Jeremy Mortimer Radio Plays
Jeremy Mortimer is currently an Executive Producer in BBC Radio Drama. He joined the BBC Radio Drama Script Unit in 1981 after a career in publishing and a short stint as a travel journalist, and after nearly two years of being locked in an office with a pile of scripts discovered the thrill of drama production.
He began editing the R4 Afternoon Play in 1983 and since then has done most jobs in the department including becoming Deputy Head in 1992 and taking on the role of Editor, Single Plays and Readings. He set up and ran the first BBC Radio Young Playwright's Festival in 1988 and edited the subsequent Festivals in 1992 and 1995. He won Sony Awards (Best Drama Productions) for 'HIROSHIMA THE MOVIE' by Michael Wall, 'DIFFERENT STATES' by Mike Walker. and FIVE KINDS OF SILENCE by Shelagh Stephenson, which also won a Writer's Guild Award in 1996. His production of 'Nicholas Nickleby' won a Voice of the Listener Award, and 'The Old Curiosity Shop' was Best Drama Production in 2003. Recent productions include LES MISERABLES, HAMLET, RICHARD 11, TROY, a trilogy of plays for Radio 3 on the Trojan War by Andrew Rissik, and a a new trilogy of plays, also by Andrew Rissik, on the Easter theme for broadcast on Radio 3 over Easter 2004.
Between 1998 and 2001, Jeremy was the chair of the European Broadcasting Union Drama Project Group. He has written for the stage and for radio. In 1996 he co-produced a 10' x 10' film for BBC 2 and in 1998 he produced and co-directed a 30’ film about Thackeray for BBC Choice.
"Radio plays are too often packed with words, as if the writer is desperate to fit in as much information as possible to compensate for not having pictures. But one of the sounds you need in radio drama is silence. Radio is very much like film in its perspective and depth of focus - you can zoom in to things and then leave it quiet"............Jeremy Mortimer
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Producer's Choice - Jeremy Mortimer - BBC7
A new series featuring Radio Drama Producers selecting five of their own plays.
Mon 19 Jan 2004, 11:00 - 11:45 45 mins Painting Mrs Jones - by Rachel Joyce: Jennifer Jones sits for her portrait and wonders if the painting will reveal a new truth about her inner self. Lindsay Duncan stars in this dark tale. (original TX 15/5/98, repeated 3/12/98)
Tue 20 Jan 2004, 11:00 - 11:45 45 mins Milk - by Nell Leyshon & Stephen McAnena: Two parents have been forced to leave their dairy farm, and in unfamiliar surroundings, they face an even more demanding challenge. A meditation on the nature of fear and love, starring Kim Wall and Anabelle Apsion. The script won a Richard Imison Award. (original TX 7/3/02)
Wed 21 Jan 2004, 11:00 - 11:45 45 mins Human Rights - by Jonathan Lichtenstein: A police interview and a prisoner of conscience - but are either what they appear to be? (original TX 4/12/01)
Thu 22 Jan 2004, 11:00 - 11:45 45 mins The Disappearance Of Shirley McGill - by Katie Hims: Shirley's put up with marriage to the overbearing Vernon for 20 years. She turns to her only friend, the butcher, for solace. (original TX 27/2/03)
Fri 23 Jan 2004, 11:00 - 11:45 45 mins Starry Eyes - by Lucy Catherine: Leanne washes up in an all-night cafe. Remembering the lessons her father taught her, she finds consolation in the constellations. With Robin Weaver, Barry Foster and Tessa Worsley (original TX 6/5/99)
NOTES
PAINTING MRS. JONES....1998
People say that one of the great strengths of radio drama is that you
can go anywhere or do anything. No sets to build; no costumes to design.
This may be true, but in my experience, the radio writer wants to take the
audience on a journey. He or she must start by creating characters they
can believe in. As a very accomplished actress, Rachel Joyce knows all
about bringing characters to life. I had worked with Rachel a few times
when she told me she wanted to try her hand at writing radio drama.
