BBC RADIO DRAMA: THE DARK ISLAND by Robert Barr

[@philipsquire9056]

I listened to this with my mum when it was first on the radio. I remember it been very exciting as a boy, and the pleasure of listening with my mum.

[@starboard6372]

I have been listening to AUDIO BOOKS for years and had TOTALLY forgotten how much more entertaining it is to listen to DRAMATIZATIONS! Thank you!

[@liukang85]

yeah much much better

[@clairewyndham1971]

Not all "dramatizations" are created equal. Sadly. But I search and search..and sometimes I find a real stinker..sometimes I find fields of Roses..

[@robinsutcliffe_video_art]

Jonathan Cecil can read a book like a play!

[@stringlarson1247]

​@@robinsutcliffe_video_artHe's great. Especially his Woodhouse narration.

[@robinsutcliffe_video_art]

@@stringlarson1247Yes! His Wodehouse narration is absolutely stellar, in particular the J+W stories

[@joeomalley2835]

I love these classic radio dramas. They give rich imagery to the story. Thanks for this!

[@gordonmonaghan133]

As the saying goes, The pictures are better on the radio!

[@wordscaninspire114]

Great atmosphere - sounds of the sea, sand, shingle, engines, lapping waters and howling winds. Cosy (not to mention the intriguing Cold War plot)

[@rajabalu7996]

Amazing how they can bring about the chemistry between the characters even without any visuals. Love the pace and details. Truly classic!

[@DaveSCameron]

Works for me too 😂👍

[@lesdavies48]

Can’t find anything as good as this on the internet!!

[@rajabalu7996]

Indeed!

[@rajabalu7996]

If you like cold war drama, then I suggest Defector, Dogtooth and Switchback -- all by Eric Saward.

[@lesdavies48]

@@rajabalu7996 thanks

[@wordsculpt]

​@@rajabalu7996Some of John Le Carre' works are available, as well.

[@Lou3788]

@@rajabalu7996thanks for the tip.

[@stevecharman8420]

This is a radio drama of the highest quality.

[@dianapeek6936]

Im listening in 39deg C temperature, and still, the howling wind and atmosphere made me feel the cold. The Cold War was a breeding ground for intrigue.

[@TheGra325]

Absolutely top class.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Dear oh dear.....! Have standards really reached such depths..?

[@MoodusOperandi]

Al@dianapeek I feel quite chilly watching this! The atmosphere that's is created is brilliant!

[@charlesallen3616]

One of my favorites so far.

[@archphoenixstanton6998]

Pleased you liked it

[@casper1959]

I have listened to this half a dozen times and feel it gets better every time. Great story and acting.

[@susanotway7875]

Exciting and intriguing! Thank you.

[@steviegaga]

One of the best espionage radio plays I’ve heard. Worth a second listen to fully appreciate. V good audio quality as well. Thanks much for uploading! 👀

[@samcturnbull7464]

Love that music and the atmospherics. Beeb now obsessed with True Crime podcasts rather than honing great drama.

[@johnrichardson5356]

JohnR I moved from the UK to Portugal and really missed the radio programs and suddenly realised I can get them on KZbin. This is such a good play. Thank you guys for very good acting.

[@Tirana44]

Enjoyed every minute. I was quite sad when the story was over!

[@jetblack.7186]

Me too. This is the third time of listening. It’s so lovely,

[@THEFORBIDDENMAN-lk7of]

FIRST TIME IV HERD THIS STORY WHAT A GREAT LISTEN THANKS FOR POSTING WILL BE BACK TO HEAR THIS AGAIN

[@ickleshouse]

done so myself many times, great story...

[@sandman9463]

Vivid story telling. Superb writing , acting, and producing.

[@drtonyhaworth5711]

I got so into this and the soundtrack etc I felt quite sea sick at the end……LOL …..a very classic play…

[@kadiummusic]

The script and the acting are exceptional.

[@iap-ug3oy]

Good English actors…..

[@davidryan6616]

Fantastic work loved every minute 🙂🇮🇪☘️

[@PhillipNye]

Fantastic radio drama, superb soundscape

[@cavendish2453]

Love ❤ this. Thank you. Listened many times.

