Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Coming Storm | 20171009 | John Reed's classic eye-witness account of the Russian Revolution in October 1917. Petrograd under the Provisional Government is in chaos. American journalists John Reed and Louise Bryant arrive to find the tension between factions is palpable and it's only a matter of time before the situation explodes. But in which direction? Stars Richard Laing and Kelly Burke. Dramatised in ten parts by Robin Brooks |
| 02 | On The Eve | 20171010 | The confusion in Petrograd continues as the new delegates to the Congress of Soviets stream into the city. Reed gets a brief interview with Trotsky and overhears Lenin calling for a Bolshevik insurrection. But isn't Lenin meant to be in hiding to avoid arrest? John Reed's classic eye-witness account of the Russian Revolution in October 1917. Stars Richard Laing and Kelly Burke. Dramatised by Robin Brooks John Reed - Richard Laing Louise Bryant - Kelly Burke Lenin - Nicholas Murchie Kerensky - Ewan Bailey Trotsky - Matthew Gravelle Karelin - Richard Elfyn Doorwoman - Lynn Hunter Zorin - Sion Pritchard Director: Alison Hindell A BBC Cymru/Wales production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2017. |
| 03 | The Winter Palace | 20171011 | Reed and Bryant blag their way in to the Winter Palace and meet the frightened government troops defending the building. As gunfire starts in the street, the Palace falls, surprisingly easily. to the victorious revolutionaries. The journalists find themselves caught in a dangerous encounter. John Reed's classic eye-witness account of the Russian Revolution in October 1917. Stars Richard Laing and Kelly Burke. Dramatised by Robin Brooks John Reed - Richard Laing Louise Bryant - Kelly Burke Kerensky - Ewan Bailey Comberg - Matthew Gravelle Driver - Nicholas Murchie Commissar - Richard Elfyn Robert - Sion Pritchard Director: Alison Hindell A BBC Cymru/Wales production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2017. |
| 04 | Plunging Ahead | 20171012 | The Bolsheviks have taken the Winter Palace and seized control. Amidst a whirl of excitement, dread and rumour, Lenin abolishes all private ownership of land. John Reed's classic eye-witness account of the Russian Revolution in October 1917. Stars Richard Laing and Kelly Burke. Dramatised by Robin Brooks John Reed - Richard Laing Louise Bryant - Kelly Burke Kerensky - Ewan Bailey Comberg - Matthew Gravelle Soldier - Nicholas Murchie Commissar - Richard Elfyn Saratov - Sion Pritchard Woman - Sarah Ridgeway Director: Alison Hindell A BBC Cymru/Wales production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2017. |
| 05 | Chill Winds | 20171013 | Ex-Prime Minster Kerensky has joined forces with the Cossacks and is advancing on Petrograd Meanwhile in Moscow, there is fighting in the streets with rumour is rife that the Revolution cannot survive. John Reed's classic eye-witness account of the Russian Revolution in October 1917. Stars Richard Laing and Kelly Burke. Dramatised by Robin Brooks John Reed - Richard Laing Louise Bryant - Kelly Burke Kerensky - Ewan Bailey Comberg - Matthew Gravelle Soldier - Nicholas Murchie Commissar - Richard Elfyn Saratov - Sion Pritchard Woman - Sarah Ridgeway Director: Alison Hindell A BBC Cymru/Wales production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2017. Kerensky joins forces with the Cossacks advancing on Petrograd. |
| 06 | The Revolutionary Front | 20171016 | Kerensky and the counter-revolutionary Cossacks are making gains and threatening Petrograd. Reed visits the Revolutionary frontline with the Bolshevik commander-in-chief - who seems less than organised. John Reed's classic eye-witness account of the Russian Revolution in October 1917. Stars Richard Laing and Kelly Burke. Dramatised by Robin Brooks John Reed - Richard Laing Comberg - Matthew Gravelle Colonel - Nicholas Murchie Dybenko - Richard Nichols Antonov - Sion Pritchard With Simon Ludders, Tom Forrister and Philip Fox Director: Alison Hindell A BBC Cymru/Wales production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2017. Reed visits the revolutionary frontline with the Bolshevik commander-in-chief. |
| 07 | Counter-revolution | 20171017 | Bryant is caught up in a vicious street battle and witnesses the bloody violence of the Revolution at close quarters. Counter-revolutionary government troops holding the telephone exchange are captured by Bolshevik sailors - who then have to learn to man the switchboards. John Reed's classic eye-witness account of the Russian Revolution in October 1917. Stars Richard Laing and Kelly Burke. Dramatised by Robin Brooks John Reed - Richard Laing Louise Bryant - Kelly Burke Trotsky - Matthew Gravelle Meshkovsky - Nicholas Murchie Girl - Gwawr Loader Antonov - Sion Pritchard Doorman - Ewan Bailey Director: Alison Hindell A BBC Cymru/Wales production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2017. Bryant is caught up in a vicious street battle. |
| 08 | Victory | 20171018 | Trotsky has claimed victory over the Cossacks and Kerensky is asking for an armistice. Reed sets out once more for the front line with a driver who takes a dim view of American democracy, and finds himself up against the illiterate brutality of the Red Guard. John Reed's classic eye-witness account of the Russian Revolution in October 1917. Stars Richard Laing and Kelly Burke. John Reed - Richard Laing Louise Bryant - Kelly Burke Colonel - Nicholas Murchie Kameniev - Ewan Bailey Dybenko - Richard Nichols Baklanov - Richard Elfyn Leonsky - Sion Pritchard Director: Alison Hindell A BBC Cymru/Wales production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2017. Trotsky claims victory over the Cossacks. |
| 09 | Moscow | 20171019 | Lunacharsky despairs at the rumour that the revolutionaries' own bombardment has destroyed the historic Kremlin. Reed and Bryant set out to Moscow to see for themselves but find not everyone in the city supports the Bolsheviks. John Reed's classic eye-witness account of the Russian Revolution in October 1917. Stars Richard Laing and Kelly Burke. John Reed - Richard Laing Louise Bryant - Kelly Burke Lunacharsky - Matthew Gravelle Cab Driver - Nicholas Murchie Melcher - Charlie Clements Wife - Eiry Thomas Student - Sion Pritchard With Simon Ludders and Tom Forrister Director: Alison Hindell A BBC Cymru/Wales production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2017. The revolutionaries' own bombardment has destroyed the Kremlin. |
| 10 | The Conquest Of Power | 20171020 | The Bolsheviks have defeated the counter-revolution and are getting on with the business of government despite the threat of civil war. The abolition of all private ownership of land has won over the peasants and, for a moment, the Revolution seems to have accomplished its goals. The conclusion of John Reed's classic eye-witness account of the Russian Revolution in October 1917. Stars Richard Laing and Kelly Burke. John Reed - Richard Laing Louise Bryant - Kelly Burke Trotsky - Matthew Gravelle Lenin - Nicholas Murchie Zinoviev - Sion Pritchard Sverdlov - Simon Ludders Nathanson - Philip Fox With Eiry Thomas, Charlie Clements and Tom Forrister. The Internationale is sung by Eiry Thomas. Director: Alison Hindell A BBC Cymru/Wales production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2017. The Bolsheviks have defeated the counter-revolution. |