GARY BROWN RADIO PLAYS

BBC BROADCASTS AS WRITER: (some director credits are listed further down)
1998 Hidden identity: 3 part political thriller
2000 Work in Progress
2002 Fat Camp
2003 My Dad Knows
2004 The Spire (Golding), dram, 2 x 60 min
2007 Bitter Batter

Gary Brown is one of the few playwrights who can produce dialogue and plots which are extremely funny. A couple of years ago we had Work in Progress where an incompetent actor finds himself working with an award winning director and eventually ends up stabbing him during a rehearsal. Now we have Fat Camp (R4, 1415, 15 Apr 02); Josh is overweight and can't get a girlfriend, and he's going to a fat camp for the summer holidays, so he can lose three stone and pull birds. Whilst there he meets funny, confident Dan. But when a plan to steal food backfires, Dan's other side is revealed. A witty play, and Andrew Knott and Danny Burns were well-cast as Josh and Dan.

Gary Brown has also produced a large number of plays. These will be listed lower down the page when I have enough information.

NOTES ON SOME OF THE PLAYS

Hidden Identity....1998
A taut, three-part political thriller by Gary Brown. With Daniel Isaacs, Stuart Richman, Linal Haft, Lloyd Peters and Thelma Ruby. Producer Andy Jordan.

RADIO REVIEW Sep 03 / VRPCC newsletter
The last few months has been an unusual period for radio drama since it marks the return of Guy Meredith, Jonathan Smith, Barry Keefe, Alick Rowe, and Moya O'Shea, all of whom had new plays broadcast after a long interval. One hopes that other well-known names will find their way back into the schedules. There have been lots of other things too; another one-man play by Mike Mears, some well-produced Friday plays on rather serious issues, and good work by Marcy Kahan, Peter Kerry, Gary Brown (see below) and Val Syms, as well as by a number of younger writers.

MY DAD KNOWS....2003
A fast-paced comedy about football, sex and sacred Jewish scriptures, with some double-dealing thrown in. R4, 19 Jun 03, 1415. As Mark prepares for his bar mitzvah in 1973 he starts to realise that his father has a dark secret. With Sue Jenkins,Adam Paulden, Terence Mann, Lloyd Peters, Malcolm Raeburn, Naithan Arlane, Mark Chatterton, Laurence Josephson, Stuart Richman, Gregg Baines, Asad Waheed, George Feld, Ian Oster; director Jim Poyser.

The Spire, by William Golding, dram. Gary Brown....2004
R4 Classic Serial, 2 x 60 min, beginning 26 Sept: Oliver Cotton/David Fleeshman/John McArdie/Kathryn Hunt/Rob Pickavance/Deborah McAndrew /Lloyd Peters/Russell Dixon/Brigit Forsyth/Deka Warmsley/Rosie Fleeshman. Good dramatisation of an excellent story.

TAKE-AWAY...BITTER BATTER....2007
5/5. By Gary Brown. In 1936; the business is run by a Jewish family. Melvyn's batter is limp and lifeless until a stranger arrives with a new recipe. Narrator ...... Stephen Greif Melvyn ...... David Fleeshman Malcolm ...... Jeff Hordley Jean ...... Olwyn May Bobby ...... Vanessa Rosenthal Rachel ...... Julia Rayner Harvey ...... Richard Jackson Rabbi ...... Lloyd Peters. Produced by Peter Leslie Wild.


AS PRODUCER

Callum ....2005
.......(R4, 1415, 21 Feb 05) was an entertaining comedy-drama by F. Todhunter, produced by the playwright Gary Brown. Set in a vocational college for the disabled, it starred Callum, who wants to keep his head down and get his gardening qualification, Mr. Gough, who doesn't like him, and a young disabled lady who's just been taken on as a new teacher and who's determined to end the status quo, especially if it means that Gough will have to do some work. Callum was played by Deka Walmsley and Sara by Emma Hughes Jones. (ND, VRPCC newsletter)

Blind Eye....2006
By Sharon Oakes.17 Mar 06. Carl is a policeman who is about to get a medal for bravery. Yet he is troubled: he can't go near his wife and he avoids all physical confrontations. Has he lost his bottle? Is he now afraid of violence? Or is it something deeper? Cast: Carl ...... Shaun Dooley, Trish ...... Sue Kelly, Phil ...... Deka Walmsley, Niamh ...... Sinead Douglas, Lorna ...... Lois Taylor, Callum ...... Jack Hanson, Micky/Jim ...... Russell Shaw, Darren ...... Greg Milburn, Charlie/Craig ...... Geoffrey Wilkinson. Original music composed and performed by Tom Kirkpatrick. Director Gary Brown.

