LE DIABLE AU BEFFROI

Rob Orledge's reconstruction of Debussy's one act opera based on Poe's The Devil in the Belfry with a libretto by me was performed in concert in Gottingen in December 2013. The recording is now scheduled for release by leading German record company Note 1 later this year.

MONSIGNOR QUIXOTE

Deal done on my dramatisation of Graham Greene's Monsignor Quixote to be recorded in April directed by Marc Beeby.

THE SIBELIUS FORUM ON FINLANDIA

Following a stupendous performance of Kullervo I settled down to enjoy the drama 'Finlandia'. This play involved conversations between Sibelius and Aino, mostly around the time of the 'big bonfire' at Ainola in the 1940's. This was interspersed with excerpts from the Kalevala and background music. The music played was mostly from pieces based on the epic. Lemminkainen Legends, Luonnotar and Tapiola but nothing from the Symphonies. Sibelius was interviewed by a journalist who inevitably asked if the Eighth Symphony was completed. The programme was a mix of factual events and some speculation. Aino was revealed as the devoted wife who suffered a great deal in supporting her husband through all the years of creativity and silence. I enjoyed the 90 minute drama with excellent performances from Tim Piggott-Smith as Sibelius and Barbara Flynn as Aino. All credit to Stephen Wyatt for an excellent drama.--kp

VANITY FAIR ON RADIO 4 EXTRA

My dramatisation of Vanity Fair directed by Claire Grove and Marc Beeby is back on Radio 4 Extra for the Christmas season.

RADIO DRAMA NEWSLETTER: FINLANDIA

FINLANDIA is Drama of the Week on the Radio Drama Newsletter email with a podcast available.

FINLANDIA: RADIO TIMES AND OTHER PREVIEWS

"Knowing very little about the Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius, I was intrigued by Stephen Wyatt's drama - and what a beautifully crafted story it is. It's 1945 and the octogenarian Sibelius (played with great crotchety verve by Tim Pigott-Smith) is harangued about the delivery of the Eighth Symphony - Finland awaits his opus, he's told to help lift the country's collective spirit. That's not my problem, he protests. But the one person he can't bear to disappoint is his wife, Aino (the superb Barbara Flynn). It's a detailed exploration into the psyche of the Finlandia composer, embittered by his own creativity."

Fatima Hasan in Radio Times

FINLANDIA was also a pick of the day in the Independent on Sunday, The Guardian/ Observer and the Sunday Telegraph. Paul Donovan in the Sunday Times wrote: 'a new drama about Finland's greatest national composer, Sibelius, by Stephen Wyatt, the author of a fine radio play about Cardinal Newman some years ago.' 

FINLANDIA: BBC WEBSITE

As part of BBC Radio 3's Northern Lights season, award-winning writer, Stephen Wyatt, has woven the psyche of Jean Sibelius, his music and a Finnish epic into a compelling drama.

See website.

FINLANDIA ON RADIO 3

FINLANDIA by Stephen Wyatt with Tim Pigott-Smith as Sibelius. Directed  by Tracey Neale. Sunday 6^th December 9 pm BBC Radio Three (available then on iPlayer for 30 days.

TOLD LOOK YOUNGER: PUBLICATION

The script of my comedy TOLD LOOK YOUNGER is now available for sale on Amazon.

THE SINGING RINGING TREE

Working with Kinny on polishing the script for the latest Krazy Kat show THE SINGING RINGING TREE which goes into rehearsals next week. Details on the Krazy Kat website.