Picnic At Hanging Rock [15 Minute Drama]

Episodes

EpisodeTitleFirst
Broadcast
Comments
Omnibus20100917Picnic at Hanging Rock is a classic mystery, made famous by Peter Weir's 1970s film. This new interpretation goes back to the original story, recreating the strong underlying sense of horror and supernatural that resonate in Joan Lindsay's novel, abridged for Radio 4 by Polly Thomas. Starring Penny Downie, Fenella Woolgar and Simon Burke, this radio version features music from award winning composer and producer Jon Rose.

Set in Edwardian Australia, the drama starts innocently enough as an excited party of school girls prepare for their Valentines day treat - a picnic on Hanging Rock.

Narrator - Penny Downie

Mrs Appleyard - Fenella Woolgar

Mademoiselle - Elizabeth Boag

Miss McCraw - Sarah Rutherford

Constable Bumpher - Simon Burke

Miranda/Sara - Celeste Wong

Irma - Anna Skellern

Edith - Andi Snelling

Miss Lumley - Lauren St Paul

Michael - Nicholas Banks

Albert - David Palliser

Original music: Jon Rose

Script editor: Helen Meller

March of the Men of Harlech played by Amanda Dalton

Participation with Year 12 students of Springwood High, New South Wales

Producer/Director: Polly Thomas

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4.

Dramatisation of Joan Lindsay's classic mystery novel.

0120100913Picnic at Hanging Rock is a classic mystery, made famous by Peter Weir's 1970s film.

This new interpretation goes back to the original story, recreating the strong underlying sense of horror and supernatural that resonate in Joan Lindsay's novel. Starring Penny Downie, Fenella Woolgar and Simon Burke, this radio version features music from award winning composer and producer Jon Rose.

On St Valentines day, 1900, a party of schoolgirls and two governesses set off for a treat; a picnic at the geological marvel, the Hanging Rock. During the course of the afternoon, three girls and one governess disappear with no trace.

Narrator - Penny Downie

Mrs Appleyard - Fenella Woolgar

Mademoiselle - Elizabeth Boag

Miss McCraw - Sarah Rutherford

Mr Hussey - Simon Burke

Miranda - Celeste Wong

Irma - Anna Skellern

Edith - Andi Snelling

Marion - Lauren St Paul

Michael - Nicholas Banks

Albert - David Palliser

Original music: Jon Rose

Script editor: Helen Meller

March of the Men of Harlech played by Amanda Dalton.

Participation from Year 12 students of Springwood High, New South Wales.

Producer/Director: Polly Thomas

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4.

Three schoolgirls and a governess disappear during a picnic at an Australian beauty spot.

0220100914The remainder of the party, distraught and tired, return to the school to be greeted with displeasure by Mrs Appleyard, the stern headmistress.

The next day Constable Bumpher questions Edith, the only girl to return from the rock and Michael, a young Englishman, holidaying with his aunt and uncle and his coachman.

Michael has become besotted with Miranda who he saw cross the creek along with the other girls on their way up to the rock.

Narrator - Penny Downie

Mrs Appleyard - Fenella Woolgar

Mademoiselle - Elizabeth Boag

Mr Hussey/Constable Bumpher - Simon Burke

Sara - Celeste Wong

Edith - Andi Snelling

Michael - Nicholas Banks

Albert - David Palliser

Original music: Jon Rose

Script editor: Helen Meller

March of the Men of Harlech played by Amanda Dalton.

Participation from Year 12 students of Springwood High, New South Wales.

Producer/Director: Polly Thomas

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4.

The party return from the rock to a barrage of questions from headmistress Mrs Appleyard.

0320100915Michael now besotted with Miranda; one of the girls, decides to mount his own search. He becomes lost and feverish, to be rescued by loyal Albert. Although delirious when found, he has left enough clues to make Albert return to the rock.

Narrator - Penny Downie

Michael - Nicholas Banks

Albert - David Palliser

Original music: Jon Rose

Script editor: Helen Meller

March of the Men of Harlech played by Amanda Dalton.

Participation from Year 12 students of Springwood High, New South Wales.

Producer/Director: Polly Thomas

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4.

Michael and Albert mount their own dangerous search for the missing schoolgirls.

0420100916The situation at Appleyard College is worsening as worried parents withdraw pupils. The negative publicity continues and Mrs. Appleyard becomes more and more grim. When Michael and Irma come round, neither can offer any more information, to the dismay of the police and Mrs Appleyard. Before she leaves for Europe, Irma pays a last visit to her school fellows with disastrous results.

Narrator - Penny Downie

Mrs Appleyard - Fenella Woolgar

Mademoiselle - Elizabeth Boag

Sara - Celeste Wong

Irma - Anna Skellern

Edith - Andi Snelling

Miss Lumley - Lauren St Paul

Michael - Nicholas Banks

Original music: Jon Rose

Script editor: Helen Meller

March of the Men of Harlech played by Amanda Dalton.

Participation from Year 12 students of Springwood High, New South Wales.

Producer/Director: Polly Thomas

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4.

Irma is recovered but the situation at Appleyard College begins to spiral out of control.

0520100917As the Easter vacation looms, Mrs Appleyard becomes more and more morose, taking to secret drinking sessions and refusing all offers of help. Sara Waybourne is mysteriously collected from school one day by her guardian and suspicions are roused. The final discovery is both appalling and on a par with the strange unsolved mystery of the Picnic at Hanging Rock.

Narrator - Penny Downie

Mrs Appleyard - Fenella Woolgar

Mademoiselle - Elizabeth Boag

Mr Whitehead - Simon Burke

Minnie/Alice - Lauren St Paul

Michael - Nicholas Banks

Albert - David Palliser

Original music: Jon Rose

Script editor: Helen Meller

March of the Men of Harlech played by Amanda Dalton.

Participation from Year 12 students of Springwood High, New South Wales.

Producer/Director: Polly Thomas

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4.

Mrs Appleyard takes desperate measures to save the school from disaster.