[@bardotte5757]

This is one of my favourites, listened to several times. Such a good production, I can visualise the whole story like a film, the characters are very realistic and the lovely island and the birds are easy for me as I live on a tiny island. 100% ✔️ perfect entertainment just right to relax to.

[@mathonamoore123]

Hi, I live in Ireland but it's cold and always raining. Do you live in a sunny, paradise island?

[@andrew353w]

I’ve recently listened to this on BBC Radio 4Extra, but didn’t fully appreciate it. This time I can really get to grips with it, replaying pieces as I want. I superbly atmospheric piece from the Cold War-brilliant!

[@TheNemocharlie]

Aye.....

[@TheNemocharlie]

@@mathonamoore123 The British never bet against the Irish..... Xxx

[@simonwebb777]

@@TheNemocharlie 11qqq11

[@olivemd]

Well done. I could see this radio drama playing in my head. Second time I’ve listened to it in the last two years.

[@robertbruce6750]

Outstanding spy drama with excellent cast and script.

[@sheila-wn7cn]

Listened again. Excellent.

[@kololikate]

The tune is called Farewell to Creagorry but became known as The Dark Island because it was the theme tune to this programme. Wonderful tune. I hope that my spelling is OK!

[@Thirza.]

Lol that's 'Farewell to Craigie Dhu' (gaelic for black rock)

[@kololikate]

@@Thirza. thank you. a friend plays the tune on his concertina and he calls it Farewell to Creagorry. I know the word Dhu from Manx.

[@shirleyporter7608]

Brilliant story, perfect atmosphere and actors 100%. Loved every minute

[@steviegaga]

Couldn’t agree more. Because of its intricacies I needed a second listening to fully appreciate. ☮️

[@jeremybear573]

Agreed!

[@Loobylooto2]

I’m not sure how many times I’ve listened to this but it is quite a few 😮 Thank u 🙏🏼

[@janetbarkwith]

Super job! Really enjoyed this. The Beeb's sound effects department were always amazing.

[@dzadza7775]

I remember waiting for this every Sunday, as a child, mainly for the music. How strange to find it again. An ancient piece of flotsam and jetsam!

[@timoakes450]

Just floating about is it??HOT/COLD BEWARE THE BEAR-HAHA!!

[@steviegaga]

Great that you remember this from its first airing. These days it seems the great radio play has become a lost art form. ☮️

[@petramackay2053]

I remember the music and the sort of story from when it was first on the radio .. I remembered the haunting music .. I jumped up and down when I heard that music and the play .. fabulous .. I was only in my teens when I first heard it now in my sixties 😅

[@SOOKIE42069]

these are the best to fall asleep to. so nostalgic

[@shirleyporter7608]

This is going to be serialised on Radio 4extra next week - I shall be listening to it even though I know the story - it’s the sort of story that bears repeating however many times you hear it.I never get tired of it

[@shirleyporter7608]

Here I am listening to this again for the 4th time - still fresh and fascinating and full of mystery ! Will love and enjoy every minute Once again Thank You

[@nicholasforrester8587]

My 2nd time

[@georgeallen8781]

heard this one before, and it's even better this time round. Thank you!

[@BoadiceanTruth]

My father was in the Merchant Navy and he was Scottish too! From Kilbernie, Ayrshire. And like the Crofter, was also a man of few words! God love him! Aye! X😊🎄🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇨🇮🙏🌊

[@Shoshana-xh6hc]

Heart-stopping adventure and thriller, fantastic!

[@spiritualdeath101]

very good. The theme song was composed in 1958 as a pipe lament. The accordion version is better because it speaks of the loneliness and isolation of a remote island. The story reminds me of the riddle of the sands.

[@JimMackenzieSmith]

What’s so great is that you can immerse yourself so much that you feel part of the story and you can use your imagination - what a contrast from using your eyes to just your ears

[@RichardSmith-cn9mx]

That was the best film i have not watched for years, i use to listen too the Play for the day on BBC radio in the afternoon nearly 40 years ago. i believe it was about 3 to 3:30 in the afternoon while i was driving back from Ely Cambs to Linconshire. The radio plays are far better than modern films as there are very few if any long quite sections as do Films, they always managed to keep your attention.

