{"product_id":"book-g2ao","title":"Beaumarchais","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHenry Goodman stars in this irreverent historical romp, set in 18th-century France\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen impoverished watchmaker Caron invents a pioneering device that could revolutionise timekeeping, his fortunes begin to change. Marrying a young, upper-class widow, he takes on a new, noble name - de Beaumarchais - and sets out to conquer Louis XV's court.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut his attempts to rise through the ranks of Versailles society are blocked by royal clockmaker Lepaute - as well as courtly crushes, rumours of war and illicit printing. In a bid to offset his enormous debts, he takes on a tricky task for the King - but his patron's death presents further challenges, in the form of an unlikely dairymaid, a controversial play and political unrest. Will the storming of the Bastille put paid to his aristocratic ambitions?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCreated by multi-award-winning playwright Craig Warner, this witty sitcom is based on the real-life story of Pierre-Agustin Caron de Beaumarchais - horologist, playwright, diplomat, arms dealer and spy. \u003cb\u003eHenry Goodman\u003c\/b\u003e plays our wily hero, and among the star cast are \u003cb\u003eBill Nighy, Ronald Pickup, Jason O'Mara, Siobhan Redmond\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eJoanna Monro\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWritten by Craig Warner\u003cbr\u003eDirected by Marion Nancarrow\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cu\u003eCast\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBeaumarchais - Henry Goodman\u003cbr\u003eHenri Lepaute - David Calder\u003cbr\u003eLouis XV - Ronald Pickup\u003cbr\u003eMadame de Pompadour\/Odile - Ann Beach\u003cbr\u003eBeaumarchais' father - Stephen Thorne\u003cbr\u003eMadelaine - Elaine Pyke\u003cbr\u003eVignon\/Lord Stormont - Denys Hawthorne\u003cbr\u003eSecretaire\/Silas Deane - Jason O'Mara\u003cbr\u003eLawyer\/Louis XVI\/Soldier - Alex Lowe\u003cbr\u003ePrincess Adelaide - Colleen Prendergast\u003cbr\u003ePrincess Sophie - Amanda Gordon\u003cbr\u003eGoezman - Hugh Ross\u003cbr\u003eLe Comte d'Artois\/Duverney\/Figaro\/Barber - Sean Baker\u003cbr\u003eLa Blache\/Dupaty - David Bannerman\u003cbr\u003eLa Duchesse de Polignac - Joanna Monro\u003cbr\u003eLia de Beaumont - Bill Nighy\u003cbr\u003eLord Rochford - David Timson\u003cbr\u003eMarie Antoinette - Siobhan Redmond\u003cbr\u003eJacques\/Marat - Kim Wall\u003cbr\u003eJules\/President - Christopher Scott\u003cbr\u003eSuard\/Beggar - Ron Cook\u003cbr\u003eLe Duc de Fronsac - Ioan Meredith\u003cbr\u003eMarket women - Joanna Monro \u0026amp; Elaine Pyke\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 7 November-12 December 2006\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd\u003cbr\u003e(p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin UK","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49360903602480,"sku":"BDg2ao","price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/269046-g2ao-Square.jpg?v=1734488821","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-g2ao","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}