Short Cuts

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Past Tense Nov 30, 2021

Show notes

Josie Long presents audio adventures and short documentaries about what’s gone before. A daughter’s decades-long search for her father who went missing as a political prisoner in South Africa, a poem by the German-American poet Lisel Mueller listing the parts that make up our memories, and the writer and comedian Heidi O’Loughlin untangles the stories woven into and around her Polynesian identity.

Nombulelo Booi Featuring Nombulelo Booi and Madeleine Fullard, with translation by Thenjiwe Kona. Produced by Catherine Boulle and Bongani Kona This piece is part of a larger, ongoing documentary project by Catherine and Bongani titled Time, Paper, Bone about the work of the Missing Persons Task Team, and the exhumation of James Booi’s remains. The project won the 2021 Whickers Radio and Audio Funding Award.

Necessities Written by Lisel Mueller Read by Lisel Mueller and Studs Terkel and from a conversation originally broadcast in January 1987. Courtesy of the Studs Terkel Radio Archive

From the South Pacific Written and read by Heidi O’Loughlin

Curatorial team: Alia Cassam and Eleanor McDowall Producer: Andrea Rangecroft Executive Producer: Axel Kacoutié A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

Wheel of Fortune Nov 23, 2021

Show notes

A writer wonders if she has been cursed by the comedian Stewart Lee, a man builds his home beside an active volcano, and the story of a clothes peg and it's strange, romantic power.

Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures about luck, superstition and surrendering to chaos.

Sandwiches Featuring Laura Barton and Stewart Lee

Kilauea Featuring Gary Sleik Produced by Thomas Phillips

Lucky 7 Featuring Richard O'Neill

Photo credit: Gary Sleik ("Photo taken February 11, 2017 at 7: 48 a.m. about 7 km west of my home, on my morning walk to see where the lava was flowing on the surface. I was able to see these flows from my bed at night, more comfortable for me than most people I'm sure.")

Curated by Alia Cassam and Andrea Rangecroft Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall Executive Producer: Axel Kacoutié A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

Red Nov 16, 2021

Show notes

Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures on the colour red. A redhead in a crowd of redheads, exploring notes of red on the piano, and a nation’s relationship with the colour red.

Roodharigendag (Redhead days) Featuring Shelby Vittek Produced by Gaby Caplan and Ellie Lightfoot

The Little Red Piano Featuring Duncan Honeybourne Produced by Flora Zajicek

Our home on native land Produced by Kalli Anderson The painting referred to in this feature is The Scream by Cree artist Kent Monkman. This piece includes short excerpts from news reports from the CBC, APTN News, CityNews, CTV, CP24, Global News and 680 News. It also includes the voices of Bob Paulson, Chief Allan Adam, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Cindy Blackstock. The music is Land Back by The Halluci Nation.

Photo credit: Birgitta Honeybourne

Curated by Alia Cassam and Eleanor McDowall Produced by Andrea Rangecroft Executive Producer: Axel Kacoutié A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

Elders Sep 21, 2021

Show notes

Josie Long presents short documentaries and adventures in sound about guiding lights and those who have gone before - from finding connection with someone whose last dance was over a century ago to one of the last people in the UK to have performed an old ritual.

Breath is Life (extract) Featuring Eileen Kramer Produced by Eleanor McDowall

You belong to the land, and the land belongs to you Featuring Alice Starmore Interview and music by Col Gordon Produced by Katie Revell This interview originally appeared in the Farmerama series 'Landed'

My Flamenco Ancestor Produced by Yinka Esi Graves and Carys Wall Inspired by the documentary Gurumbe: Afro-Andalusian Memories by Miguel Ángel Rosales

Curatorial team: Alia Cassam and Andrea Rangecroft Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall Executive Producer: Axel Kacoutié A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

The Hidden Part Sep 14, 2021

Show notes

Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures about what remains hidden from view. A writer learns more than she would like about her lover's past conquests and a man wrestles with hyper-visibility as he walks home.

Everything, Nothing Featuring Laura Barton

Surveillance Produced by Derick Armah and Ivan d'Avoine

Into Shadow Featuring John Colverson Produced by Phil Smith

Curatorial team: Alia Cassam and Andrea Rangecroft Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall Executive Producer: Axel Kacoutié A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

Repetition Sep 07, 2021

Show notes

Short documentaries about repetition with Josie Long. 195 ways to thank someone for their letter, avoiding getting stuck in a thought loop and a tender exchange over breakfast.

Thanks For Your Letter Written and read by Joe Dunthorne

Meditation Produced by Ellie Lightfoot and Miles Mercer

Checking One's Levels Produced by Talia Augustidis

Curatorial team: Alia Cassam and Andrea Rangecroft Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall Executive Producer: Axel Kacoutié A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

Tenderness Aug 31, 2021

Show notes

Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures about finding tenderness. Conversations with cats, the sound of a piano drifts through the night and a memory of old, lost love.

Cat Chat Produced by Danny Greenwald

The Piano Produced by Sofia Saldanha Originally made for Centro de Dramaturgia e Argumento (CeDA) and Antena 2

Marianne Marianne Ihlen interview recorded by Alan Hall Originally broadcast in the BBC Radio 4 documentary Leonard and Marianne Jan Christian Mollestad was talking on CBC's 'As It Happens' www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens

Curatorial team: Alia Cassam and Andrea Rangecroft Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall Executive Producer: Axel Kacoutié A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

Video Games Aug 24, 2021

Show notes

Audio adventures and short documentaries about gaming, presented by Josie Long. The joy and frustration of new adventures, fast cars and family days out at the M6 Southwaite Services, and finding love by the fountain in Dalaran.

Go South Produced by Mae-Li Evans

Pole Position Featuring Steve, Alistair and Sandy Urquhart Produced by Steve Urquhart

Meet you at the fountain in Dalaran Featuring Michelle and Alberto Naso

Curatorial team: Alia Cassam and Eleanor McDowall Producer: Andrea Rangecroft Executive Producer: Axel Kacoutié A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

Portals Aug 17, 2021

Show notes

Josie Long presents short documentaries about portals and gateways. A safe passage into the world, a scent which can take you somewhere else and a swim in the moonlight to heal a broken heart.

Eider Produced by Rikke Houd

Portals Featuring Courtney Rafuse Produced by Aliya Pabani

To the Moon Featuring Marta Medvesek Produced by Marta Medvesek and Phoebe McIndoe

Curatorial team: Alia Cassam and Andrea Rangecroft Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall Executive Producer: Axel Kacoutié A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

Leonora Carrington Aug 10, 2021

Show notes

Otherworldly encounters with a painting that comes to life, a surprise connection and a magical summoning... Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures inspired by the surreal worlds of the artist and writer Leonora Carrington, a decade on from her death.

Leonora Carrington Interviewed by John Silver (1992) Archive courtesy of John Silver

Down Below Produced by Nanna Hauge Kristensen

Prim Feat. Joanna Moorhead Produced by Sarah Cuddon

A Summoning Produced by Sami El-Enany

Curatorial team: Alia Cassam and Andrea Rangecroft Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall Executive Producer: Axel Kacoutié A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

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