BBC Radio 4 x Royal Court Theatre

Seven decades of radical Royal Court playwriting. One landmark radio collaboration. Coming to the airwaves this September.

We’re celebrating 70 years of the Royal Court with BBC Radio 4 - bringing some of the most groundbreaking plays and playwrights from our history to audiences across the UK.

It all starts on Sat 26 Sep, 8.30pm with the brand-new radio premiere of Lucy Kirkwood’s The Childrenon BBC Radio 4, followed by seven days of Royal Court plays from the BBC archive, curated by playwright Mark Ravenhill.

Following the broadcast of The Children, the archive productions will air on BBC Radio 4 Extra at 8.30pm each evening and will also be available on BBC Sounds in the Spotlight feed for 28 days after broadcast. 

Programme Schedule:

• Radio Premiere
  The Children by Lucy Kirkwood
  Sat 26 Sep, 3pm, BBC Radio 4
  
  Lucy Kirkwood’s gripping drama sees three former nuclear physicists reunite, forcing old tensions and questions of responsibility to the surface. Starring Emma Fielding, Anastasia Hille and Stanley Townsend.
   
• Archive Production
  Look Back in Anger by John Osborne
  Sat 26 Sep, 8.30pm, Radio 4 Extra
  
  John Osborne’s landmark 1956 play follows the volatile relationship between Jimmy Porter and his wife Alison. Starring Ben Whishaw, Samantha Young and Grant O’Rourke.
   
• Archive Production
  Roots by Arnold Wesker
  Sun 27 Sep, 8.30pm, Radio 4 Extra
  
  Arnold Wesker’s semi-autobiographical classic follows Beatie Bryant as she returns home with new ideas that challenge her family and their way of life. Starring Eleanor Tremain, David Bradley and David Troughton.
   
• Archive Production
  Sizwe Banzi is Dead by Athol Fugard, John Kani and Winston Ntshona
  Mon 28 Sep, 8.30pm, Radio 4 Extra
  
  Athol Fugard, John Kani and Winston Ntshona’s powerful drama explores identity, oppression and survival in apartheid-era South Africa. Starring Sibusiso Mamba, Tonderai Monyevu and Adetomiwa Edun.
   
• Archive Production
  Top Girls by Caryl Churchill
  Tue 29 Sep, 8.30pm, Radio 4 Extra
  
  Caryl Churchill’s groundbreaking play explores the price of success for women in a male-dominated world. Starring Emma Fielding, Sheila Hancock, Helen McCrory, Nikki Amuka-Bird and Siobhan Finneran.
   
• Archive Production
  Our Country's Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker
  Wed 30 Sep, 8.30pm, Radio 4 Extra
  
  Timberlake Wertenbaker’s powerful drama explores the transformative power of theatre through a group of convicts staging a play in 1789 Australia. Starring Paul Higgins, Kate Fleetwood, Adjoa Andoh, Elliot Levey and Ralph Ineson.
   
• Archive Production
  Random by debbie tucker green
  Thu 1 Oct, 8.30pm, Radio 4 Extra
  
  debbie tucker green’s searing drama follows a family whose ordinary day is shattered by an unforeseen disaster. Starring Nadine Marshall, Petra Letang, Richie Campbell and Manjeet Mann.
   
• Archive Production
  Cuttin' It by Charlene James
  Fri 2 Oct, 8.30pm, Radio 4 Extra
  
  Charlene James’ multi-award-winning South London drama follows two Somali teenagers who discover a secret that connects them. Starring Susan Wokoma, Nahel Tzegai, Chris Pavlo and Suheba Mohammed.

BBC Radio 4 commissioned this production of The Children from Hooley Productions as part of the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre.