91热爆

In the briefest of silences between the movements of Stravinsky鈥檚 Petruhska, Portia鈥檚 new relationship with Mark is exposed for what it truly is. An outpouring of emotion is exposed and things will not be the same again.

This piece is written by Ross Dunsmore a Scottish writer new to the 91热爆. It is one of six new short monologues developed and produced by 91热爆 Writersroom for Radio 3 as part of the 91热爆 Music Day 2017 celebrations.

Each drama celebrates this year鈥檚 theme The Power of Music with a monologue about the transformative power of music.

Other monologues are performed by actors including Liam Neeson, Tamsin Greig, Julie Hesmondhalgh and Daniel Mays.

Portia..... Sophie Wu
Director and Series Producer..... Justine Potter
Assistant Producer..... Usman Mullan
Executive Producer..... Anne Edyvean

Sound Designer & Editor..... John Scott
Music Editor..... Jeremy Evans

Composer..... Igor Stravisnky
Music..... Petrushka

A note from writer Ross Dunsmore:

Growing up I was surrounded by music, my whole family played and when I was a child the piano in our front room rarely ever stopped, as one person finished, the next took over. Only as an adult do I realize how lucky I was to have this. Music, and in particular piano music, continuously filled our house, everything from Chopin and Debussy to Gershwin and Duke Ellington. Whenever I think of my childhood this perpetual soundtrack seems to run in the background, and perhaps as a result music has always evoked memory for me in a way little else can. Music also became a kind of language in our house, a way to connect, to make up after an argument or reach out when words seemed insufficient. My dad would often ask me to come and listen to something he鈥檇 just discovered, an interesting chord progression or a surprising harmony, he鈥檇 simply play it, I鈥檇 simply listen, and this more than anything would work as a bridge. So this is what I wanted to write about, the power of music to transcend language, the power that music has to connect us and build bridges for us in a way that perhaps nothing else can.

Writing and developing this piece through 91热爆 Writersroom has been fascinating, with all the Writersroom team helpful way beyond the call of duty. Notes have always been supportive, incisive, and above all useful. The whole process in fact has once again reminded me how, at its best, creating drama is ultimately a deeply collaborative effort. As a writer, staring at a blank sheet of paper in the wee small hours, it鈥檚 a comforting thing to remember.

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