Episodes
Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Omnibus | 20100917 | Picnic 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. | |
01 | 20100913 | Picnic 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. | |
02 | 20100914 | The 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. | |
03 | 20100915 | Michael 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. | |
04 | 20100916 | The 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. | |
05 | 20100917 | As 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. |