2013/2014

Charles Dickens's iconic story of love, revolution and redemption, updated and set in contemporary Aleppo and London.

Boldly reworked as provocative and moving drama by Ayeesha Menon - updated to modern-day London and war-torn Syria.

The driving forces are now two women - British Syrian journalist Lina Mahmoud and her nemesis, Taghreed Daffar.

Events move on to 2013/2014.

Lina is reporting from Aleppo when she is confronted by Taghreed, now in the Free Syrian Army, accusing her of not speaking the truth.

Back in London, Lina and Shwan fall in love but, when his dark family secret is revealed, it propels Dr Mahmoud's descent into madness, driving the two lovers apart. Sid confesses his unrequited love for Lina, promising always to protect her and those she loves.

Meanwhile Shwan desperately returns to Syria to rescue his old housekeeper, Samia, and is trapped by Taghreed's terrible plan for vengeance.

Taghreed ...... Fatima Adoum
Lina ...... Lara Sawalha
Jarvis ...... Phil Davis
Shwan ...... Khalid Abdalla
Sid ...... Shaun Parkes
Dr Mahmoud ...... Nadim Sawalha
Jerry ...... Shiv Grewal
Driver ...... Shiv Grewal
Emad ...... Raad Rawi
Yakub ...... George Georgiou
General ...... George Georgiou
Samia ...... Nathalie Armin
Fadi ...... Ammar Haj Ahmad
Local Doctor ...... Ammar Haj Ahmad
Syrian Protestor ...... Ahmed Aziz

Development concept written by Silas Parry.

Producer: Gill Parry
Director: Polly Thomas

Producer for Goldhawk Productions: Emma Hearn

Executive Producer: John Dryden

A Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in May 2018.