Alison Hindell Radio Plays
Alison Hindell was appointed Head of Radio Drama in March 2005, on Gordon House's retirement.
Alison joined the BBC from the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1988. She has directed approximately 200 radio plays, from soaps to international co-productions. She directed the new version of Under Milk Wood, using Richard Burton's 1963 reading of First Voice and building a new production around it.
Alison Hindell was educated at Mary Datchelor Girls' School in London and then at Somerville College, Oxford, reading English.
She joined the BBC as a producer in the Radio Drama Script Unit and became a producer in the Radio Drama Department in Wales in 1990.
She maintains her links with theatre and has recently directed the first production in Wales of "Shadow of a Boy".
Alison is studying part-time for a PhD in Russian from Exeter University. Her subject: Interpretations of Russian Literature in British Theatre and Radio Drama from 1985 to the present day.
(taken from BBC Press release, 17 March 2005)
PLAYS PRODUCED BY ALISON HINDELL:
2001 *The Devil's Music (3 plays), by Alan Plater
2003 *Atlantis, by Dan Anthony
2003 *Badgers in my vest, by John Fletcher.About Dylan Thomas.
2004 *The guest before you, by Peter G. Morgan
2004 *Put money in thy purse, by Peter G. Morgan
2004 *The Cyhiraeth, by Ruth Jones & Debbie Moon
2005 *Press the hash key now, by Peter G. Morgan
NOTES ON THE PLAYS
THE DEVIL'S MUSIC....2001
Three plays by Alan Plater were broadcast on successive
Wednesdays: The Devil's Music (R4, 1415, beginning 8 Aug 01),
inspired by the Women's Jazz Archive. A choir of ex-slaves
sings the song "Roll, Jordan, Roll" in a Welsh village in
the 1880s; a generation later the tune is used in a comic
song; in the third play it appears in another setting.
Plater's work is very well crafted and holds the attention
throughout. Alison Hindell directed the trilogy . ND, VRPCC
newsletter, Sept 2001
ATLANTIS....2003
8 Sep 03; by Dan Anthony.
The peace of a seaside caravan site is disturbed by the arrival of a mysterious stranger, causing dangerous emotions to surface in the apparently civilised community.
With Philip Madoc, John Sparkes, Robert Chase, Christine Pritchard, Nickie Rainsford, Simon Ludders, Robert Chase, and Gareth Piper
Producer Jane Dauncey; director Alison Hindell.
BADGERS IN MY VEST....2003
6 Nov 03.
By John Fletcher.
The young Dylan Thomas spent much of the war in a Newquay pub unable to write. The challenge of a returning soldier shocks him out of his writer's block. First in a season marking the 50th anniversary of the poet's death.
With Oliver Ryan, Rhodri Hugh, John McAndrew, Helen Griffin, Manon Edwards, and Laurence Allan.
Director Alison Hindell.
THE GUEST BEFORE YOU....2004
Eavesdrop on a week in the life of
hotel room no. 331. Produced by Alison
Hindell.
PUT MONEY IN THY PURSE....2004
Saturday play - an account of Orson Welles'
chaotic attempt to film Othello, as seen by his Iago,
Micheal MacLiammoir. Simon Callow played MacLiammoir and
Don Warrington played Welles. The play was directed by
Alison Hindell.
The Cyhiraeth....2004
- (R4, 1415, 8 Nov 04), in the "double acts" series of
afternoon plays, was by Ruth Jones and Debbie Moon. It took
place in two time-frames; Elizabeth died a tragic death two
hundred years ago after an unhappy love affair, and Jess's
romance in 2004 looks to be following a similar course. But
Elizabeth is determined that her own mistakes will not be
repeated. Siriol Jenkins and Sian McDowell were the women,
and the men in their lives were Matthew Morgan and Mike
Hatward; Alison Hindell directed. ......ND, VRPCC newsletter
PRESS THE HASH KEY NOW....2005
Comic play about the perils of using (and not using)
mobile 'phones. This play received mixed comments on the
BBC messageboard, but I found it entertaining and OK. It
starred Ruth Jones, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Bradley Freegard,
Keith Woodason, Laurence Allan and Shireen Shah, and was directed by
Alison Hindell.
Radio Times - A gentle comedy of modern manners...Lorna has found some saucy text messages on her boyfriend's mobile 'phone. The moral of the story gradually becomes clear - the best way to communicate is for us to talk to each other.
Nigel Deacon / Diversity website
