Saturday Play: The Indian in the Cupboard Radio 4, Saturday 2.30pm
Jane Purcell adapts Lynne Reid Banks’ children’s book, in which 11-year-old Mori (Dominic Herman-Day) discovers that when he puts his plastic Iroquois Indian figure into a cabinet, it comes to life.
Drama on 3: And So Say All of Us Radio 3, Sunday 8pm
Playwrights Dan Rebellato, Lina McLean and Duncan Macmillan come together to create an absurdist take on a general election where nobody votes. In a bizarre freak of scheduling (thanks to the bank holiday altering our print deadlines this week), Moira Petty has already reviewed this drama — beware of spoilers, of course — which she describes as “a timely parody of the consequences of going against Donne’s edict that no man is an island.”
Afternoon Play: Barbershopera! Radio 4, Monday 2.15pm
Tenor Tony decides to quit his barbershop group on the eve of a big competition, so a replacement is needed — but who? John Sessions narrates an adaptation of the 2008 Edinburgh fringe success, a preview of which is below:
Afternoon Play: Gentleman Jim Radio 4, Tuesday 2.15pm
Raymond Briggs adapts his own graphic novel about a toilet attendant who dreams of a better life for himself and his wife, but finds events tumbling out of control and his dreams turning into nightmares. David Haig stars as Jim, with Jan Ravens as his wife Hilda.
Devil’s Advocate Radio 4, Wednesday 8pm
A new debate show chaired by David Aaronovitch, in which the guest speakers are required to reject their established view and instead speak for a contrary position. This first edition debates whether celebrities are entitled to a private life. John Leslie and Toby Young are the guests.
The Friday Play: RIP Boy Radio 4, Friday 9pm
Feltham Young Offenders Institution is the setting for this dramatisation of events that took place ten years ago. Zahid Mubarek (Darren Kuppan) was beaten to death by his cellmate, Robert Stewart (Matthew McNulty), a known racist with psychopathic tendencies. Neil McKay’s script explores how a catalogue of grave mistakes led to such a tragic conclusion. Produced by Nicola Shindler’s Red Production Company, an indie best known for its TV output including Queer as Folk and Casanova. You can read interviews with McKay and Shindler in this week’s issue of The Stage.
