Episode details
Available for over a year
A musical love story for today - radically updating the iconic novella, Porgy by Edwin DuBose Heyward (the basis for Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess), to modern London. With specially composed music produced by Mercury Prize nominated music producer Swindle with the BBC Concert Orchestra, and from a script by Roy Williams OBE. With resonant, timeless themes and mythical characters, the story of Porgy and his love for Bess transcends generations and is as heartbreaking today as when it was written. Its themes resonate - star-crossed lovers, an embattled community, sacrifice and ultimate redemption, during one hot London summer of passion and violence. In our version, set in South London today, Porgy is an underground, anonymous grime/rap artist whose life and music are changed forever when he meets Bess. Their love, and the musical journey they go on together, gives him the courage to shed his anonymity and perform his music openly. Porgy lives with a disability but this is not a story about disability. It’s about falling in love, finding your voice and being true to yourself. Cast: BESS ..... Gabrielle Brooks ANON/PORGY ...... Reece Pantry CROWN ..... Fehinti Balogun SPORTING LIFE ..... Idris Debrand JACKI ..... Erin Doherty CARLY ..... Jade Anouka ROBBIE ..... Ray Fearon AMIRA ..... Shobna Gulati DYER ..... Phil Daniels PASTOR ….. Jumoké Fashola DJ ….. Jocelyn Jee Esien SOUND RECORDIST ….. Alisdair McGregor SOUND DESIGNER ….. Lucinda Mason Brown SOUND ASSISTANT ….. Makashe Ogbon LINE PRODUCER ….. Sarah Tombling PRODUCTION ASSISTANT ….. Jacob Tombling STILLS ….. Kim Lang Studio MUSIC CONSULTANT ….. Ray Paul / The PMG ASSOCIATE PRODUCER ….. Nick Eziefula EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ….. Polly Thomas Original Music Produced and Written by Swindle With lyrics by Eva Lazarus and TEE Arranged and Orchestrated by Neil Waters Performed by the Cast with the BBC Concert Orchestra Conducted by Tom Kelly Written by Roy Williams Inspired by ‘Porgy’ by Edwin DuBose Heyward Produced by Gill Parry Directed by Michael Buffong Supported by the PRS Foundation A feral inc production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 3
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