Friday 2 January 2015

PEAKE OF PERFECTION

If there's anyone who hasn't had their fill of the combined forces of Yours Truly and David Warner (through the recent dramatisation of The Once and Future King) you can now indulge in another of our joint enterprises, The History of Titus Groan...


This six-hour series was based on the trilogy of novels: Titus Groan, Gormenghast and Titus Alone...


...written by the extraordinary author, artist and illustrator, Mervyn Peake...


The production also drew on elements from Titus Awakes, a fourth volume written by Peake's widow, Maeve Gilmore, and posthumously published in 2011 with an introduction by myself...


Luke Treadaway (below left) played Titus, the 77th Earl of Groan, reluctant inheritor of the dusty, shadow-filled, ritual-obsessed fiefdom of Gormenghast.

David Warner (right) played the mysterious artist whom Titus encounters on a small island in the English Channel and who seems to know all about the young Earl's life – in and out of the crumbling stronghold of Gormenghast – and, more than that, has knowledge of his destiny...


First broadcast in 2011, The History of Titus Groan features a great cast with an especially remarkable performance from Carl Prekopp as the villainous Steerpike, here seen 'scaling the walls' (that's radio acting for you!) of Gormenghast...


Rather surprising for a four year old repeat, Radio Times selected it as 'Today's Choice' which, I guess means, it's not bad!


The Radio Times art is by artist and illustrator, David Lupton. You can see more of his work on his blog and on his website.

Here are the times of all the episodes to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra: 

Episode 1: Titus Arrives – today @ 10:00 and 15:00; tomorrow @ 3:00

Episode 2: Titus Inherits – Monday 5th @ 10:00 and 15:00; Tuesday 6th @ 3:00

Episode 3: Titus Discovers – Tuesday 6th @ 10:00 and 15:00; Wednesday 7th @ 3:00

Episode 4: Titus Departs – Wednesday 7th @ 10:00 and 15:00; Thursday 8th @ 3:00

Episode 5: Titus Abroad – Thursday 8th @ 10:00 and 15:00; Friday 9th @ 3:00

Episode 6: Titus Alive – Friday 9th @ 10:00 and 15:00; Saturday 10th @ 3:00


To log on the BBC iPlayer, click here, and to read more about the production on the BBC website, click here

And, below, spot the writer with members of the brilliant cast.




1 comment:

Boll Weavil said...

I guess its kind of OK that RT described the serial as one of the best ever made as well :-)