A collection of seven ingenious full-cast thrillers and crime dramas by Rod Beacham

Actor, dramatist and founding member of Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre, Rod Beacham wrote over 15 plays for BBC Radio. This collection comprises seven crime dramas first broadcast on Radio 4’s ‘Saturday Night Theatre’ strand between 1980 and 1987, ranging in tone from tense whodunnits to light-hearted comedy thrillers.

The Inter-City Contract – A chess-playing Hungarian, a concert harpist and a septuagenarian lady mountaineer are just some of the passengers are on the overnight express to Edinburgh. Lurking amongst them is a hired assassin and his intended victim… Michael Maloney, Melinda Walker and Steve Hodson star in this gripping mystery set on a sleeper train.

The Gortys Triangle – Crete is the setting for this suspenseful drama, which revolves around a young man’s death by drowning. Attempting to uncover the truth, his archaeologist cousin navigates the world of the super-rich and meets the mysterious Candy, who appears to be the key to it all. Starring Patrick Mower and David March.

Thanks for Looking After Jeannie – When Dicky Doyle drops dead in Wormwood Scrubs, he takes the hiding place of some stolen jewels to his grave. Or does he? Criminal mastermind Jack Prince thinks otherwise – and this spells trouble... Peter Vaughan stars in this entertaining comedy thriller.

Prince of Thieves – This sequel to the previous play finds arch-villain Jack Prince planning a gold bullion heist. But it’s not until he meets nutty computer expert Mad Doc Pargeter that he sees a way to break through the vault’s electronic doors… Starring Peter Vaughan, Bryan Pringle and June Tobin.

Go Down in Darkness– Susan Penreith walked out of university in her second year, and has since vanished. She was always convinced that something terrible would happen to her when she was 25 – but what was she so afraid of, and why is her ex-boyfriend Matt suddenly having terrifying dreams about her? Steve Hodson, Frances Jeater and Glynis Brooks star in this eerie thriller.

Disconnection – Peter Taylor has worked hard all his life for achievement and success, and now it finally seems within his grasp. Only then he makes a phone call – and the voice on the other end fills him with apprehension and terror… Starring David Daker.

The Hubris File – Senior civil servant Pargeter is missing, and the only clues to the mystery lie in his diary. It reveals that he was under increasing strain – and that he was on the trail of a traitor within the ranks of the Intelligence Department. Could this double agent be responsible for his disappearance? Geoffrey Collins stars in this absorbing tale.

Production credits

Written by Rod Beacham

The Inter-City Contract
Starring Brian Smith, Graham Blockey, Michael Maloney, Carole Boyd, Mark Straker, Alan Downer, Roger Hammond, George Pravda, Margot Boyd, Melinda Walker and Steve Hodson. Directed by Matthew Walters

The Gortys Triangle
Starring Patrick Mower, David March, Neville Jason, Jane Knowles, Marilyn Milgrom, Hilda Schroder, Alex Jennings, Joanna Wake, Clive Panto and Rod Beacham. Directed by Gerry Jones

Thanks for Looking After Jeannie
Starring Peter Vaughan, Bryan Pringle, Deirdre Costello, Robin Summers, David Garth, Adrian Egan, June Tobin, Trevor Nichols, Alan Thompson, Garard Green, John Church, Rod Beacham, Graham Blockey and Melinda Walker. Directed by Peter King

Prince of Thieves
Starring Peter Vaughan, Trevor Nichols, Alan Thompson, Bryan Pringle, Deirdre Costello, June Tobin, Francis Middleditch, Adrian Egan, Paul Gregory, Brian Hewlett, Shaun Prendergast, Manning Wilson, Eric Stovell, Stuart Organ and David Goodland. Directed by Peter King

Go Down in Darkness
Starring Steve Hodson, Frances Jeater, Glynis Brooks, Jill Balcon, Nicholas Courtenay, Peter Baldwin, Roger Hammond, Michael McStay and Rod Beacham. Directed by David Johnston

Disconnection
Starring David Daker, John Westbrook, David McAlister, Christopher Scott, Malcolm Hayes, Jane Knowles, Hilda Kriseman, Amanda Murray, William Eedle, Josie Kidd, Rod Beacham, Christine Absalom and Spencer Banks. Directed by David Spenser

The Hubris File
Starring Geoffrey Collins, Jean Trend, David McAlister, Henry Stamper, Peter Tuddenham, Spencer Banks, Michael Godley, Nigel Graham, Crawford Logan and Wendy Murray. Directed by Gerry Jones

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