EXCLUDED....2007
29,May,2007, by Michael Stewart. The headmaster of a failing comprehensive is flapping during inspection week. He comes up with a great idea to hide the problem by getting all the bad pupils out of school and into the dales. Unfortunately; the teacher he asks to lead the expedition has enough problems of his own. Nick ...... Leigh Symonds Ashley ...... Mikey North Khalid ...... Sascha Dhawan Becky ...... Lucy-Jo Hudson David ...... Howard Chadwick. Produced by Gary Brown.

THE PROSPECT....2007
R4, Friday Play slot, beginning 25 May 07. Three-part political drama in which G.B. was heavily involved.

1/3. By Avie Luthra. Newly-elected MP Bobby Khan is forced to question his own motivations and political and personal values. His cousin is arrested on a terrorism charge and Bobby himself becomes involved in a murder case in his constituency. Bobby Khan ...... Nitin Ganatra Elizabeth Khan ...... Barbara Marten Imran Khan ...... Vincent EbrahimWasim Khan ...... Christopher BissonTerry ...... John McArdle Ayesha ...... Archie Panjabi Lucy ...... Gillian Kearney Paul Deacon ...... David Fleeshman Rashid Choudhry ...... Amer Nazir Robina Choudhry ...... Rani Moorthy Craig Williams ...... Sam Curtis Jerome ...... Aaron Cobham Plus Martha Kearney as herself. Directed by Pauline Harris.

2/3. By Avie Luthra and Gary Brown.Bobby Khan's cousin is in prison after Bobby reports him to the police; and the local community are pressurising him to get involved in a murder case. Bobby Khan ...... Nitin Ganatra Elizabeth Khan ...... Barbara Marten Imran Khan ...... Vincent Ebrahim Terry ...... John McArdle Ayesha ...... Archie Panjabi Lucy ...... Gillian Kearney Paul Deacon ...... David Fleeshman Rashid Choudhry ...... Amer Nazir Harry Choudhry ...... Sacha Dawan Detective Inspector Brown ...... Seamus O'Neill Music consultant ...... Philip Tagney Directed by Pauline Harris.

3/3. By Avie Luthra and Gary Brown. Bobby Khan discovers the truth about businessman Paul Deacon and his involvement in murder. He also has a showdown with his Cousin Wasim when they both have to face hard truths. Bobby Khan ...... Nitin Ganatra Elizabeth Khan ...... Barbara Marten Imran Khan ...... Vincent Ebrahim Terry ...... John McArdle Ayesha ...... Archie Panjabi Lucy ...... Gillian Kearney Paul Deacon ...... David Fleeshman Wasim Khan ...... Christopher Bisson Rhobina Choudhry ...... Rani Moorthy Rashid Choudhry ...... Amer Nazir Hanif Choudhry ...... Sacha Dawan Detective Inspector Brown ...... Seamus O'Neill Music consultant ...... Philip Tagney. Directed by Pauline Harris.

A SECOND TO MIDNIGHT (R4, 2102, 13 Jul 07 and 20 Jul 07) was an exciting two-part Friday Play by Andrew Walker and Christopher Reason about the oil industry in Nigeria and some of the conflicts of interest between the indigenous people and those, like us, who use the oil. This play attracted much comment on the BBC messageboard, from drama enthusiasts and energy experts, and was well-received. It had a feel of Saturday Night Theatre about it, with good pacing and plot development over the two episodes. It starred Ian Puleston-Davies, Charlotte Emmerson, Cyril Nyi, Brigit Forsyth ("Thelma" from "The Likely Lads", I recently discovered) and was produced by Susan Roberts (ep.1) and Gary Brown (ep.2).

BBC blurb: A contemporary thriller set in Nigeria in two parts. Western Governments and global oil companies have long predicted that the 'Peak'; when oil reserves become finite and the markets begin to panic; is as far off as 2030. But oil company geologist Dr Rob Turner wrote a report trashing this timescale; saying that we had already reached the 'Peak'. But then he was forced to bury it.

2/2. Kidnapped by gunmen in the Nigerian Delta; Rob is floored when he discovers Helen is alive. Can she persuade him to back her cause? Rob ...... Ian Puleston-Davies Helen ...... Charlotte Emmerson Kolo ...... Cyril Nri Liz ...... Brigit Forsyth Joseph ...... Richard Pepple Geraldine ...... Sue Jenkins Henry ...... David Fleeshman David ...... James Nickerson Alice ...... Abi Eniola Directed by Gary Brown.

