Tumanbay

Tumanbay (radio drama)

by Mike Walker, Sacha Puttnam (music), Gareth Kennerley (Narrator)

Tumanbay, the beating heart of a vast empire, is threatened by a rebellion in a far-off province and a mysterious force devouring the city from within.

01 A Head Start
Tumanbay, the beating heart of a vast empire, is threatened by a rebellion in a far-off province and a mysterious force devouring the city from within.
Gregor (Rufus Wright), Master of the Palace Guard, is charged by Sultan Al-Ghuri (Raad Rawi) with the task of rooting out this insurgence and crushing it.
Epic saga inspired by the Mamluk slave-dynasty of Egypt.

02 Ship Of The Dead
Gregor (Rufus Wright), Master of the Palace Guard, is charged by Sultan Al-Ghuri (Raad Rawi) with the task of rooting out the spies within.
But there is another threat making its way by sea. As slave merchant Ibn (Nabil Elouahabi) awaits for his family to arrive in Tumanbay, sickness has broken out on the ship carrying them.

03 Coming Of Age
Adrift at sea in a small boat and captive to an escaped slave (Akin Gazi), fourteen year old daughter (Olivia Popica) of slave merchant Ibn (Nabil Elouahabi) depends on her slave captor for her survival. Madu (Danny Ashok), the spoilt nephew of the Sultan, also has to grow up quickly as he swaps palace life for hard graft in the army.

04 Hidden Knowledge
As Shajar, the sultan's chief wife (Sarah Beck Mather), plots her son Madu's (Danny Ashok) succession to the throne, Gregor, master of the palace guard, is determined to discover what it is she has taken from the aged Hafiz and is having repaired in the workshop of a pair of artisans in the city. Marching with the army out to the provinces, Madu's slave find solace with an unlikely companion.

05 Strangle Hold
Arriving in the provinces to gather the armies to fight rebel "queen" Maya, General Qulan (Christopher Fulford) finds the provincial governors less than enthusiastic about his arrival. In Tumanbay, Gregor is under pressure to find the spies but his investigations keep leading him back to Shajar the sultan's chief wife (Sarah Beck Mather) and a reliquary she has secreted away.

06 In The Beginning
With Tumanbay in chaos after the murder of a highly placed individual, Heaven and her slave companion find themselves prisoners of a nomadic tribe in the desert. Having failed in his duty of keeping the palace safe, Gregor attempts to unlock the secret of the missing reliquary and find out why it is worth killing for.

07 A Tale Of Two Cities
While the sultan dreams of victory against rebellious provincial leader Maya, Gregor is in pursuit of missing slave-girl Sarah (Nina Yndis) and must venture into the catacombs beneath the city, haven to those who wish to escape the brutality of the city above.

08 The Purge
In the eighth episode of this epic saga inspired by the Mamluk slave-dynasty, the Sultan (Raad Rawi) is increasingly insecure and fearful for his life, so begins a purge of the Palace. Slave trader Ibn (Nabil Elouahabi), is reunited with the daughter he thought he had lost. And her slave companion finally comes face to face with Gregor (Rufus Wright), the man who stole his kingdom.

09 Jaws Of Victory
In the ninth episode of this epic saga inspired by the Mamluk slave-dynasty, a trade delegation from across the ocean, brings to Tumanbay the very latest in war merchandise. Convinced of victory by the words of the prophet child, the Sultan (Raad Rawi) is now ready to march out with his armies and destroy rebellious provincial leader Maya. His nephew Madu (Danny Ashok) has only one desire - to escape the city with his army comrade and lover Daniel (Gareth Kennerley). But Daniel is not everything he seems.

10 Sword Of Faith
The tenth and final episode of this epic saga of revenge, betrayal and deception, inspired by the Mamluk slave-dynasty. As the people of Tumanbay await news of the Sultan's (Raad Rawi) great victory, Gregor (Rufus Wright) the heartless player discovers he has a heart and that he has been played.

Genres: Audiobook, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Egypt, Adventure

10 pages, Audiobook

First published December 1, 2015

About the author

Mike Walker is an award-winning dramatist, as well the author of several books for adults. He traveled extensively abroad, particularly in the region around the eastern Indian Ocean, although he is now living in the UK. BAD COMPANY is his first children’s book.

Reviews

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06qc...

Description: Tumanbay, the beating heart of a vast empire, is threatened by a rebellion in a far-off province and a mysterious force devouring the city from within.

Episode 1: A Head Start: Gregor, Master of the Palace Guard, is charged by Sultan Al-Ghuri with the task of rooting out this insurgence and crushing it.

