 |
Matthew Strachan |
1st Broadcast BBC Radio 4, Christmas Day 2.15pm 1998
Dirk Maggs
Dirk Maggs
Dirk Maggs
Audio Movies Ltd for BBC Radio 4
At last ... Intelligent Life On Earth ...
Two chimpanzees shot into space in 1964 as part of a NASA capsule test return thirty-five years later, apparently unchanged - but for exceptional intelligence, exceptional compassion - and a deep distrust of Man. Yet the Gemini Apes hold the key to solving Western Medicine’s most urgent problem - antibiotic resistant superbugs.
Should they be sacrificed to save a child’s life ?
What happens in a world where we are not the only intelligent life on Earth?
This is an action-packed space age fairytale in which survival of the fittest doesn’t necessarily mean fittest to survive...
| Character |
Actor |
| Drake | Christopher Lee |
| Jojo | Gary Martin |
| Character Name not known | Nic Colicos |
| Rusty | Garrick Hagon |
| Character Name not known | |
| Mollie | Liza Ross |
| Character Name not known | Rupert Degas |
| Ricky | Alan Marriott |
| Nadia | Katherine Shannon |
| Character Name not known | Simon Treves |
Studio Assistant John Hood http://homepage.mac.com/johnhood
|
Matthew Strachan |
In 1998 BBC Radio 4's controller James Boyle kindly allowed me make a story of my own as an ‘audio movie’ for Christmas Day. The idea had been in my mind for several years and I wanted to play with the conventions of narration and backstory in a way that kept things moving along in a dynamic way.
I hit on having the narration in the present tense to give
the feeling that we are witnessing events rather than getting them second hand.
The story concerns two NASA chimps lost in space in the 1960s who return in
the 21st century, not only none the worse for wear but now possessed of great
intelligence. It's a story I'd like to develop further if I ever get a chance.
90 Minutes
 |
 |
 |
 |
Lorelei King |
Rupert Degas |
Christopher Lee |
Katherine Shannon |
“... Dirk Maggs’ thrill-a-minute scifi drama should lure the kids in from
the television ...”
LINDA O’CALLAGHAN, Daily Mail WEEKEND, 19 December 1998
“... has teenage appeal ... a fast-moving saga billed as radio’s answer to
the Yuletide movie blockbuster.”
STEPHANIE BILLEN, The Observer, 20 December 1998
“... a highly crafted sci-fi morality tale ... big, bright, bold, highly
original and beautifully done ... it ought to be snatched up at once and made
into a movie.”
GILLIAN REYNOLDS, Daily Telegraph, 28th December 1998
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