Tracks Abyss

The COMPLETE TRACKS BOX SET.

All episodes of all 5 series of TRACKS are now available here:

Series 1 – Tracks ORIGIN (9 x45 mins)

Series 2 – Tracks STRATA (6 x 15 mins)

Series 3 – Tracks CHIMERA (9 x 45 mins)

Series 4 – Tracks INDIGO (10 x 15 mins)

Series 5 – Tracks ABYSS (9 x 45 mins)

All episodes available on iTunes, Spotify, and BBC Sounds.

(and probably elsewhere too.)

WRITER’S NOTE:

40+ episodes. More than 24 hours of drama.

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

Trailer for Episode 9

PRESS FOR SERIES 5 – TRACKS ABYSS:

Radio Times

Total TV Magazine

The Guardian

The Times

Express

The Observer

Observer Review – 8th November 2020

INTERVIEW: An interview with Matthew Broughton for Sci-fi Bulletin.

TRACKS ABYSS has been shortlisted in “The Creativity Award” category at the British Podcast Awards 2021.

A Fortunate Man by John Berger

I’ve adapted John Berger’s book “A FORTUNATE MAN“ for BBC Radio 4.

It was broadcast on R4 Saturday 27th June 2020 at 3pm.

It’s now available on BBC SOUNDS for a month.

It’s a book I’ve known and loved for many years.

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.

————————————————————————————————

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.)

PRESS:

Radio Times (27th June-3rd July)

Guardian (27/6/20)

The Times

Orson Welles in Norwich – Urban Myths

Now available on Sky on demand and NOW TV.

TX- 28th October 2020 (Sky Arts –  Freeview Ch 11)

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.

Robbie as Orson

IMDB ENTRY

Press:

Norwich News

Saoirse Monica Jackson as Janet Spring

TV Choice Magazine

Total TV Magazine

Radio Times

TV times

TV Times Interview

Sunday Times

Mail on Sunday

METRO INTERVIEW with Saoirse Monica Jackson

THE TIMES INTERVIEW with Robbie Coltrane

TRACKS Series 4 : INDIGO

The fourth Series of Tracks: Indigo is now available.

10 Episodes of 15 minutes each.

Details Here.

The entire series (and all 3 of the previous series) are available on BBC SOUNDS and as a PODCAST.

(Be aware that the episodes are often out of order on BBC SOUNDS (I have no idea why) – so double check or use the Tracks Homepage:)

TRACKS HOMEPAGE ON BBC WEBSITE

Starring:

Dr Helen Ash – Romola Garai

Freddy Fuller – Jonathan Forbes

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?

Press:

The Observer

Daily Mail

Sunday Times

TRACKS series 1, 2 and 3. (and 4)

Ahead of Series 4, TRACKS Indigo-

The BBC have put the first 3 series of TRACKS onto BBC SOUNDS.

For design consistency the first series is now called TRACKS Origin.

ORIGIN

TRACKS ORIGIN

STRATA

TRACKS STRATA

and CHIMERA

TRACKS CHIMERA

(For reasons I don’t understand, the episodes are often out of order on BBC SOUNDS – so do double check!)

Are all now available:

HERE

COMING SOON:     Series 4: Tracks Indigo

 

 

 

Gulliver’s Travels on Audible

My version of GULLIVER’S TRAVELS is now available to buy on AUDIBLE.

Starring Arthur Darvill.

I’ve previously blogged on this 3-part drama series here.

Planet B

The complete Series 1-3 of Planet B are now available to buy on Audible.

Planet B was a series originally commissioned by BBC RADIO 7.  (Now BBC4 Extra)

Details of the series here.

 

Tracks Chimera

Tracks Chimera (Tracks Series 3)

The return of Dr Helen Ash and Freddy.

Tracks Chimera is now going out every Thursday at 2.15pm on BBC Radio 4.  (The series finale will be broadcast on R4 on 27th December.)

All 9 episodes are also now available online as a boxset and podcast.

EPISODE 1

EPISODE 2

EPISODE 3 –  (Written by Matt Hartley)

EPISODE 4 – (Written by Lucy Catherine)

EPISODE 5

EPISODE 6 – (Written by Caroline Horton)

EPISODE 7 – (Written by Timothy Atack)

EPISODE 8

EPISODE 9

BBC Series Link

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.

