Free Independent Drama: Late poet Ted Hughes is remembered in Dreaming of Foxes

The late poet laureate Ted Hughes would have been 80 this month, and to mark the occasion, The Independent is giving you the chance to listen to and download an exclusive new drama by Made in Manchester/Dark Smile.

In Dreaming of Foxes (which is based loosely on a true story) Ted is reunited with a long-lost schoolboy friend after almost fifty years. But what do these men have in common now except memories of old haunts and the landscape which inspired them both?

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Written by Aelish Michael and Directed by Joyce Branagh, Dreaming of Foxes was recorded on location at Ted Hughes’ former home at the Arvon Centre in Heptonstall in West Yorkshire.

The stage version was performed at the Ted Hughes Festival in Mytholmroyd in 2008 and this is Aelish Michael’s first piece for radio. As well as Dreaming of Foxes, she is currently under commission to write a drama about steeplejack Fred Dibnah for Bolton Octagon next year called The Demolition Man. For more information go to www.aelishmichael.com

About the Actors

ROBERT GARRETT plays Ted Hughes

Robert played Ted Hughes in the theatre version of Dreaming of Foxes. This RADA trained actor’s TV credits include Elizabeth R, Family at War, Heartbeat, Money for Nothing, Emmerdale, Brookside and Liverpool One and for radio - Brief Lives for BBC Radio 4.

IAN BLOWER plays Douglas Greenwood

Ian is a seasoned theatre and TV actor. His television credits include parts in Juliet Bravo; Coronation Street; The Bill; Casualty; Heartbeat; Emmerdale; A and E; Back Up; All Quiet On The Preston Front; Max and Paddy, Island at War; Northern Lights Silent Witness and Doctors.

The children are played by Joe Cotton, Joseph Moorhead and Kieran Bell

About the music

The music was written by Matthew Ganley. Matthew, whose acting credits include Hollyoaks, The Bradford Riots and Block, has also written music for drama including most notably ‘Carve a Key’ for the recent Manchester-based production of the ground-breaking new play Be Rain For Me. More at www.happystormtheatre.co.uk

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For further information about Dreaming of Foxes or about Independent Drama generally please go to www.madeinmanchester.tv and www.darksmile.co.uk