PAINTING MRS. JONES, with its echo of Oscar Wilde's "Portrait of Dorian
Gray" was her third play for radio. I was delighted to be able to cast Lindsey
Duncan and James Lawrenson......(taken from Jeremy's introduction to
the BBC7 repeat)
MILK....2002
A lot of people want to write, and those who are bitten by the bug
know how much hard work is involved. Coming up with fresh ideas, finding a
way to tell the story, creating the characters and finding a distinct voice
for each of them. It can be exhilarating and dispiriting by turns. A few
years ago in radio drama we set up the scheme called "Double Acts", pairing
first-time radio writers and asking them to collaborate on a play. Nell Leyshon
from Bournemouth and Stephen McAnena from Belfast worked away at theirs over the better
part of nine months, exchanging drafts by email, and at one point, spending three days
locked together in an office in Broadcasting House in London. This play,
"Milk", is the fruit of their labours......(taken from Jeremy's introduction to
the BBC7 repeat)
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SHIRLEY McGILL....2003
....."Every so often, a writer appears on the scene who just
takes your breath away. Katie Hims' first radio play,
'The Earthquake Girl', won a Richard Imison Award in 1998,
and since then her work has never failed to make an impression
. In Katie's world there is a semblance of normality but
underneath all that you can be sure that something strange
-- and rather magical -- is going on. I think that radio
drama is at its best when it looks at the world through a
slightly distorting lens, and Katie uses this to show us
her stories of meek people doing heroic deeds and unlikely
couples finding love. Stories which can make us laugh, and
make us cry." (Jeremy Mortimer on BBC7, 22 January 2004).
EARLIER PLAYS:
JAPANESE STYLE....1982
By Michael Wall. A strange, rather unhappy story of romance. With Michael Cochrane, Megumi Shimanuki. Produced by Jeremy Mortimer (ND)
A MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE....1983
By Michael Wall. With Dorota Zieciowska, Michael Kitchen and Dilys Laye. Produced by Jeremy Mortimer.
SOUND EXPLOSION....1984
By Michael Wall. With Tessa Peake-Jones, Christopher Fairbank and Amanda Kirby. Produced by Jeremy Mortimer.
HIROSHIMA-THE MOVIE....1985
By Michael Wall. A Japanese girl helps a film director as he makes a movie about the Hiroshima story. But she has a secret. This is a love story with a difference. With Bill Paterson, Megumi Shimanuki and Robin Summers. Produced by Jeremy Mortimer Rebroadcast bbc7, 30 Aug 03. The play won Sony and Giles Cooper awards. (ND)
Jeremy directed other plays by Michael Wall - please see Michael's page.
HIM AND IT ....1988
Here's a fairy tale like no other. What is the gender of the commissioner? Why is fungus growing in his HQ? Why does he have only squirrels for company? Will the eggs hatch, and what about gasmasks for the badgers? Starring Nicola Macauley as Maurice, James Saxon as commissioner Sylvia, with Gart Whitaker, Anthony Jackson and Joanna Mackey. Directed by Jeremy Mortimer.
THE DJ WHO USED TO BE A NUN'S TALE 2000
Part of the Chaucer 600th anniversary: "2000 Tales", where
travellers who're stranded at a moterway service station
because of appalling weather decide to tell each other stories
to pass the time whilst waiting to be rescued...with Robert
Glenister, Zita Sattar, Frances Tomelty, Carl Grosse, Eleanor
Bron; directed by Jeremy Mortimer.
