SUNDAY 5th May

Noon & 8pm & 4am

PLAYS/DRAMA

SEX AND POLITICS by COLIN LEWISOHN

Tom thinks he knows himself well, he fancies women. Leaving his affair with Jo behind him Tom enters the world of sexual politics where he faces a challenge to his very identity. It is the mid-1980s and the pursuit of gay rights is now at the centre of the political stage. But how will the pursuit of justice fare in the murky world of political intrigue and what will be the personal costs?

1pm & 9pm & 5am

IN CONVERSATION with MAUDE BARLOW

Maude Barlow educates people all over the world about the crisis of water privatization, and documents how commodification of water results in soaring rate increases and severe water shortages. She says, “Life requires access to clean water; to deny the right to water is to deny the right to life.” In her work she particularly advocates for the world’s poor, who in some cases pay more for potable water than do wealthier people in the same communities. She travels and lectures widely, arguing that water is a basic right and should not be a commodity.

2pm & 10pm & 6am

THE POETRY HOUR Vol 14 featuring Shakespeare & more

Poetry is often cited as our greatest use of words. The English language has well over a million and poets down the ages seem, at times, to make use of every single one. But often they use them in simple ways to describe anything and everything from landscapes to all aspects of the human condition. Poems can evoke within us an individual response that takes us by surprise; that opens our eyes and ears to very personal feelings.   Forget the idea of classic poetry being somehow dull and boring and best kept to school textbooks. It still has life, vibrancy and relevance to our lives today. In this hour we’ll be listening to Shakespeare, The Female Poet – Volume 2 and The Poets of 19th Century America – Volume 2

All of them are from a dedicated poetry publisher – Portable Poetry who believe that poetry should be a part of our everyday lives, uplifting the soul & reaching the parts that other things can’t. Their range of audiobooks and ebooks cover volumes on some of our greatest poets to anthologies of seasons, months, places and a range of themes. Check them out at https://www.deadtreepublishing.com/  That’s Portable Poetry – poetry that carries you through!

3pm & 11pm & 7am

ALTERNATIVE RADIO with Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Gender Equality

Here at Audiobook Radio we are keen to provide a range of voices – very literally as well as in terms of opinions and views of the world.  This strand created by Alternative Radio does just that.  We will hear from some of the most informed minds and greatest social activists of our time whose take on justice and  power does not chime with those that hold the power and don’t provide justice for all so we rarely get to hear from them in mainstream media.  Different opinions always help inform our own and we are always eager to hear from listeners about this or any other strand.  Contact us on the tab at www.audiobookradio.net.

Today’s talk is about Gender Equality and is given by  Ruth Bader Ginsburg who was an editor of the Harvard Law Review and director of the ACLU Women’s Rights Project. She served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia for thirteen years before being appointed to the Supreme Court by President Clinton in 1993 and in 24 years on the nation’s highest court she has never missed a day on the bench.

4pm & Midnight & 8am

SHERLOCK HOLMES

GREG WAGLAND superbly narrates The Empty House by Arthur Conan Doyle

5pm & 1am & 9am

SPARK LONDON

The concept is stand out simple. Real people telling real stories. Today’s are

Crab Dinner / The Goldfish by Fred and Kerry Crawley and Long Legs by Bill Singh.

A WORD IN YOUR EAR

Word in Your Ear are a Bath based collective of writers who gather to tell their stories. They liked the way our ancestors enjoyed stories – by listening to them. We totally agree with them so let’s have a listen to Black Sheep by Rosemary Senior and Erthenta by Alison Lock.

TAKE FIVE with MARIO LEVI

We asked the same five questions to a range of writers – today MARIO LEVI, one of the most important modern Turkish writers.

6pm & 2am & 10am

HOLLYWOOD STAGE with Dark Victory

Hollywood is indelibly printed in our minds as a go to place for entertainment and has been for decades. We take you back in time as The Hollywood ringmaster himself, CECIL B DE MILLE unveils Dark Victory featuring BETTE DAVIES and SPENCER TRACY

7pm & 3am & 11am

SHORT STORIES – DICKENS & JAMES

THE BAGMAN’S STORY BY CHARLES DICKENS READ BY RICHARD MITCHLEY.

An uncharacteristically happy story taken from ‘The Pickwick Papers’. Dealing with themes of marriage and having an overall positive tone, this tale is uplifting and gentle, with a reassuring and welcome direction.

LOST HEARTS BY M.R. JAMES READ BY RICHARD PASCO.

An orphaned boy comes to live with his reclusive relative, but there are strange manifestations in the house. The ghost children want vengeance – and they want it now. A classic ghost story from a master storyteller.