Hard Times: Episode 1
Dickens' satire of a target-driven society that stifles art, wonder and imagination. Stars David Morrissey, Rachel Harper, Jan Ravens and Shaun Dooley. Dramatised by Graham White.
"Now, what I want is Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life."
Charles Dickens' novel - subtitled 'For These Times' - is a vivid story for our own age - a short, sharp satire of target-driven education, business, and the denial of the imagination. Headmaster Thomas Gradgrind has developed a rigid, facts-driven curriculum for his school. And at home, he raises his two children, Tom and Louisa, within a similar system of utilitarian metrics. But the human spirit has an inherent thirst for wonder and Louisa struggles inside the constraints of her education.
Dramatised by Graham White
Thomas Gradgrind鈥�..David Morrissey
Louisa Gradgrind鈥�..Rachel Harper
Tom Gradgrind鈥�..Ike Bennett
Josiah Bounderby鈥�..Shaun Dooley
Sissy Jupe鈥�..Janey Orchard
Mrs Sparsit鈥�..Jan Ravens
James Harthouse鈥�..Will Close
Stephen Blackpool鈥�..Arthur Hughes
Rachael鈥�..Claire Cage
Mrs Gradgrind/Margaret/Josephine鈥�..Julie Barclay
Mr M鈥機hoakumchild/Slackbridge/Collins鈥�..Richard Elfyn
Bitzer鈥�..Aaron Anthony
Sleary鈥�..Patrick Robinson
Production co-ordinators Lindsay Rees and Eleri Sydney McAuliffe
Sound by Rhys Morris, Nigel Lewis and Catherine Robinson
Directed by Emma Harding, 主播大秀 Audio Wales
On radio
Broadcast
- Sun 29 Sep 2024 15:00主播大秀 Radio 4