The Archers: The Ambridge Players

Synopsis

Classic plays and ghost stories, as performed by the residents of Ambridge and friends - plus bonus drama Dead Girls Tell No TalesBorsetshire's queen of amateur theatricals, Lynda Snell, never misses the chance to put on a Christmas show. Her productions are always a big hit with Ambridge audiences - and now, Archers fans can enjoy these top-notch performances alongside them (as well as eavesdropping on the shenanigans backstage).In Blithe Spirit, the Ambridge Am-Dram Society and guest star Julian Rhind-Tutt recreate Noël Coward's ghostly masterpiece, and Lynda finds herself in sympathy with eccentric medium Madame Arcati as she attempts to conjure some festive high spirits. Calendar Girls sees the group taking on Tim Firth's comedy of jam and Jerusalem, along with honorary resident Siân Phillips (who starred in the original West End show). Will the intrepid cast really bare all? And in the 2-parter The Canterbury Tales, the company present barnstorming adaptations of Chaucer's classic stories of courtly love, deadly rivalry and boisterous sex - with a little bit of magic thrown in.In Ambridge Ghost Stories, it's a cold December night, in the darkened attic of Lower Loxley. Then Jim Llloyd (John Rowe) takes to the stage to recount three spine-chilling supernatural tales from the turn of the last century - 'The Room in the Tower' by E. F. Benson, 'Lost Hearts' by M. R. James and 'The Monkey's Paw' by W. W. Jacobs. Prepare to be enthralled - and terrified...Also included are two special seasonal pageants, The Ambridge Mystery Plays- The Nativity and The Passion and a stunning original drama by Joanna Toye. Starring Eleanor Tomlinson and Ysette Churchman and Miles Jupp Dead Girls Tell No Tales explores the real story behind the death of Grace Archer: a watershed moment in the history of broadcasting and one of the defining cultural events of the 1950s.Production creditsBlithe SpiritWritten by Noël CowardAdapted and directed by Sean O'ConnorFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 December 2014Calendar GirlsThe accompanying pianist was Simon TaranczukWritten by Tim Firth and based on the motion picture Calendar Girls written by Tim Firth and Juliette Towhidi. Adapted and directed by Sean O'ConnorFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 27 December 2015The Canterbury Tales, Parts 1 & 2Tellers of the TalesThe Knight's TaleThe Miller's TaleThe Wife of Bath's TaleThe Sailor's TaleThe Pardoner's TaleThe Friar's TaleThe Franklin's TaleThe Bailiff's TaleWritten by Geoffrey ChaucerDramatised by Nick Warburton. Directed by Kim Greengrass. Produced by Alison HindellFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 December 2018-5 January 2019The Ambridge Mystery PlaysThe NativityThe PassionFirst Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26th December 2021 & 2nd January 2022Ambridge Ghost StoriesAbridged by Jeremy Osborne'The Room in the Tower' written by E F BensonProduced and directed by Charlotte Davey'Lost Hearts' written by M. R. JamesProduced and directed by Mel Ward'The Monkey's Paw' written by W. W. JacobsProduced and directed by Charlotte Davey First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 December 2019-1 January 2020Dead Girls Tell No TalesCast: Jon Culshaw, Pam Ferris, Lex Shrapnel, Eleanor Tomlinson, Georgie Fuller, Geoffrey Streatfeild, Sally Bretton, Simon Russell Beale, John Hopkins, Claudie Blakley, David Reed, Miles Jupp, Zeb Soanes, Paddy O'Connell, Ysanne Churchman, David Hounslow, Sam Dale, Chris Pavlo, Jessica Turner and Alex TregearWritten by Joanna Toye. Directed by Sean O'ConnorFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19 September 2015©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd