Five dazzling plays showcasing characters from the reign of biblical King David

In these fascinating, moving and insightful plays, a different light is shone on the famous biblical King. From the original mission of King Saul to find the shepherd boy after Samuel's prophecy, to David's final days of sickness and neglect, and taking in his days of war raids and spying as well as his loves and losses as his wives battle for status and attention, the tales bring to life a man who all too often is a figure of myth rather than a flawed and passionate human.

Featuring a rich cast including Sheridan Smith (The Royale Family, Cilla, Gavin & Stacey), Linda Bassett (Call the Midwife, Lark Rise to Candleford), David Calder (The Lovecraft Investigations, Conclave), Claire Rushbrook (Whitechapel, Secrets & Lies), Adam Levy (Industry, The Witcher) and Christopher Godwin (The Dig, The Miniaturist).

True Anointed
Eleazar - David Calder
David - Adam Levy
Goliath - Ewan Bailey
Saul - Gerard Murphy
Samuel - John Bennett
Jesse - David Timson
Agag - Christopher Godwin
Michal - Claire Rushbrook
Other parts were played by Sarah Paul and Carl Prekopp
Music by Sylvia Hallett
Musicians - Dirk Campbell, Paul Clarvis, Sylvia Hallett
Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz
Directed by Jeremy Mortimer

Hazar's Chicken
Bone - Tony Marshall
David - Adam Levy
Abner - David Timson
Hazar - Ewan Bailey
Abigail - Helen Longworth
Saul - Gerard Murphy
Jonathan - Carl Prekopp
Head Man - Christopher Godwin
Music by Sylvia Hallett
Musicians - Dirk Campbell, Paul Clarvis, Sylvia Hallett
Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz
Directed by Jeremy Mortimer

The Loved One
Anat - Ann Mitchell
Young Anat - Gemma Saunders
Saul - Gerard Murphy
Abaiathar - Ewan Bailey
Sweet - David Timson
Samuel - John Bennett
Eleazar - David Calder
Music by Sylvia Hallett
Musicians - Dirk Campbell, Paul Clarvis, Sylvia Hallett
Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz
Directed by David Hunter

Michal, Saul's Daughter
Eglah - Sheridan Smith
Michal - Claire Rushbrook
Abigail - Caroline Langrishe
Servant - Ewan Bailey
Music by Sylvia Hallett
Musicians - Dirk Campbell, Paul Clarvis, Sylvia Hallett
Written by Kate Clanchy
Directed by Jeremy Mortimer

Abishag the Virgin
Bathsheba - Linda Bassett
Abishag - Alison Pettitt
Nathan - Christopher Godwin
David - David Timson
Music by Sylvia Hallett
Musicians - Dirk Campbell, Paul Clarvis, Sylvia Hallett
Written by Kate Clanchy
Directed by David Hunter

Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4:
15 January - 12 February 2002

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