Episode 2: Ship of the Dead: There is another threat making its way by sea. As slave merchant Ibn awaits for his family to arrive in Tumanbay, sickness has broken out on the ship carrying them.

3: Coming of Age: Adrift at sea in a small boat and captive to an escaped slave, fourteen year old daughter of slave merchant Ibn depends on her slave captor for her survival. Madu, the spoilt nephew of the Sultan, also has to grow up quickly as he swaps palace life for hard graft in the army.

4: As Shajar, the sultan's chief wife, plots her son Madu's succession to the throne, Gregor, master of the palace guard, is determined to discover what it is she has taken from the aged Hafiz and is having repaired in the workshop of a pair of artisans in the city. Marching with the army out to the provinces, Madu's slave finds solace with an unlikely companion.

5: Strangle Hold: Arriving in the provinces to gather the armies to fight rebel "queen" Maya, General Qulan finds the provincial governors less than enthusiastic about his arrival. In Tumanbay, Gregor is under pressure to find the spies but his investigations keep leading him back to Shajar the sultan's chief wife and a reliquary she has secreted away.

6/10: In The Beginning: With Tumanbay in chaos after the murder of a highly placed individual, Heaven and her slave companion find themselves prisoners of a nomadic tribe in the desert. Having failed in his duty of keeping the palace safe, Gregor attempts to unlock the secret of the missing reliquary and find out why it is worth killing for.

7/10: A Tale of Two Cities: While the sultan dreams of victory against rebellious provincial leader Maya, Gregor is in pursuit of missing slave-girl Sarah (Nina Yndis) and must venture into the catacombs beneath the city, haven to those who wish to escape the brutality of the city above.

8/10: Increasingly insecure and fearful for his life, the sultan begins a purge of the palace. Slave trader Ibn (Nabil Elouahabi), is reunited with the daughter he thought he had lost. And her slave companion finally comes face to face with Gregor, the man who stole his kingdom.

9/10: Jaws of Victory: a trade delegation from across the ocean, brings to Tumanbay the very latest in war merchandise. Convinced of victory by the words of the prophet child, the Sultan (Raad Rawi) is now ready to march out with his armies and destroy rebellious provincial leader Maya. His nephew Madu (Danny Ashok) has only one desire - to escape the city with his army comrade and lover Daniel (Gareth Kennerley). But Daniel is not everything he seems.

10/10: Sword of Faith: As the people of Tumanbay await news of the Sultan's (Raad Rawi) great victory, Gregor (Rufus Wright) the heartless player discovers he has a heart and that he has been played.

Wish that I hadn't tried listening to this one-a-week wise, the time lapse meant a reduction in enjoyment.

Gregor Rufus Wright
The Girl on the Ship Olivia Popica
Her Mother Nathalie Armin
The Slave Merchant Nabil Elouahabi
Cadali Matthew Marsh
Frog Deeivya Meir
Frog's Mother Sirine Saba
Basim Alexander Siddig
Sarah Nina Yndis
Envoy Nadir Khan
Shajar Sarah Beck Mather
Madu Danny Ashok
Sultan Al-Ghuri Raad Rawi
General Qulan Christopher Fulford
Physician Vivek Madan
Daniel Gareth Kennerley
Maid Laure Stockley
Ship Captain Albert Welling

Epic saga inspired by the Mamluk slave-dynasty of Egypt.
Music - Sacha Putnam

Tumanbay: can a Game of Thrones-style epic series work on radio?

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

From BBC Radio 4:
Tumanbay, the beating heart of a vast empire, is threatened by a rebellion in a far-off province and a mysterious force devouring the city from within.

Gregor (Rufus Wright), Master of the Palace Guard, is charged by Sultan Al-Ghuri (Raad Rawi) with the task of rooting out this insurgence and crushing it.

2/10: But there is another threat making its way by sea. As slave merchant Ibn (Nabil Elouahabi) awaits for his family to arrive in Tumanbay, sickness has broken out on the ship carrying them.

3/10: In the third episode of this epic saga inspired by the Mamluk slave-dynasty, fourteen year old daughter (Olivia Popica) of slave merchant Ibn (Nabil Elouahabi) is adrift at sea in a small boat and captive to an escaped slave (Akin Gazi). Now she must depend on her slave captor for her survival. Madu (Danny Ashok), the spoilt nephew of the Sultan, also has to grow up quickly as he swaps palace life for hard graft in the army.