[@sailorsquatandhisseaman]

I nodded off a couple times before finishing this listen. But I just happened to give it a third time and I am so glad that I did. This performance was a very nice piece of work. Thank you for your getting these plays to our ears! BRAVO!!

[@alanfaulkner6329]

Fabulous.

[@moniclare4214]

Very enjoyable in every way - portrayal of the individual characters . the clear concise but individual speech patterns was a pleasure to listen to. Shame the BBC lost their way. This was a caliber which people the public could adhere to. Sadly not now.

[@rogerweston3707]

I write maritime novels, so this caught my interest. So far, the dialogue is well done. I'm enjoying listening to the story. The narrators are excellent.

[@roger2008100]

Totally lost on me

[@adeladd7638]

Apart from the colonel being described as 'bucolic,about to burst a blood vessel'. Apoplectic perhaps ?

[@HeavyH2006]

A truly great narrative & dramatization. A big thank you for bringing it back!! Glad to see you back Arch!

[@JS-ob4oh]

Very good radio drama from back in the days when such good stories were commonly broadcasted. I wonder if it was ever made into a film?

[@lesdavies48]

I’ve listened to this 3 times now and the whole production is excellent like other comments I was there too

[@ronin472100]

I think that I have listened to this play/production at least ten times...very well done!

[@lesdavies48]

Me too at least once a week brilliant

[@missleecampbell1806]

And me

[@mattf5973]

Me too !!

[@betsybonnie2610]

I’ve listened around 20 times great story and done really good .puts me to sleep when needed. Is there any more of this type ??

[@rajabalu7996]

I stopped counting after 50. 😁😁

[@billkingston4402]

As a kid the radio was my window on the world and imagination

[@Yawnyaman]

I still remember the play and the theme music from my childhood..

[@spikemcnock8310]

Just like Orkney, North Scotland we often find the odd torpedo that needs decompressing but sometimes the divers are unwilling to cooperate..

[@liukang85]

I heard stories of fisherboats getting dragged to the bottom by submarines. That's some scary stuff

[@iap-ug3oy]

In 1959 I went to the Orkney Isle’s to do a show..We were an Ariel act called “ The Amazing Air Aces” If I remember correctly there was one Hôtel ……

[@royweblin9561]

Fourth time for me! The BBC used to produce quality productions like this. Now they haven’t got a clue.

[@jeremyparsons4940]

I my experience the BBC still produce excellent drama ... it’s a pity that so many people listening to plays in here find it necessary to indulge in gratuitous BBC bashing. I think what such comments really indicate is a dissatisfaction with modern life in general

[@alblondie]

4th for me too

[@rosemaryhyppo673]

@@jeremyparsons4940 yes fully agree. I would recommend two long running series to look out for, both well written and performed but completely opposite. Sebastian Baczkiewicz 7 series of ‘The Pilgrim’ and David Ashton’s ‘McLevy’ with the wonderful pairing of Brian Cox and Siobahn Redmond

[@LuciThomasHardylover-qx6ts]

Well said! I'm a great fan of Pilgrim too! And The Scarifyers. Katie Hyam is always worth listening to..yes, there's some dreadful rubbish, but there always was!! And I'm sick and tired of people making lazy and ill-informed comments about " the left" Especially our cousin's across the pond who don't even really have " a left" . " Woke"( which is a dreadful expression in itself) is NOT the ' fault ' of " the left". The left is such a sweeping catch-all expression, covering so many political hues it's barely meaningful in itself... and many who have leftist views are alarmed and very unhappy by the stifling of political debate by a small and very noisy group claiming to be "woke". As in awake I think a previous poster seemed to be saying. So please,stop sweeping, ill-informed statements, it doesn't help anyone and just seems to be designed to provoke.

[@richardclark2290]

robert barr is such agood writer i am half way throug listening to his series detective on the bbc sounds

[@scruffmcgruff03]

Would love to find some of his other books that are still out there. Would have been so good if the bbc had saved some of his other work for radio that was wiped .

