, intrigue, shipwrecks and prostitution tear King Pericles' family apart.

Adapted for radio and directed by acclaimed British theatre writer/director Neil Bartlett with a multicultural cast including opera legend Sir Willard White as Gower, the RSC's rising star Paapa Essiedu as Pericles and renowned British film actress Adjoa Andoh as Dionyza. A Greek chorus trio provides an innovative way to deliver pirates, fishermen, knights and villains galore.

Pericles is a problem play on stage given the long script, wordy passages, multiple shipwrecks and sea storms, and large number of locations. With a pacey, music-rich new adaptation for radio by Neil Bartlett and the rich, beguiling tones of Willard White as Gower, Pericles becomes a lively, shocking and moving roller-coaster journey, perfect for radio drama, and reclaims Pericles as one of Shakespeare's plays definitely worthy of more frequent productions.

CAST
Gower ..... Willard White
Pericles .....Paapa Essiedu
Thaisa ..... Sarah Malin
Helicanus/Pandar ..... Colin Hurley
Cleon/Boult ..... Barrie Rutter
Cerimon/Bawd ..... Tamzin Griffin
Dionyza/Lychorida ..... Adjoa Andoh
Marina ..... Laura Rees
Leonine/Simonides ..... Martin Turner
Antiochus/Lysimachus ..... Mark Straker
Trio 1 ..... Tim Chipping
Trio 2 ..... Martin Bassindale
Trio 3 ..... Oscar Batterha

Marina's song composed by Simon Deacon
Pianist, Josef Janik

A Bona Broadcasting production for BBC Radio 3.