JEREMY MORTIMER-PRODUCTIONS 2001-
(Tx Dates given)
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, dramatised by Lin Coghlan and Sebastian Baczkiewicz Woman's Hour Monday 31st Dec 2001 - Friday 1st Feb 2002
Filling the Empty Space R3 Sunday Feature 12th May 2002
Billy the Kid by Michael Ondaatje dramatised by Sarah Phelps Friday Play Friday 16th August 2002
Frederica Quartet by A.S Byatt dramatised by John Harvey Woman's Hour Monday 13th - Friday 31st May, Monday 9th Sept - Fri 27th Sept 2002
By the Coast of Coromandel by Lavinia Murray Aft Play 26th Dec 2002
Footballing for Girls by Katie Hims Woman's Hour Monday 10th - Friday 14th June 2002
States of Mind by Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan Friday Play Friday 18th October 2002
Mr. Bensley's Pram by Dylan Ritson Saturday Play 23rd November 2002
Little Joe by Murray Gold R3 Sunday Sunday 22nd December 2002
The Old Curiosity Shop by Dickens, dramatised Mike Walker Woman's Hour Monday 22nd Dec 2002 - Fri Jan 17th 2003
Dad and the Afghan by Lizzie Slater Aft Play Mon 17th Feb 1415 2003
Agatha Christie presents The Case Of The Perfect Carer dramatised by Mike Walker 11.30 am Mons 17 Feb/ 24 Feb/3 Mar 2003
The Disappearance of Shirley McGill by Katie Hims Aft Play Thurs 27th February 1415 2003
Stalingrad Kiss by Sebastian Baczkiewicz R3 Sunday Sun. 9th March 2003
Dionysos by Andrew Rissik R3 Sunday Sun 20th April 18.30 2003
Williwaw by David Zane Mairowitz Aft Play Fri 2nd May / 14.15 2003
A Packet of Seeds (Various) R3 Sunday Sunday 22nd June 2003
Clean by Jennifer Farmer R3 Wire Thursday 3rd July 2003
CAESAR ! By Mike Walker, after Suetonius Classic Sundays 20th July, 27th July, 3rd August 2003
Where There's A Will by John Mortimer Book of the Week Mon 27th Oct - Fri 31st Oct 2003
Dolphin Therapy by Nat Segnit Friday Play Friday 16th January 2004
Killing Mr Mort by Peter Sansom Aft Play Monday 19th January 2004
Canterbury Tales readings Monday 2nd - Friday 6th February 2004
A Profound Secret by Josceline Dimbleby Book of the Week Mon 5 April - Fri 2 April 0945 2004
Little Violet by Philip Osment Aft Play Monday 5th April 1415 2004
The Art of Love by Andrew Rissik R3 Sunday Sunday 11th April 1830 2004
Resurrection by by Andrew Rissik
R3 Sunday
Sunday 11th April 2030 2004
Caesar!
R4 Classic Serial by Mike Walker. July 2005, 3 episodes.
Caesar....2007
Mar 07; classic serial. Three more plays about the rulers of Rome; by Mike Walker. BBC blurb for
episode 3: An Empire Without End As the Empire in the West begins to crumble before the forces of Atilla the Hun; it is left to an unlikely coalition of kingmakers to select the last Roman Emperor. Can Romulus Augustus survive? Romulus ...... Tom Hiddleston /Priscus ...... David Collings /Barbaria ...... Adjoa Andoh/Emperor Leo ...... George Baker /Maximinus ...... Sam Dale /Attila ...... Victor Sobchak /Orestes ...... Mark Straker /Odo ...... Joseph Kloska /Ricimer ...... Christian Rodska / Other parts played by Saikat Ahamed and Paul Richard Biggin. / Director Jenny Mortimer.
Daphnis and Chloe….2007
27 Jun 07. By Longus, adapted by Hattie Naylor. Two naive young lovers, beset by pirates, are aided by supernatural forces and the power of love. Producer Jeremy Mortimer.
Dombey and Son....2007
Mike Walker's adaptation of Charles Dickens's classic tale of family relationships, in 20 episodes, for
Woman's Hour. Charles Dickens ...... Alex Jennings Dombey ...... Robert Glenister Florence ...... Abigail Hollick Young Florence ...... Eliza Darby Paul ...... Jacob Theato Mr Carker ...... Adrian Lukis Captain Cuttle ...... Trevor Peacock Mrs Brown ...... Geraldine James Dr Blimber ...... Robin Soans Mrs Pipchin ...... Flaminia Cinque Dr Peps ...... Karl Johnson Polly Toodles ...... Pam Ferris Susan ...... Nadine Marshall Walter ...... Joseph Arkley Young Walter ...... Jordan Clarke Toots ...... Sam Pamphilon Other parts played by Ben Crowe; Peter Marinker; Simon Treves; Alex Lanipekun and Lloyd Thomas. Music by Nicolai Abrahamsen. Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer.
