Lorca’s Rural Trilogy: Blood Wedding, Yerma & The House of Bernarda Alba

Three of Federico García Lorca's best-known plays, as heard on BBC Radio 3Poet and playwright Federico García Lorca is one of the most famous figures in 20th-century Spanish literature. A member of the 'Generation of '27' avant-garde movement that included Dalí and Buñuel, he became well known for his lyrical, symbolic works mixing modernism and the folkloric traditions of his native Andalusia. He was executed by Nationalist forces at the start of the Spanish Civil War, aged only 38. Over 80 years later, his poetry is revered worldwide, and the plays in his 'Rural Trilogy' are widely regarded as masterpieces. Blood Wedding —Based on the true story of a tragic feud between two families in rural Almeria, Lorca's atmospheric meditation on fate, war, tradition, passion and repression is adapted for radio by former Poet Laureate Ted Hughes. The winner of the 2008 Sony Award for Best Drama, it stars Barbara Flynn, Carl Prekopp, Sarah Smart and Andrea Riseborough. Yerma —Infused with poetic imagery and song, this evocative drama tells the tragic tale of a woman's desperate desire for a child. Her maternal yearnings escalate to the point of obsession, ultimately driving her to commit a terrible crime... Emma Cuniffe stars as Yerma, with a full cast including Conrad Nelson, Declan Wilson, Rebecca Callard and Annette Badland. The House of Bernarda Alba —Written in 1936 and completed just a few months before his assassination, Lorca's final play explores the familial passions and tensions that arise following the death of Bernarda Alba's second husband. After the funeral, the tyrannical matriarch imposes an eight-year period of mourning on her daughters—but the ensuing power struggle will have tragic consequences. Starring Siân Thomas, Brigit Forsyth and Elaine Cassidy.First published 1932 (Blood Wedding), 1934 (Yerma), 1936 (The House of Bernarda Alba)Cast and creditsWritten by Federico Garcia LorcaProduced and directed by Pauline HarrisBlood WeddingMother of Bridegroom—Barbara FlynnBridegroom/Woodcutter—Carl PrekoppBride—Sarah SmartLeonardo—William AshLeonardo's Wife/Girl—Andrea RiseboroughFather of Bride—David FleeshmanBeggar Woman/Neighbour—Mary CunninghamServant/Mother-in-Law—Ellie HaddingtonMoon—Claire BenedictGirl—Liz CarterWoodcutters—Sam Curtis & Chris HannonLittle Girl—Daisy JonesAdapted by Ted HughesMusic composed by Matthew WoodFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 25 November 2007YermaYerma—Emma CunniffeJuan—Conrad NelsonVictor—Declan WilsonMaria—Rebecca CallardPagan Old Woman—Annette BadlandDolores—Claire BenedictDolores' Neighbour—Kate LaydenWasherwomen—Deborah McAndrew & Fionnuala DorrityWasherwoman/Girl 1—Liz CarterWasherwoman/Female at the Pilgrimage—Helen LongworthMale at the Pilgrimage—Kevin HarveySpanish Voice—Anna CastineirasTranslation by Michael Dewell and Carmen ZapataMusic composed by Tayo Akinbode Tayo Akinbode, Richard Arthurs and Chris Cruiks Members of the cast and Leslie PrattFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 26 Sep 2010The House of Bernarda AlbaBernarda Alba—Sian ThomasLa Poncia—Brigit ForsythMaria Josefa—Pauline JeffersonAngustias—Kate CooganMagdalena—Victoria BrazierMartirio—Christine BottomleyAdela—Elaine CassidyPrudencia—Christine CoxGirl—Daisy JonesAdapted by Pauline HarrisTranslation by Michael Dewell and Carmen ZapataMusical direction and original music composition by Conrad NelsonMale chorus Les Pratt, Martin Medina, Nathan Jenkins, Andrew Johnston, David Cane, Peter Edge and George LeemingFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 2 March 2014