{"product_id":"book-gln5","title":"Rossum’s Universal Robots","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA musical reinvention of Karel Capek's darkly comic sci-fi masterpiece \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst published in 1921, Karel Capek's ultra-prescient play \u003ci\u003eR.U.R\u003c\/i\u003e has become a classic of dystopian literature, giving us the word 'robot' and inspiring movies and TV series from \u003ci\u003eBlade Runner\u003c\/i\u003e to \u003ci\u003eWestworld\u003c\/i\u003e. Set in Capek's 1920s version of the future, this radio reimagining blends music, comedy and drama to tell the story of a world dominated by mechanisation and the pursuit of profit.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is the year 2000, and an incredible new technology - the robot - has been invented, freeing human beings from the need to work. Grown from human cells, these androids appear identical to humans - only stronger and cleverer. They have no free will and no desires. They want nothing - until the idealistic Lady Helen visits their island factory and persuades one of the scientists to instil consciousness into them. But once sentient, the robots become aware that they have unwittingly enabled a runaway cycle of overproduction, which is now wrecking the planet. There is only one logical solution: humanity must be destroyed...\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTackling big, contentious questions with a light touch, this moving production is full of humour and heart. Made by the team behind the award-winning \u003ci\u003eMagnitsky the Musical\u003c\/i\u003e, it features an immersive, retro-futurist soundscape and stunning original songs, and stars an ensemble cast including \u003cb\u003ePaul Chahidi\u003c\/b\u003e (\u003ci\u003eThe Death of Stalin, This Country\u003c\/i\u003e), \u003cb\u003eJasmine Hyde\u003c\/b\u003e (\u003ci\u003eDoctors\u003c\/i\u003e) and \u003cb\u003ePaul Hilton\u003c\/b\u003e (\u003ci\u003eSlow Horses\u003c\/i\u003e).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlso included is a fascinating episode of Radio 3's \u003ci\u003eSunday Feature, The Robots Are Us\u003c\/i\u003e, in which Ken Hollings examines the creation and legacy of \u003ci\u003eR.U.R\u003c\/i\u003e, talking to historians and roboticists to discover how Capek's landmark play gave birth to the idea of the 'revolt of the machines' and presaged our 21st Century ethical conundrums of existence, rights and reasoning.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cu\u003eCast\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDomin - \u003cb\u003ePaul Chahidi\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLady Helen - \u003cb\u003eJasmine Hyde\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRadius - \u003cb\u003ePaul Hilton\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHelen 2 - \u003cb\u003eClare Foster\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlpha - \u003cb\u003eAnneika Rose\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBrown Owl - \u003cb\u003eNeil McCaul\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlquist - \u003cb\u003eMatthew Durkan\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSulla - \u003cb\u003eAlexandra Hannant\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFabry - \u003cb\u003eMichael Begley\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBusman - \u003cb\u003eTayla Kovacevic-Ebong\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLogicbot\/Benoit - \u003cb\u003eChris Jack\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMusic and Lyrics by Susannah Pearse\u003cbr\u003eBook by Robert Hudson\u003cbr\u003eArrangements and Musical Direction: Harry Sever\u003cbr\u003eProduction co-ordinator: Luke MacGregor\u003cbr\u003eSound: Peter Ringrose\u003cbr\u003eDirected by Sasha Yevtushenko\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3-10 April 2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin UK","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49358060323120,"sku":"BDgln5","price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/61308-gln5-Square.jpg?v=1734442021","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-gln5","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}