Helen and Freddy in studio

Tracks Chimera – Previews  / Reviews:

Radio Times

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Times

The Mail

The Observer

The Times (2/11/18)

Music:

(A list of some of the music used in this series)

Black Phase – by Tim Hecker

Toccata – by Jaga Jazzist

E-musik – by Neu!

Satellite Snyper – by Pantha Du Prince

Im Bann – by Pantha Du Prince

Laker Boo – by Portico Quartet

We Move Lightly – by Dustin O’halloran

Shattered Glass – by DJ Food

Turquoise Hexagon Sun – by Boards of Canada

Seoul – by Amiina

Boga – by Amiina

Elephant Gun – by Beirut

September Song – Agnes Obel

Scenic World – by Beirut

Muesli –  by Minotaur Shock

Beau Nash – by Minotaur Shock

La Foule – by Edith Piaf

Never Understand – by The Jesus and Mary Chain

The Refused are fucking dead – by The Refused

Barok Main – by Mica Levi and Oliver Coates

Singularity – by Jon Hopkins

Tracks (Series 1 & 2)

TRACKS has been withdrawn from BBC Podcast/Iplayer.

It is now available from Audible

Or on Amazon.

TRACKS: Strata

TRACKS STRATA  is Series 2 of Tracks

Tracks: Strata is a prequel to the first series, and is set in 1980 in the mountains of Snowdonia.

It stars Fiona O’Shaughnessy (Utopia), Kai Owen (Torchwood) and Robert Pugh (Game Of Thrones).

Told over six 15-minute episodes, the drama is an online-first commission for Radio 4. It will be serialised as a podcast online before being broadcast on air as two 45-minute Afternoon Dramas.

TRACKS – Series 1:

Series 1 episodes start here.

TRACKS STRATA (Tracks Series 2):

Episode 1 – Ordovician

Episode 2 – Archean

Episode 3 – Devonian

Episode 4 – Pleistocene

Episode 5 – Holocene

Episode 6 – Anthropocene

Tracks: Strata will be broadcast as an omnibus on BBC Radio 4  – 7 & 8 December at 2.15pm.

Omnibus – TRACKS STRATA:

Part One

Part Two

All Episodes of Series 1 and 2 are now available on AUDIBLE or AMAZON.

Cast:
Rachel…. Fiona O’Shaughnessy
Ifan…. Kai Owen
Sam…. Robert Pugh
Afa…. Betsan Llwyd
Charlotte…. Shelly Rees
Ronny…. Dafydd Emyr

Directed by James Robinson
A BBC Cymru Wales Production

13/11/17 – Tracks Strata was reviewed on Front Row – BBC Radio 4.  (Roughly the last ten minutes of the programme.)

10/12/17 – Tracks Strata was Sheila McClennon’s BBC Radio 4 ‘Pick of the Week.’  (It appears as the second item in the programme.)

LINKS:

Tracks Strata – Trailer

Tracks Strata – Guardian Preview

Podcast Home Page

TRACKS BBC HOME PAGE

Tracks – Series 1 blog

*****Slightly Spoiler-ish*****

(Don’t read if you’d rather not hear anything about the story before you listen to it.)

This (below) is from the BBC publicity:

“Snowdonia, 1980. It’s the dawn of a new decade and the future is coming. But in the wilds of Snowdonia, the ancient history of the landscape is hard to escape.

Rachel Turner is looking for fossils with her four year-old son, Joe. But when a freak earthquake shakes the land beneath their feet, Joe vanishes. With the help of two locals, Rachel embarks on a desperate search to find her son. But as darkness descends, the secrets hidden in the ancient forests of the mountain are uncovered.

The first series of Tracks became the most successful drama series launched by Radio 4 in 2016. Over nine 45-minute episodes it told the story of Dr Helen Ash, as she uncovered a dark medical conspiracy.

Tracks: Strata is a prequel to series one, set 36 years before the events that rocked the life of Helen Ash. It explores the roots of a conspiracy that’s set to envelop the world.”

 

 

 

Radio Times

Tracks Strata is nominated for a BBC AUDIO DRAMA AWARD