Barry Hines: Kes, Billy's Last Stand & more

Three dramas by Barry Hines and an abridged reading of his classic Kes (A Kestrel for a Knave)

Yorkshire-born author Barry Hines is renowned for his 1968 novel A Kestrel for a Knave (later turned into Ken Loach's award-winning film Kes) and for scripting the BAFTA-winning BBC TV film Threads. The titles in this collection explore his signature theme - working-class life in Northern England - and include a trio of radio dramas alongside an abridged version of Kes, read by Stephen Tompkinson.

Billy's Last Stand - Casual labourer Billy makes his living shovelling coal into people's sheds and cellars. It's a one-man job: until the parasitic Darkly turns up, offering him a business partnership. Arthur Lowe and Ronald Baddiley star in Barry Hines' darkly comic debut play.

Two Men from Derby - Elbow-deep in domestic chores, miner's wife Freda is visited by Joe and George, two scouts from Derby County FC who want to sign her husband as a professional footballer. But Dick is nowhere to be found… Regarded by Hines as the best thing he ever wrote, this slow-burn drama stars Sharon Duce, Colin Edwynn and Bernard Gallagher.

Looking at the Sun - When redundant miner Stewart lands a job at a nuclear power station, he has high hopes for a new beginning. But his wife Lisa's concerns about the plant put their marriage under increasing strain. Starring Chris Brailsford as Stewart and Gillian Waugh as Lisa.

Kes - Neglected at home and bullied at school, Billy's sole comfort is the wild bird of prey he has trained from a fledgling. But his newfound happiness is short-lived… Stephen Tompkinson reads this adaptation of Hines' heartbreaking coming-of-age tale of a boy and his kestrel.

Text copyright © Barry Hines 1965 (Billy's Last Stand), 1968 (A Kestrel for a Knave), 1976 (Two Men from Derby), 1992 (Looking at the Sun)

Production credits

Written by Barry Hines

Billy's Last Stand

Billy - Arthur Lowe

Darkly - Ronald Baddiley

Two Men from Derby

Freda - Sharon Duce

Joe - Colin Edwynn

George - Bernard Gallagher

Winnie - Juliet Cooke

Stanley - Charles Booth

Looking at the Sun

Stewart - Chris Brailsford

Lisa - Gillian Waugh

Mr Ellis - Gerry Kersey

Clayton - Robin Polley

Janice - Belinda Chapman

Melanie Lee - Barbara Dryhurst

Japanese photographer - Fenella Norman

Sharland - Christopher Kent

Martyn - Peter Bell

Colin - Nick Spurr

Kevin - Colln Meredith

Alison - Caitlin Smith

Kes

Read by Stephen Tompkinson

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