25oon & 8pm & 4am
PLAYS/DRAMA
A KINGDOM FOR A STAGE PART I BY TONY DIGGLE
We are delighted to be broadcasting the radio premiere of A Kingdom for a Stage, originally performed at the Chelsea Theatre. It celebrates and commemorates the anniversary of Shakespeare’s birthday and death on 23rd April.
In Part I Ben Jonson discovered Shakespeare in the heavens in a catatonic state. Literary luminaries explained that he had made an unauthorised visit to the world and was horrified that mankind had not progressed so decided to torment them. Placated by his contemporaries reminding him of his own flawed life Shakespeare returns to the heavens to write his 38th play!
1pm & 9pm & 5am
IN CONVERSATION with MARY OLIVER
Mary Oliver’s poetry, with her lyrical connection to the natural world, has firmly established her in the highest realm of American poets. She is renowned for her evocative and precise imagery, which brings nature into clear focus, transforming the everyday world into a place of magic and discovery. Her recent books include Owls and Other Fantasies, Why I Wake Early, and New and Selected Poems, Volume Two. As poet Stanley Kunitz has said, “Mary Oliver’s poetry is fine and deep; it reads like a blessing.” Oliver lives in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
2pm & 10pm & 6am
POETRY & POETS with MICHAEL ONDAATJE
Michael Ondaatje, poet, novelist, and noted editor and film maker, was born in Sri Lanka in 1943, spent his teenage years in England, and moved to Canada in 1962 where he graduated from the University of Toronto and then Queen’s University, Ontario. He taught English Literature at York University, Toronto, from 1971 to 1990. While mostly known and admired as a novelist, due in part to the worldwide success of The English Patient that was awarded the Booker Prize in 1992 and was later made into the Academy Award-winning film, Ondaatje first won critical acclaim as a poet. Numerous collections include The Collected Works of Billy the Kid: Left-Handed Poems (1970), There’s a Trick With a Knife I’m Learning To Do: Poems, 1963-1978 (1979), both of which won the Canadian Governor General’s award; The Cinnamon Peeler: Selected Poems (1989); and Handwriting (1998).
ALTERNATIVE RADIO with LAVERNE COX
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 by Laverne Cox, an actor starring in Orange is the New Black, documentary film producer and LGBTQ advocate. She talks about Transgender Visibility and whether Trump might revoke recent gains for the LGBTQ community.
4pm & Midnight & 8am
SHERLOCK HOLMES CLASSICS
ABR is proud to present two classic episodes, once again starring Tom Conway as Holmes. ‘The Reigate Puzzle’ is followed by ‘A Scandal in Bohemia.’
We close the hour with an author interview from KOBO and today’s guest is HIROSHI MIKITANI.
5pm & 1am & 9am
TAKE FIVE with CHLOE ESPOSITO & Audiobook Extract from BAD
We asked the same five questions to a range of writers – today CHLOE ESPOSITO, the author of the trilogy Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know which prompted a Hollywood bidding war. This is followed by an extract of the audiobook, Bad.
TAKE FIVE with JONAS HASSEN KHEMIRI
We then move to the award winning Swedish writer Jonas Hassen Khermiri who is the author of four novels, six plays, and a collection of essays, short stories – some of his work has already been translated into more than 25 languages and I’m pretty sure that number will continue to grow especially for the brilliant Everything I Needed to Know
TAKE FIVE with MAX PORTER
Finally we top the hour with Max Porter, poet and writer. His works include Grief is the Thing With Feathers which won the Sunday Times PFD Young Writer of the Year Award the Books Are My Bag Readers’ Award for fiction and the International Dylan Thomas Prize.
6pm & 2am & 10am
HOLLYWOOD STAGE
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 Seven Keys To Baldpate featuring JACK BENNY.
SHORT STORIES – HARDY & JEROME
This comes to you courtesy of Deadtree Publishing who have an excellent range of quality short stories from the masters of the craft. Do search for Miniature Masterpieces at any digital store for further information or at https://www.deadtreepublishing.com/ This hour opens with The Grave by the Handpost by Thomas Hardy read by Jake Urry followed by The Cost of Kindness by Jerome K Jerome read by James Taylor. Vol 13