The Sleeper and the Spindle: A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

A brand new BBC Radio adaptation of Neil Gaiman's award-winning fairytale, merging Snow White and Sleeping Beauty to enchanting effect<br/><br/>In a mountain kingdom far away, a young queen prepares for her wedding, believing her future is sealed. But when three dwarves bring news of a sleeping sickness sweeping across her realm, she knows she cannot stand by and do nothing. As a girl, she survived her own long, magical sleep, so she must try to turn back this new plague and save her people.<br/><br/>Abandoning her bridal finery, she dons her armour instead, and rides out to a castle at the very heart of the sleeping lands. There, she finds a beautiful princess, sound asleep, and a very old woman, forever awake. With no handsome prince in sight, the queen wakes the princess in the traditional way - but things are not as they seem, and it will take more than a kiss to ensure everyone lives happily ever after...<br/><br/>Penelope Wilton, Gwendoline Christie, Ralph Ineson and Neil Gaiman himself are among the star cast in this captivating fable of love, loss, hope and destiny.<br/><br/>This release is an extended cut of the story broadcast on BBC Radio 4, and features an exclusive introduction from Neil Gaiman.<br/><br/>Credits<br/>Written by Neil Gaiman<br/>Adapted by Katie Hims<br/>Directed and produced by Allegra McIlroy<br/><br/>Recorded remotely by Sharon Hughes and John Benton<br/>Sound design by Sharon Hughes<br/><br/>A BBC Audio North Production<br/><br/>Cast<br/>The Narrator/The Old Woman - Dame Penelope Wilton<br/>The Queen - Gwendoline Christie<br/>The Home Secretary - Neil Gaiman<br/>The First Dwarf - Ralph Ineson<br/>The Second Dwarf - Stefan Adegbola<br/>The Third Dwarf/The Prince/The Tinker/The Woodcutter - Ian Dunnett Jnr<br/>The Pot Girl/The Young Girl/The Mother - Cecilia Appiah<br/>The Maid/The Other Woman/The Stepmother - Emma Handy<br/>The Father/The Inn Keeper/The Bandit - Roger Ringrose<br/>The Child - Milton Dighton<br/><br/>First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 December 2020