91Èȱ¬

Will tries out his new powers for the first time, but the Dark appears –– and strikes back at him.
When Will travels with Merriman to a different time – 1875 – he begins to understand how much is at stake in his quest for the Six Signs. Nowhere is safe, and his family is now in danger.

This four-part version, edited for 91Èȱ¬ Radio 4, of the 91Èȱ¬ World Service serialisation of Susan Cooper's classic, is written and recorded to take place across the Christmas holidays.

#TheDarkIsRising

Will Stanton ... Noah Alexander,
John Smith/ Paul Stanton ... Thomas Arnold
Jamaican Old One/ James Stanton/Bus Conductor ... Danny Bailey
Stephen Stanton ... Simon Bubb
Mrs Stanton ... Amanda Hadingue,
The Walker (Hawkin) ... Toby Jones
Narrator ... Simon McBurney
The Rider/Mr Mithothin/Mr Stanton/Farmer Dawson ... Tim McMullen
Merriman ... Paul Rhys
Maggie Barnes/Mary Stanton ... Natasha Stone.
The Lady/Miss Greythorne ... Harriet Walter
Chorister ... Vinay Singh

Soundscape designed by Gareth Fry
Original songs are by Johnny Flynn, Luisa Gerstein and Heloise Tunstall-Behrens.
Music by Josh Sneesby

The book by Susan Cooper was adapted for audio by Robert Macfarlane and Simon McBurney.

Director: Simon McBurney
Producers: Catherine Bailey and Tim Bell.
A Complicité and Catherine Bailey Production for 91Èȱ¬ World Service.