4/10: In the fourth episode of this epic saga inspired by the Mamluk slave-dynasty of Egypt, Shajar, the Sultan's chief wife (Sarah Beck Mather), plots her son Madu's (Danny Ashok) succession to the throne. While Gregor, Master of the Palace Guard, is determined to discover what it is she has taken from the aged Hafiz and is having repaired in the workshop of a pair of artisans in the city. Marching with the army out to the provinces, Madu's slave find solace with an unlikely companion.

5/10: In the fifth episode of this epic saga inspired by the Mamluk slave-dynasty of Egypt, General Qulan (Christopher Fulford) finds the Provincial Governors less than enthusiastic as he arrives to gather the armies to fight rebel "queen" Maya. In Tumanbay, Gregor is under pressure to find the spies but his investigations keep leading him back to Shajar the Sultan's chief wife (Sarah Beck Mather) and a reliquary she has secreted away.

6/10: In the sixth episode of this epic saga inspired by the Mamluk slave-dynasty of Egypt, Tumanbay is in chaos after the murder of a highly placed individual. Heaven and her slave companion find themselves prisoners of a nomadic tribe in the desert. Having failed in his duty of keeping the Palace safe, Gregor attempts to unlock the secret of the missing reliquary and find out why it is worth killing for.

7/10: In the seventh episode of this epic saga inspired by the Mamluk slave-dynasty, the Sultan Al-Ghuri (Raad Rawi) dreams of victory against rebellious provincial leader Maya. Meanwhile Gregor (Rufus Wright) is in pursuit of missing slave-girl Sarah (Nina Yndis) and must venture into the catacombs beneath the city, haven to those who wish to escape the brutality of the City above.

8/10: n the eighth episode of this epic saga inspired by the Mamluk slave-dynasty, the Sultan (Raad Rawi) is increasingly insecure and fearful for his life, so begins a purge of the Palace. Slave trader Ibn (Nabil Elouahabi), is reunited with the daughter he thought he had lost. And her slave companion finally comes face to face with Gregor (Rufus Wright), the man who stole his kingdom.

9/10: In the ninth episode of this epic saga inspired by the Mamluk slave-dynasty, a trade delegation from across the ocean, brings to Tumanbay the very latest in war merchandise. Convinced of victory by the words of the prophet child, the Sultan (Raad Rawi) is now ready to march out with his armies and destroy rebellious provincial leader Maya. His nephew Madu (Danny Ashok) has only one desire - to escape the city with his army comrade and lover Daniel (Gareth Kennerley). But Daniel is not everything he seems.

10/10: The tenth and final episode of this epic saga of revenge, betrayal and deception, inspired by the Mamluk slave-dynasty. As the people of Tumanbay await news of the Sultan's (Raad Rawi) great victory, Gregor (Rufus Wright) the heartless player discovers he has a heart and that he has been played.

Epic saga inspired by the Mamluk slave-dynasty of Egypt.

Music - Sacha Putnam
Sound Design - Steve Bond, Jon Ouin
Editors - Ania Przygoda, James Morgan
Producers - Emma Hearn, Nadir Khan, John Dryden

Written and Directed by John Dryden

A Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06qcs6w

[Kate Vane · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Mamluk sultanate of Tumanbay, there is a sense of impending danger. The fearsome armies of Queen Maya are on the march, and her spies are believed to be everywhere in the walled city. There is constant suspicion in the city and the court.

Tumanbay is a society built by former slaves. The wise among them know their lives are contingent, that all they’ve achieved can be taken away. Their struggle is relentless, even – especially – if they are at the top. Nothing is as it seems and power is constantly shifting between competing factions. Torture and shame await those who fail.

This is wonderful drama, full of twists and moral ambiguity. There is a large cast, but the characters are vivid and distinctive so you soon know where you are, if not who to believe. There is Gregor, played by Rufus Wright, the Sultan’s head of security who combines ruthlessness and dry wit, and Shajar, the First Wife, who dominates the harem, along with others across the city and beyond it, whose significance only becomes apparent as the story develops. Theirs is a richly realised world but it is also a universal story, of what people will do for power – or to survive.

The sound is fantastic. It is almost a character in itself, lush and opulent and vital in situating you in the story – from the sultan’s court to the echoing dungeons to the crisp sound of waves on the shore.

Tumanbay shows what audio drama can do at its best, and why we love it. If you trust the listener you can conjure up palaces and walled cities and deserts and ships and armies. You can have a narrator who will confide in the listener while he deceives everyone else. You can have beauty and brutality, music and war. We don’t need pictures, just vision.
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This review first appeared on https://whatbigearsblog.wordpress.com - my blog celebrating radio drama and podcasts

[Michelle Dodd (Creaney) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened last year. This is the best radio drama ever and it deserves some love. Now on series 4. Echoes of epics and Game of Thrones but on radio.

