Jubilee! - 2024 BBC radio - Drama on 3 As the dust settles on the American Civil War, a group of young black university students begin an extraordinary journey. Made In Manchester's 90-minute BBC Radio 3 Drama, Jubilee! tells the story of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, a choir peopled entirely from once enslaved young men and women and founded to raise money for their beleaguered university. These young musicians would go on to captivate America and Europe, perform before presidents and royalty and become international celebrities. Uniquely, the choir introduced Spirituals to the world – secret songs once sung on blood-soaked plantations across the South – songs that began the march to freedom. Written by award-winning writers Garth Bardsley and Ray Shell, and starring major talent including Samuel West, Sophia Nomvete and Simon Callow, Jubilee! is directed by multi-award winning director Andy Jordan and recounts a remarkable, life-affirming story of hope - revealing once again the rich diversity of the African diaspora. In a contemporary world in which the immigrant is vilified and the poor subjugated, Jubilee! celebrates the bravery, talents, resilience and integrity of a group of people who originated from the cruellest of backgrounds. By Garth Bardsley and Ray Shell Ella Sheppard: Sophia Nomvete George White: Samuel West Professor Adam Spence: Kerry Shale Henry Ward Beecher: Simon Callow Benjamin Holmes: Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong Laura White: Fiona Christie Isaac Dickerson: Iman Marson, Maggie Porter: Alana M Robinson Lord Shaftesbury: Richard Clifford Miss Wells: Lorelei King Jennie Jackson: Gabrielle Friedman The Duchess of Argyll: Catie Flye, Minnie Tate: Lola May Male Guest and the Railroad Superintendent: Garth Bardsley Simon Sheppard: Ray Shell Other roles were played by members of the company. The London Voices singers were: Rachel Oyawale, Angela Caesar, Layla Ley, and Christina Gill. Melanie Marshall, John Gyeantey, Ken Burton, and Themba Mvula. Choral Director: Ben Parry Original music: Sarah Llewellyn Guitar: James Fox Dialogue Editing:Andrew Taylor. directed by Andy Jordan. The Producer was Kurt Brookes. Executive Producer, Ashley Byrne. Jubilee! is a Made in Manchester Production for BBC Radio 3. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00202zc btw 2010 BBC Saturday Drama The Jubilee Singers by Adrian Mitchell mudcat thread mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=129408
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