Collected dramas by April De Angelis, specially written for BBC Radio

April De Angelis is an award-winning playwright for stage, radio, TV and film. Her acclaimed dramas include Playhouse Creatures, After Electra and Jumpy, which was nominated for a 2012 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play. Included here are some of her standout works for radio, all featuring her characteristic sharp humour and emotional depth.
The Outlander – Fourteen-year-old Gayle hates her town, her school and her life. Bullied by her classmates for having six fingers, she dreams of escape – and when she plays truant one day, she steps into another dimension, where her life becomes linked with a group of young Poles living through the Second World War… Emma Chambers stars in this enthralling drama, winner of the 1992 Writers’ Guild Award.
Visitants – Entomologist Elvira spends her days examining gnats, and her nights haunted by an enigmatic young woman. Then a new exotic, carnivorous insect arrives in the lab, and things take a surreal turn… Starring Anna Massey, this black comedy of female and bug liberation won the BBC Radio 4 Young Writers for Radio Festival in 1988.
Cashcows – A series of dark comedies about a circle of women bound together by guilt – and money. Built on the same model as Schnitzler’s La Ronde, the interlinked plays feature a chain of characters who each have their turn under the spotlight until, in the final drama, the last character meets the first. Among the ensemble cast are Indira Varma and Adjoa Andoh.
Sweet Dreams – Kate is struggling to adjust to life as her son prepares to leave the nest. Meanwhile, her confidante and neighbour, Sarah, gains the strength to finally let go. Starring Lizzy McInnerny as Kate and Sylvestra Le Touzel as Sarah.

Cast and credits
Written by April De Angelis

The Outlander
Gayle– Emma Chambers
Sophie/Angela – Sara Mair-Thomas
Heike/Susan – Tara Dominick
Stefan – Jonathan Tafler
Teacher – Donna Kroll
Gayle’s mother – Jenny Howe
Shop assistant/Car driver – David Bannerman
Other parts played by members of the cast

Directed by Anne Edyvean

First broadcast BBC Radio 5, 28 January-4 February 1991

Visitants
Elvira – Anna Massey
Soam – Gary Waldhorn
Edith – Janet Maw
Forbes – John Samson
First man– Anthony Jackson
Second man – Richard Tate

Directed by Janet Whitaker

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 24 October 1988

Cashcows
Marta – Joanna Kanska
Shirley – Susan Jameson
Barbara – Elizabeth Spriggs
Adjoa – Adjoa Andoh
Helen – Colleen Prendergast
Jules – Liza Sadovy
Jo – Rosie Cavaliero
Sky – Sudha Bhuchar
Geri – Indira Varma

Directed by Jonquil Panting

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19-23 September 2005

Sweet Dreams
Kate – Lizzy McInnerny
Sarah – Sylvestra Le Touzel

Directed by Celia de Wolff

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 May 2006

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