The Adventurers: Scenes from the East India Company

Available for over a year

Piracy, big business and the English Crown come together in this action packed origin story of one of the most profitable businesses ever launched. It was the staggeringly profitable trade in exotic spices that kick started the East India Company, the corporation that would come to define British Imperialism and global trade. Fin Kennedy’s drama, based on the known facts, tells the story of how this infamous enterprise came into being. It was in 1594 that British pirates captured a huge Portuguese galleon laden with spices and, bringing it into port at Dartmouth, piqued the interest of Crown and traders alike. Why let the pirates make all the money? But with the Crown reluctant to fund further missions, the traders need an innovative solution to start their business – the Joint Stock Company, where anyone could invest. But even with the first mission a crucial choice arises – should they trade British products for these spices or just do as the pirates have done and plunder the traders who have already done the work? So begins not only the story of the East India Company but also the founding principles of global trade for years to come. Written by Fin Kennedy Tina Tucker Holly Atkins Younger Smythe / Reeves Kyle Abdullah Captain Burgh / Bernard Nigel Barratt Dale / Lancaster Dario Coates Lady Ashley Lucy Phelps Gilbert / Smythe / Hickson Ben Turner Other parts were played by Ardeshir Alexandre Sefre, Abraham Popoola, Salem Zayed and members of the company. Sound Design Alisdair McGregor Producer and Director Boz Temple-Morris A Holy Mountain production for BBC Radio 4