Tainted Love

Synopsis

Two bold, authentic dramas exploring D.H. Lawrence's extraordinarily modern view of sexualityDaring, transgressive and controversial, D.H. Lawrence scandalized the literary world with his frank descriptions of sex and desire. He was censored by his own publisher for being too explicit, and several of his most famous works were banned under the Obscene Publications Act. But for Lawrence, a self-described 'priest of love', passion was the stuff of life - and these two dynamic reimaginings celebrate him at his most fearless, pushing the boundaries of sexuality at the dawn of the 20th Century.The Rainbow is seen through the eyes of Ursula Brangwen, and spans three generations of her family from 1840 to 1905. Unsatisfied with the limited choices open to women, Ursula delves into the histories of her mother, Anna, and grandmother Lydia, in an attempt to find a path to follow as she grapples with the forces of passion and desire. From her first crush to an illicit same-sex love affair, we follow Ursula on her journey of sexual awakening and self-discovery.In Women in Love, Ursula's younger sister, Gudrun, comes into equal focus, as she and Ursula search for happiness and fulfilment in the Midlands mining town of Beldover. Gudrun, an artist, embarks on an affair with coalmine owner Gerald Crich; while schoolteacher Ursula falls in love with his friend, school inspector Rupert Birkin. But while Ursula and Rupert grow closer, Gudrun and Gerald's relationship is threatened by Gerald's inability to express his emotions - and his tangled feelings for Rupert...Cassie Bradley stars as Ursula and Katie Redford as Gudrun in these stunning linked dramas about the complexity of human love.Cast and creditsWritten by D.H. LawrenceThe RainbowUrsula - Cassie BradleyTom - Karl CollinsLydia - Aneta PiotrowskaYoung Ursula - Florence HuntAnna - Rosalie CraigYoung Anna - Lauren TannerWill - Lee InglebyAnton - Nico MirallegroWinifred - Tala GouveiaHarby - Graeme HawleyDramatised by Linda Marshall GriffithsDirected by Nadia MolinariA BBC Audio Drama North ProductionWith thanks to the Estate of Frieda Lawrence RavagliFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20-27 June 2021Women in LoveUrsula - Cassie BradleyGudrun - Katie RedfordRupert - Alexander ArnoldGerald - James CooneyHermione - Emily PithonDiana/Pussum - Verity HenryJulius - Rupert HillHermione - Emily PithonLoerke - Ashley MargolisDramatised by Ian KershawDirected by Gary BrownA BBC Audio Drama North ProductionWith thanks to the Estate of Frieda Lawrence RavagliFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4,4-11 July 2021© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.