William's Castle [Drama]

Based on a true story. In 1897, a young orphaned Sunderland choirboy faces his last few days at the orphanage. Haunted by dreams of his late father lost at sea, and troubled by his fate, he scribbles a plea to be remembered in the margins of an order of service:

'Dear friend. Whoever finds this letter, don't tear it up or throw it away. Keep it, in remembrance of me. Signed, William Elliott.'

Over a hundred years later, as the church is being restored, his tattered, faded, mouse-bitten paper is found. The discovery of William's hidden letter inspires the community of Hendon in Sunderland to reach back through history and find him. What happened to William?

Cast:

Tracey - Charlie Hardwick

Paige - Becky Lindsay

Sharon / Erin - Christina Berriman Dawson

Governor - Ken Smithson

Young William - Mikki Hodgson

Older William - Lyndan Trenholm

Interviewer / Thomas - Daniel James

Featuring the voices of Stevie Hardy, Ian Sherlock, William 'Bill' Dove, and the young singers of the Sunderland Music Hub's Sunderland Youth Choir.

Original music by Holly Rees and Paige Temperley.

Songs 'William's Castle' and 'Remember Me' were created as part of We Make Culture's 'Songs of the Street' project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

With thanks to 17Nineteen, Lily Daniels, Tracey Mienie, Sharon Vincent, Lizzie Nixon, the Sunderland Youth Choir, and the Local History Library at Elephant Tea Rooms.

Written and produced by Jay Sykes

Directed by Polly Thomas

Production Manager: Darren Spruce

Studio Recording: Andy Bell

Sound Design: Jay Sykes and Lucinda Mason Brown

Executive Producer: Chantal Herbert and Eloise Whitmore

A Sister Sounds production for BBC Radio 4

A letter hidden in 1897 by an orphaned Sunderland choirboy is discovered a century later.

The discovery of a letter hidden in 1897 by an orphaned Sunderland choirboy inspires a community to reach back through history. Based on a true story, written by Jay Sykes.