[@dianapeek6936]

Ive just lost BBC Sound (live abroad) and am distraught!!!!

[@jenniferholden9397]

Thank goodness that you’re back Arch. Great stories.

[@duncanburbridge1734]

ive never done this with any radio or film drama but ive listened to this every night for a couple of months story acting clarity it is the complete parcel thank you so much

[@robertwojciechowski5439]

You don't need pictures. Have you heard American radio plays, they haven't got a clue....they use organ music! Can you believe it! But this, the sound effects, the voices, all in 3D brilliant! There's no question... MORE LIKE THIS.

[@steviegaga]

This is a wonderful story with colorful characters. I needed to hear it a second time to really appreciate its intricacies. And a marvelous cast. Thank you so much!🌶🖤.

[@ellentravers7889]

This was really good. Good story that holds the interest throughout. Plus, the sound effects were not too overwhelming as some radio programs can be; voices were well modulated, no one too strident.

[@willowwobble]

Excellent lockdown escapism! Thank you for posting.

[@kadiummusic]

Agreed.

[@Rhialto-the-Marvellous]

My only criticism - or perhaps regret would be more accurate - is that this recording disposes of the episodic nature of the original, thus denying us the pleasure of the beautifully emotive title music every half hour. I first heard this on Radio 4 extra over two years ago, and it immediately induced a deep sense of nostalgia and desire for times past. The actor, Brydon Murdoch, playing Ian McCloud, possesses a beautiful therapeutic western Isles accent - music to the ears.

[@ednigma6526]

At 55m00s, the actor playing Capt. Grant somehow foreshadows the future Matt Berry's eccentric and fantastic delivery! "... about to burst a blood vessellll,"

[@sandrabrooks4485]

Wish that the bbc would put this back on air again have always loved the signature tune as well as the story.

[@grahamcoles475]

Love my radio plays. Better than the Goggle box. Especially during the day. I can work, listen enjoy.

[@adeladd7638]

Heard it on 4 extra a while back,makes a change from all the murder mysteries.

[@kentripple2427]

Are you related to Sandra Bullock? I like her.

[@sandrabrooks4485]

@@kentripple2427 No

[@kentripple2427]

@@sandrabrooks4485 Only joking! Poor joke though, apologies.

[@danjsy]

Very enjoyable thank you Arch

[@lizclark7356]

Excellent drama - good cast & great yarn 😊👍

[@lynn5050]

Stupendous!

[@colinglass7929]

AT 2hrs 27mins longer then youre normal dramas at 90 mins long.Its a mini epic .It's got to be great drama plenty to keep you hooked.

[@aprilskies1051]

Loved this, thank you so much!

[@dismith73]

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1969.

[@josephineboyd1753]

Thank you so much ! This was so enjoyable to listen too. 🙂 xx

[@Lexington125]

Back when the beeb was decent , great upload thanks , new subscriber 🙏🏼

[@proto-geek248]

Well, that was a nice break from all that going on out there.

[@trudi1962]

A great story! It puts you right there. I was always confused with them switching between first and last names though. Listened twice, and still don't know who the bad guys were 🤔

[@RustyShackleford-ji8mz]

Lol the bad guys are the girl and “her uncle” , the head of the fishing syndicate, and the soviets.

[@paulvandermaas6639]

Excellent production and listening.

[@DreamingCatStudio]

Well done. I’m no fan of war dramas but loved every word. The characters, plot and acting were compelling. Thank you!

[@MrBazzabee]

It's not a war drama.

[@scruffmcgruff03]

@@MrBazzabee Not even close to a War Drama cant believe anyone liked that comment.

[@DaveSCameron]

Fantastic, there's magic in these plays ❤

[@jeremybear573]

Marvelous!

[@deniseroper9030]

My 2nd time listening. Brilliant

[@tyroniousyrownshoolacez2347]

Great yarn! Thanks for sharing.

[@robinsutcliffe_video_art]

In re: the video description - It is explained why the items are needed, at the point when the materials are recovered from the torpedo, during the visit to London.

