Burns and the Bankers

Helen Simpson's hilarious and poignant short story, dramatised for radio by Liz Lochhead, Scotland's Makar (national poet).

Sophie Thompson, Greg Wise, John Sessions and Peter Forbes star in this warm-hearted midwinter's-night sex comedy.

When Nicola Beaumont (English, partner in a law firm, mother of four) sits down to a long-winded corporate Burns Supper, she sweeps us up in her private account of the evening's events. At first impatient with all the whisky-fuelled pomposity around her, Nicola finds herself surprisingly moved as the traditional rituals of a Burns Night unfold. What she comes to learn about the eighteenth-century Scots poet, Robert Burns, brings new self-knowledge which will help her through the night's violent emotions and climactic events.

This production brings together acclaimed English short story writer, Helen Simpson, and Liz Lochhead, award-winning dramatist and Scotland's Makar.

Helen Simpson's story 'Burns and the Bankers' is part of her collection 'Hey Yeah Right Get a Life' (Jonathan Cape, 2000); her latest book is 'A Bunch of Fives: Selected Stories' (Vintage Classics, 2012).

Liz Lochhead was appointed as Scotland's national poet in January 2011.

Cast:
London taxi driver ..... Maynard Eziashi
Nicola Beaumont ..... Sophie Thompson
Torquil Cameron ..... John Sessions
Charlie Beaumont ..... Greg Wise
Donald Forfar ..... Peter Forbes
Iain Buchanan ..... David McKay
Susan Buchanan ..... Angela Darcy
Professor Sydney Campbell-Douglas ..... Siobhan Redmond
Gemma Goodman ..... Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Recorded on location at the Caledonian Club, London, with violinist Sam McGregor.
Sound Design: David Chilton

Producer/Director: Amber Barnfather
A Goldhawk Essential production for BBC Radio 4.

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