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Piers the Plowman Revisited

Daljit Nagra selects Piers the Plowman Revisited as Ian Sansom adapts one of the most frustrating works in English. From 2014.

Poet Daljit Nagra revisits the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's poetry archive and selects Piers the Plowman Revisited. It's one of the strangest, most complex and frustrating works in Middle English, so when writer Ian Sansom is tasked with coming up with a radio adaptation of William Langland's medieval dream poem 'Piers the Plowman', it presents a bit of a challenge.

His producer's solution? To lock Ian away in a Curfew Tower in the Glens of Antrim and challenge him to come up with his adaptation over the course of a weekend, after which time he'll be expected to put on a performance.

The 14th century poem - part theological allegory, part social satire - may have eluded scholars for centuries but Ian has help at hand. Aside from three poetry students from Queen's University, renowned medievalist Dr Stephen Kelly will be there to guide him on his quest for salvation.

As Ian grapples with the text written in alliterative long lines and framed in a series of dream visions, adaptation expert Brian Sibley will be just a phone call away. Then there's the members of Belfast outfit The Wireless Mystery Theatre who'll be dropping by to bring music and their own distinctive style to Ian's performance.

Who knows, it could turn out to be a dream...or it could be a nightmare.

Producer: Conor Garrett

Sound Design: Jason Martin

First broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 in 2014.

30 minutes

Last on

Mon 28 Feb 2022 05:00

Broadcasts

  • Sun 27 Feb 2022 12:00
  • Sun 27 Feb 2022 17:00
  • Mon 28 Feb 2022 05:00