[@robinsutcliffe_video_art]

Ah great I was wanting to listen again to this. Banger of a play

[@joelcowan8950]

Pretty sure that's the great Alf Edwards playing concertina on the soundtrack. Unbeatable!

[@davidlongmire9941]

Excellent . Great listening . I was there with them . Well in my mind haha

[@archphoenixstanton6998]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@christinemarshall1366]

Superb; thrilling story, brilliant narration and sound quality.

[@childoftheuniverse2644]

Interesting story that made me hold my breath! Thank you!

[@nancybingham7298]

wonderful - thanks

[@AGalahcalledSammi]

Simply brilliant. Thank you.

[@robertwojciechowski5439]

You'll need to put your sou'wester on for this one. Excellent.

[@jfkddkddjf9863]

Brilliant!! Wonderfully atmospheric, interesting and it's good having to work to complete the story in one's mind. It's been a long time since I listened to a radio play. I first met the story as a T.v. series ( I believe that Robert Hardy was in it.) and have been haunted by the tune ever since. Whenever I visit my family in Edinburgh I always ask street pipers to play 'The Dark Island'.

[@rosemaryhyppo673]

Yes yes I agree. I too saw this on tv in I believe 1962. Black and white only then of course. Is it really 60 years and I still find myself humming the tune occasionally. I also remember Robert Barr both as an actor and author/playwright. Listening to older broadcasts of other plays and books from BBC reminds me of the many cherished voices which have been a major part of my life. Now nearing 80 I am grateful for the opportunity to hear them again. To name a few Mary Wimbush, Hugh Burden , Gabriel Woolf and many others are like old friends. Than you.

[@johnandvickirees6993]

Brilliant !!

[@uslines]

When BBC radio was the best in the world. No longer the case.

[@kadiummusic]

Sadly true.

[@peters7479]

Who is better? Kiss?

[@peters7479]

@@kadiummusic sadly rubbish

[@chemicalcabbage]

The BBC isn't good at anything in general. Apart from covering for pedos and pushing narratives.

[@stevenholton438]

How so?

[@simonmcgrath4112]

Another one I heard on Archie's old site and very very good it is too! An easy 8•5/10

[@iap-ug3oy]

Thank you for this Mr Stanton very enjoyable ……

[@archphoenixstanton6998]

Thanks for listening

[@Soundpj]

Thankyou

[@paulpeopleperson3594]

Simply Brilliant - great production from a great writer if you like your British spy espionage plays you will enjoy this one

[@SanFranciscoViewer]

Very entertaining. Thank you for sharing.

[@claracleere3835]

Excellent to listen to- back ground noise occasionally troublesome- possibly associated with the transmission being very old.

[@stevecook3673]

So poignant today where we seemed to have turned the clock back to the old cold war stand off.

[@vicentepineda1860]

Nothing like an interesting radio-play to occupy the imagination. Thanks for uploading.

[@vicentepineda1860]

Thamks

[@kentripple2427]

Great play! One thing though, why didn't Jim use his gun when he was being shot at? Bill asked him if he were armed and he said that he was.

[@liukang85]

I'd say the others had rifles and were thus able to be effective at a much larger range. I have fired a gun and it would be very hard to hit anything. Anything beyond ten meters would be quite the challenge

[@bifferswain]

Really good.

[@MrBazzabee]

Great show Arch....forget what 2msvalkyrie say's.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

A bit harsh...? Chacun son gout... ( look it up.. )

[@MrBazzabee]

@@2msvalkyrie529 The French phrase À chacun son goût or Chacun son goût (pronounced [ah shah koo(n) so(n) goo]) literally translates to "(to) each one his taste" and is used to mean "to each his own" or "there's no accounting for taste." It has a normal register.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

@ MrBazzabee Oi ! I thought you were on my side !!? Also...I thought you had decent taste in radio drama ? Clearly I was wrong ! Your medication must be wearing off...

[@MrBazzabee]

@@2msvalkyrie529 I was only having a bit of fun , 2msvalkyre Ha' Ha'.