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A Tale of Two Cities
- Narrator
- various
- Publisher
- BBC Audio
- Publish Date
- 21 October 2021
- Run Time
- 2 hours 50 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
Ayeesha Menon's reworking of Charles Dickens' iconic story of love, revolution and redemption, updated to modern-day London and war-torn Syria
2011, Syria. The Arab Spring is underway, and after a wave of peaceful protests, President Assad agrees to a release of political prisoners. Freed after 30 years, Dr Mahmoud is taken in by Taghreed and Emad Daffar, and brought to England by his old friend Jarvis Lorry and the daughter he has never met, foreign correspondent Lina. But his years of suffering have left him a broken man.
Back in London, Jarvis convinces his nephew Sid Carton, a feckless but brilliant barrister, to defend a young Syrian émigré doctor, Shwan Dahkurdi, against charges of supporting terrorism. Lina and Shwan fall in love, only for his dark family secret to tear them apart... Meanwhile, convinced that only Lina gives his life meaning, Sid confesses his unrequited love, promising to do anything for her and those she loves.
As the city of Aleppo turns into a battleground, Taghreed becomes increasingly involved with the rebels of the Free Syrian Army. Her desire for justice - and her obsessive thirst for vengeance - will have devastating repercussions...
A powerful portrayal of personal sacrifice set against the turbulent backdrop of political change, Dickens' classic novel is as resonant today as when it was written. The redemption of flawed humanity is at the heart of award-winning writer Ayeesha Menon's riveting reimagining, spanning five years and with a seamlessly shifting perspective between Aleppo and London. Provocative, powerful and moving, this drama won a BBC Drama Audio Award for Best Adaptation, and stars Fatima Adoum, Lara Sawalha, Phil Davis, Khalid Abdalla, Shaun Parkes and Nadim Sawalha.
Production credits
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, adapted for radio by Ayeesha Menon
Development concept written by Silas Parry
Produced by Gill Parry
Directed by Polly Thomas
Producer for Goldhawk Productions: Emma Hearn
Executive Producer: John Dryden
Broadcast Assistant: Jan Shepherd
Sound design by Eloise Whitmore
A Goldhawk Production for BBC Radio 4
Cast
Taghreed - Fatima Adoum
Lina - Lara Sawalha
Jarvis - Phil Davis
Shwan Dahkurdi - Khalid Abdalla
Sid - Shaun Parkes
Dr Mahmoud - Nadim Sawalha
Cameraman/Jerry/Driver - Shiv Grewal
Emad - Raad Rawi
Yakub/General- George Georgiou
Samia - Nathalie Armin
Syrian Protestor - Ahmed Aziz
Fadi/Guard/Local Doctor - Ammar Haj Ahmad
Secretary - Jan Shepard
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 May-3 June 2018
©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Charles Dickens adapted by Ayeesha Menon
- Narrator
- various
- Duration
- 2 hours 50 minutes
- Release Date
- 21 October 2021
- ISBN
- 9781529187526
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- BBC Audio
- Genre
- War, combat and military adventure fiction, Fiction: inspired by or adapted from other media, Narrative theme: Sense of place, Narrative theme: Displacement, exile, migration, Modern and contemporary fiction: general and literary
Synopsis
Ayeesha Menon's reworking of Charles Dickens' iconic story of love, revolution and redemption, updated to modern-day London and war-torn Syria2011, Syria. The Arab Spring is underway, and after a wave of peaceful protests, President Assad agrees to a release of political prisoners. Freed after 30 years, Dr Mahmoud is taken in by Taghreed and Emad Daffar, and brought to England by his old friend Jarvis Lorry and the daughter he has never met, foreign correspondent Lina. But his years of suffering have left him a broken man.Back in London, Jarvis convinces his nephew Sid Carton, a feckless but brilliant barrister, to defend a young Syrian émigré doctor, Shwan Dahkurdi, against charges of supporting terrorism. Lina and Shwan fall in love, only for his dark family secret to tear them apart... Meanwhile, convinced that only Lina gives his life meaning, Sid confesses his unrequited love, promising to do anything for her and those she loves.As the city of Aleppo turns into a battleground, Taghreed becomes increasingly involved with the rebels of the Free Syrian Army. Her desire for justice - and her obsessive thirst for vengeance - will have devastating repercussions...A powerful portrayal of personal sacrifice set against the turbulent backdrop of political change, Dickens' classic novel is as resonant today as when it was written. The redemption of flawed humanity is at the heart of award-winning writer Ayeesha Menon's riveting reimagining, spanning five years and with a seamlessly shifting perspective between Aleppo and London. Provocative, powerful and moving, this drama won a BBC Drama Audio Award for Best Adaptation, and stars Fatima Adoum, Lara Sawalha, Phil Davis, Khalid Abdalla, Shaun Parkes and Nadim Sawalha.Production creditsA Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, adapted for radio by Ayeesha MenonDevelopment concept written by Silas ParryProduced by Gill ParryDirected by Polly ThomasProducer for Goldhawk Productions: Emma HearnExecutive Producer: John DrydenBroadcast Assistant: Jan ShepherdSound design by Eloise WhitmoreA Goldhawk Production for BBC Radio 4CastTaghreed - Fatima AdoumLina - Lara SawalhaJarvis - Phil DavisShwan Dahkurdi - Khalid AbdallaSid - Shaun ParkesDr Mahmoud - Nadim SawalhaCameraman/Jerry/Driver - Shiv GrewalEmad - Raad RawiYakub/General- George GeorgiouSamia - Nathalie ArminSyrian Protestor - Ahmed AzizFadi/Guard/Local Doctor - Ammar Haj AhmadSecretary - Jan ShepardFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 May-3 June 2018©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
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