Cottonopolis by Michelle Lipton

Cottonopolis by Michelle Lipton.

 

Cottonopolis is a 6-part drama series comprised of a Woman?s Hour series of five short plays and a final 45-minute play that builds on them.  They were originally scheduled for broadcast over a Monday to Friday and the following Monday afternoon, but parts 5 and 6 were postponed several weeks out of sensitivity to the investigation into the murder of Sian O'Callaghan.
 
160/44; 129 MB total; sound quality excellent

Cottonopolis (parts 1 to 5)
Created by Nick Leather. Written by Michelle Lipton.

Broadcast on Radio 4 Woman's Hour Drama

Monday 21 to Thursday 24 March 2011 and Friday 15 April 2011
The final part (and the follow-on play) were postponed until 15 April 2011

When women go missing from the streets and homes of Manchester, the media goes into overdrive. These five linked stories explore what happens when fear changes people's behaviour.

Part 1 - Cottonopolis begins with Maggie's story.

Part 2 - Today's drama follows Hospital Cleaner Dot, who is moved to drastic measures as the disappearance of a 3rd woman in Manchester puts her own dull existence into sharp relief. Written by Michelle Lipton

Part 3 - The media frenzy surrounding the search for the missing women in Manchester has taken over the lives of its residents. The police appeal for measured calm as their search widens to question those on the sex offenders register, causing a difficult dilemma for Joe.

Part 4 - It is 4 days after the first media reports of the missing women and the city is in meltdown as a white lie sparks hysteria across the city of Manchester; and, for one of the two teenagers at the centre of the storm, a darker sexual secret is revealed.

Part 5 - "Henri" is faced with an impossible choice bringing back echoes from his past, as we get nearer to the truth behind the disappearances.

That concludes the Woman's Hour drama series but the story is resolved in a follow-on 45-minute play.

Maggie ..... Judith Barker
Dave/Newsreader ..... Chris Hannon
Newsreader/Paramedic/Susie ..... Verity Henry
Taxi Driver/Henri Mally ..... Chris Jack
Dot ..... Siobhan Finneran
Tony ..... James Quinn
Joe ..... Jack Deam
Kathy ..... Julie Mayhew
Police Officer ..... Sushil Chudasama
Carl ..... Joe Ransom
Anna ..... Rebecca Ryan
Em ..... Eden Potter Williams
Irene/Newsreaders ..... Roberta Kerr
Lucy ..... Lisa Brooks
Teacher ..... Beatrice Comins
Anna's Dad/PC Dwyer ..... Chris P Hallam
Lucas Mally/Lenoir ..... Beru Tessema
Al Choudhray ..... Sushil Chudasama
DCI Bullmore/Newsreader ..... Victoria Brazier

Original music composed by Stephen Kilpatrick.
Producer: Justine Potter for Red Production Company Limited



Cottonopolis (part 6)

created and written by Nick Leather

Broadcast 15 Apr 2011, Friday Play

Cottonopolis follows local Manchester Evening News journalist Gemma Hayes, as she uncovers the truth behind the disappearances of women in Manchester, one of whom was an old school friend.

Cast:
 Gemma Hayes ..... Lisa Millett
 Drew .....Will Ash
 Peter ..... David Crellin
 Christie ..... Paula Wolfenden
 Imogen ..... Lisa Brookes
 Alex ..... Mark Jordon

Producer/Director: Justine Potter
 A Red production for BBC Radio 4.


Trivia: Cottonopolis is a name given to the city of Manchester, in England. First bestowed during the 19th century

 

1-3 of 6

Cottonopolis pt1 2011-03-21.mp3

Cottonopolis pt2 2011-03-22.mp3

Cottonopolis pt3 2011-03-23.mp3

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