Radio Times

Review by:

Claire Webb

Here’s a play guaranteed to send a shiver down the spine on the sunniest afternoon. Playwright Hattie Naylor has woven an age-old fairy tale into an unsettling — and gripping — story set in the aftermath of an unnamed war. It all begins in the woods where a doctor happens upon a very frightened, very poorly young woman who cannot remember who she is or where she came from.

The doctor takes her back to his village where everyone is jittery after the recent conflict, especially as there’s to be a tribunal, and rumour has it that some villagers will be strung up for war crimes. Only the doctor is unconcerned. All he cares about is telling his patient the tale of Sleeping Beauty, as he’s desperate for her to remember... but remember what?

About this programme

By Hattie Naylor. A girl loses her memory in the aftermath of a war and is taken in by a village doctor. She lives with him in secret until locals decide to call him to account for his conduct during the conflict. Retelling of the story of The Sleeping Beauty, starring Tim McMullan and Ruth Mitchell.

Cast and crew

Cast

Anton

John Biddle

Ireena/Rosa

Laura Greenwood

Young Charonne

Harry McEntire

Charonne

Tim McMullan

Sylvanne

Ruth Mitchell

Marie

Sally Orrock

Crew

Producer

Paul Dodgson

Writer

Hattie Naylor

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