Episode 1
4 Extra Debut. It’s 1945 and Maya is a 17-year-old single mother. Angelou’s evocative and extraordinary memoirs narrated by Adjoa Andoh.
Poet, writer, essayist, and activist Maya Angelou's extraordinary account of Afro-American life in post-war US.
It's 1945 in San Francisco. Aged 17, and a single mother, Maya falls in love.
Dramatised in five parts by Patricia Cumper.
Narrator (Older Maya) ...... Adjoa Andoh
Maya ...... Pippa Bennett-Warner
Curly ...... Sope Dirisu
Bailey ...... Paapa Essiedu
Uncle Charley ...... Anthony Ofoegbu
The books that make up the life and times of Maya Angelou are some of the best, most beautiful and haunting pieces of autobiography written.
They run the gamut from life affirming to tragedy and back again with a tone that is a joyous, direct and searingly honest, and are an extraordinary portrait of 20th-century black America.
Director: Pauline Harris
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2018.
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The Amazing Maya Angelou
Joyous and haunting, mysterious and memorable - her life story is incredible.
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“I was the world’s dancing fool!”
Maya Angelou finds herself on stage in roaring San Francisco.
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Narrator (Older Maya) | Adjoa Andoh |
| Maya | Pippa Bennett-Warner |
| Curly | Sope Dirisu |
| Bailey | Paapa Essiedu |
| Uncle Charley | Anthony Ofoegbu |
| Director | Pauline Harris |
| Producer | Pauline Harris |
| Author | Maya Angelou |
| Adaptor | Patricia Cumper |
Broadcasts
Mon 6 Aug 201810:45BBC Radio 4- Mon 6 Aug 201819:45BBC Radio 4
- Mon 30 May 202214:15BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Tue 31 May 202202:15BBC Radio 4 Extra
10 surprising things you might not know about Maya Angelou
Intriguing facts about her extraordinary life.
14 famous people who have been inspired by Maya Angelou
Maya’s life, work and wisdom inspired many people to achieve great things too.
10 incredible Maya Angelou quotes to live your life by
Astonishing words from one of the 20th Century's most iconic writers and poets.
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Dramatisations of Maya Angelou’s autobiographies, plus specially selected archive.
