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The Brummie Iliad, by Roderick Smith.

This high-octane verse-dramatisation of Homer’s epic poem tells the story of the Trojan War from the death of Patroclus to Achilles’ terrible revenge and its tragic aftermath. With a cast of Brummie voices, who perfectly capture the essence of the ancient oral tradition and bring fresh life to the original. The Birmingham accent is not normally associated with the classical world’s epic poetry, but its hard-edged, cynical and wistful qualities turn out to be a perfect vehicle for a story of bloodthirsty warriors, long-suffering women and meddling gods.

And with music drawn from Birmingham's own heavy metal rock gods, Black Sabbath and Judas Priest.

Homer ..... Roderick Smith
Achilles ..... John Light
Zeus ..... Kevin McNally
Thetis ..... Annette Badland
Patroclus / Polydamas / Agamemnon ..... Nicolas Tennant
Hector ..... Joe Dixon
Priam / Ajax / Odysseus ..... Mark Spalding
Iris / Andromache..... Flora Spencer-Longhurst
Athena / Cassandra ..... Helen Adie
Pyraechmes / Glaucus / Hephaestus ..... Pushpinder Chani
Apollo / Menelaus / Xanthus ..... Jack Loxton
Antilochus / Sarpedon ..... Simeon Blake-Hall
Chorus 1 / Hecuba ..... Doña Croll
Chorus 2 / Hera ..... Susie Riddell
Chorus 3 / Hermes ..... Chris Nayak

Directed and Produced by Fiona McAlpine
Adaptation for Radio by Robin Brooks
Sound by Lucinda Mason Brown

An Allegra Production for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 3