Now the full series has been been broadcast, here are a few THANKS.
The main Producer/Director on TRACKS is James Robinson. (James and I have worked together on this series for over 6 years. There’s no better creative collaborator.)
The main Sound Designer throughout has been the amazing Nigel Lewis of BBC Wales in Cardiff. (He was given the Best Use of Sound award at the Audio Drama Awards for his work on Tracks Series 1.)
Our sound engineer has been the terrific Cathy Robinson of BBC Wales in Cardiff.
The production team in Cardiff, Eleri, Lindsay, Willa have been supportive, good humoured, and brilliant throughout.
Our leading actors have been extraordinary and a dream to work with: Romola Garai, Fiona O’shaughnessy, Hattie Morahan, and Olivia Poulet.
And, of course, our Freddy – Jonathan Forbes. (A force of energy, and creativity every step of the way.)
We’ve also had an incredibly strong guest and support cast- too many to mention.
We’ve had other writers on some episodes in series 3 and 5 – who have all embraced the show and done amazing work – Lucy Catherine, Caroline Horton, Timothy X Atack, Matt Hartley, and Katherine Chandler.
And a number of Directors on episodes in series 3 and 5:
John Norton, Rebecca Lloyd Evans, Carl Prekopp.
And Helen Perry, and Abigail Le Fleming in Series 1 who both helped set up the show.
Thanks also to the commissioners Alison Hindell, and Jeremy Howe (who took the punt on Tracks in the first place.) Without them it wouldn’t have happened.
In the top menu there’s a link to some Q&As I did after Series 1 aired.
I have now added some subsequent Q&As – in particular these relate to Series 5 and the ending of the whole show.
Finally – thanks for listening! Especially those of you who have stuck with us throughout. Your engagement has meant so much. MB
In the 1960s writer John Berger was living in the Forest of Dean, and became friends with his extraordinary local GP John Eskell in the village of St Briavels. Interested in this talented and complex man, Berger asked the doctor if he could shadow him for some weeks to observe his working methods and his relationships with his patients in the forest.
Along with photographer Jean Mohr, Berger turned this experience into a remarkable book – A FORTUNATE MAN. It describes many patient case studies, asks how we value human life, and meditates on the role of the doctor in society. (To protect Eskell’s identity, Berger changed his name in the book to John Sassall.)
For me it’s a fascinating, intelligent, and challenging book. It’s filled with poetry, unsentimental emotion, and is ultimately extremely moving.
While the book was published in 1967, it feels modern, relevant and resonant to the world now (and particularly this country and the NHS.)
The last sections could have been written this year.
“There are such things as national crises of such an order that they test all those who live through them. There are moments of truth in which, not everything, but a great deal is revealed about individuals, classes, institutions, leaders…”
(From A FORTUNATE MAN – JOHN BERGER.)
Set in the Forest and the somewhat isolated Forester community – it speaks directly to today.
And there is a bitter twist to the ending.
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Although I can’t claim I knew John Berger, I did meet him on a few occasions while working with the Theatre Company ‘Complicite’ in the early 2000s. (While adapting Torgny Lindgren’s novel ‘LIGHT’ with the company.) He was a great observer, listener, and thinker – often surprising and passionate, always insightful. (His death 3 years ago was a great loss.)
A FORTUNATE MAN the AUDIO DRAMA:
My radio adaptation of A Fortunate Man – is an hour long.
(It was written and recorded under lock down conditions in March/April.)
It’s produced/directed by John Norton.
Sound designed by Nigel Lewis.
Cast:
Adrian Scarborough
Peter Marinker
Barbara Flynn
Joe Sims
Carys Eleri
Scarlett Courtney
And the voices of Dorothy Burley, Kevin and Karen Wellham, Anne Childs and Robin Harris, recorded by the Reading the Forest project.
(The latter are real village voices recorded in recent years as they remember their Dr. Eskell.)
I’ve written an episode of Urban Myths (Series 4) for SKY ARTS.
Robbie Coltrane as Orson Welles
It’s about the time Orson Welles presented “Great Mysteries” for Anglia TV in the early 1970s.
Orson was working on his experimental film “F for Fake” in Europe, but was out of money and doing what he could to raise funds – commercials, presenting jobs… This brought him to Norwich.
Orson Welles in Norwich is a comedy drama – it stars Robbie Coltrane as Orson Welles, and co-stars Saoirse Monica Jackson (Derry Girls) Sean Biggerstaff (Harry Potter) Alice McMillan, Apphia Campbell, and Craig Ferguson.
Directed by Richard Curson Smith
Producer- Jeremy Campbell
Orson Welles In Norwich is made by Absinthe Entertainment.
Helen is involved in a serious car accident – but why did the car hit her? Where was she going? What is wrong with her baby daughter Frances? And what’s wrong with time?
Podcast(All episodes of Series 3 are now available.)
WARNING: From 26 January 2019 TRACKS: CHIMERA will no longer be freely available to listen to online (The BBC are planning a commercial release later this year).
If you want to hear Series 1 and 2 – They are available on AUDIBLE and AMAZON.
Matthew Broughton's Blog 