EAST COAST GIRLS ARE HIP....2007
9,Aug,2007,Thursday,Radio 4,14:15:00,Afternoon Play East Coast Girls Are Hip Comedy by Ian McMillan. What would have happened if Grimsby; rather than Liverpool; had been the cradle of pop music in the 1960s? John ...... Fine Time Fontayne Janice ...... Sue Kelly Tommy ...... Gerard Fletcher Olive ...... Eileen O'Brien Norman ...... David Fleeshman. Produced by Gary Brown. .

AUGUST BIRTHDAYS....2007
13,Aug,2007,Monday,Radio 4,14:15:00, Afternoon Play August Birthdays By Frances Byrnes. On Katherine's 39th birthday; she walks the streets where she grew up and is drawn back to an earlier and more eventful birthday. Young Katherine ...... Lucy Worrall Older Katherine ...... Caroline Small Mrs Fernie ...... Gillian Waugh Mrs Horrax ...... Sue Kelly Mr Cook ...... Geoffrey Wilkinson Mrs Cook ...... Olwen May Miss Lord ...... Rita May Girl ...... Hayley Hunt. Produced by Gary Brown.

FOUR STEPS TO HEAVEN....2007
21,Aug,2007,Tuesday,Radio 4,14:15:00,comedy by Lloyd Peters. Can mild-mannered actor Chris Batty convert to Judaism and win the love of his girlfriend's parents? Chris ...... Graeme Hawley Caroline ...... Julia Rayner Ruth ...... Kate Antony Sid ...... David Fleeshman Rabbi ...... Jonathan Tafler Danny ...... Iddo Goldberg Betty ...... Vanessa Rosenthal Soapy Joe ...... Hamilton Berstock Produced by Gary Brown.

TAKE-AWAY....2007 (Five plays)
15,Nov,2007,Thursday,Radio 4,14:15:00; Series of comedy dramas depicting the history of a fast food shop in Leeds. 1/5. Goodbye Mr Gherkin By Lloyd Peters. The chip shop is currently run by Poles. Ailing Uncle Victor's nephew's wife can't stand him; but she refuses to say why. Victor ...... Stuart Richman Antosz ...... Jonathan Tafler Zita ...... Szilvi Naray Davey Jan ...... Rad Kaim Martha ...... Kay Purcell Alex ......

2/5 22 Nov. Produced by Peter Leslie Wild.

3/5. 29 Nov. If You Can't Stand the Heat By Tajinder Singh Hayer. It is 1979 and Harpal can't wait to pack his parents off on holiday. Surjit ...... Kulvinder Ghir Maninder ...... Shobna Gulati Harpal ...... Sacha Dhawan Des ...... Reece Noi Monique ...... Rhea Bailey Paul ...... Parvez Qadir Produced by Gary Brown. .Dermot Daly Stefan ...... Matt McGuirk Nurse ...... Lisa Moore. Produced by Gary Brown.

4/5. Ciao Chapeltown. 6 Dec 07. By Sharon Oakes. It is 1953 and Vito is expecting his mother from Italy for the coronation celebrations. So why is he dreading her visit? Eileen ...... Sue Kelly Gianni ...... Joseph Alessi Caterina ...... Flaminia Cinque George ...... Russell Dixon Vito ...... Andonis James Anthony Fred ...... Seamus O'Neill. Produced by Gary Brown.

5/5. Bitter Batter. 13 Dec 07. By Gary Brown. In 1936; the business is run by a Jewish family. Melvyn's batter is limp and lifeless until a stranger arrives with a new recipe. Narrator ...... Stephen Greif Melvyn ...... David Fleeshman Malcolm ...... Jeff Hordley Jean ...... Olwyn May Bobby ...... Vanessa Rosenthal Rachel ...... Julia Rayner Harvey ...... Richard Jackson Rabbi ...... Lloyd Peters. Produced by Peter Leslie Wild. (Also listed above)

WEDNESDAYS WITH STRANGERS....2009
Comedy by Nick Leather. A Latvian worker tries to come to terms with living in the UK. His welcome pack to the UK leads him down a trail of misadventures. With Matt McGuirk, Eddie Capli, James Quinn, Greg Wood, Sue Kelly. Producer Gary Brown.

Nigel Deacon / Diversity website.

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