[Kale Mill · Rating 2 out of 5]

This kinda sucked to be honest. I finished it, but I was bored. I would highly recommend "solar" or "tower 4" instead. They were way more gripping.

I don't think I could even tell you one characters name except some kid named frog and a girl named heaven.

Who knows, the other seasons might be better, but I won't be finding out

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a book of course, not even an audiobook: a radio drama. Really good, though. Solid entertainment, very well crafted and excellent acting & sound effects.

[Kieran · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[sabisteb aka callisto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Die zehnteilige BBC Hörspielserie Tumanbay ist inspiriert von Tuman bay, dem Namen von zwei Sultanten des Mameluken Sultanats, das Anfang des 16. Jhdts. Mamluk heißt auf Arabisch Eigentum oder Sklave und bezieht sich auf Sklavensoldaten oder Sultane, die einmal Sklaven waren, bevor sie an die Macht kamen.
Das Tumanbay dieses Hörspiel ist jedoch eine fiktive Stadt, es handelt sich also um eine Art fantasy Parallelwelt. In diesem Tumanbay wird man nicht geboren, man wird als Sklave dorthin verkauft und arbeitet sich hoch. Fast jeder in Tumanbay war einmal ein Sklave, so auch der Sicherheitschef des Palastes, der oberste General oder die Hauptfrau des Sultans.
Die Geschichte wird aus Sicht von Gregor, dem Chef der Palastsicherheit erzählt. Gregor ist ein intrigantes, ironisches, arrogantes Arschloch und somit ein extrem unterhaltsamer Erzähler, besonders wenn die Geschichte anfängt ihm aus den Händen zu gleiten. Gregor wird von Rufus Wright gesprochen, der eine sehr attraktive Stimme hat.
Gregor hat kein Problem damit, andere für seine Fehler sterben zu lassen (wozu hat man sonst Untergebene?). Gregor hat keine Hemmungen andere zu erpressen, für ihn zu arbeiten und erinnert schon sehr an Littlefinger aus Game of thrones.
Das Sultanat steht vor einem ersten Problem. Die Ehefrau eines Regenten eines ferneren Teils des Reiches, hat die Macht ergriffen und beginnt nun eine Provinz nach der anderen zu erobern. Der Palast des Sultans ist voller Spione Mayas, die zunächst einmal einen Giftanschlag auf den Thronerben ausführen mittels vergifteter Datteln. Gregor braucht daher unverbrauchte Sklaven von außerhalb, die nicht in die Intrigen des Hofes verstrickt sind, um an zuverlässige Informationen zu kommen. Sein Auge fällt auf Sarah, die durch ihr Baby, dass Gregor in der Obhut eines verwitweten Sklavenhändlers lässt, erpressbar ist.
Diese erste Staffel des Hörspiels (und ich hoffe definitiv auf mehr), erinnert in ihrer Erzählstruktur stark an Game of Thrones. Es gibt mehrere Parallele Handlungsstränge, die sich kreuzen und beeinflussen. Kaum einer ist, was er scheint. Jeder intrigiert irgendwie, lügt und betrügt und versucht nicht die Pest zu bekommen. Gegner werden getötet, manchmal erwischt es auch Unschuldige. Dennoch gibt es deutliche Charakterentwicklungen. Heaven wird von einer verwöhnten Sklavenhaltertochter zu einer starken Frau, die ihren Weg geht. Ein Sklavenhalter entdeckt seine Liebe zu einem Sklavenbaby, das normalerweise den Hunden vorgeworfen würde. Gregor lernt seine Grenzen kennen. Es gibt diverse Zwischenmenschliche Beziehungen, auch zwischen Männern. Die Geschichte ist nicht ganz so vorhersagbar wie viele andere Geschichten/Hörspiele. Der Schluss hat mich somit tatsächlich ein klein wenig Überrascht, aber ganz unvorhersehbar war er leider nicht. Ich habe aber auch die meisten Konstellationen von GOT vorhersagen können, von daher…
Viele Sprecher sind allesamt sehr, sehr gut und haben starke Akzente von nicht Muttersprachlern. Das macht es einfacher, ihnen zu folgen, weil sie langsamer und deutlicher reden als echte Briten und eben einen Lernerakzent haben, was gerade für Sprachanfänger teilweise deutlich einfacher zu verstehen ist. Wolf wurde so richtig hochkarätig besetzt mit Alexander Siddig (Dr Julian Bashir aus TNG, Doran Martell GOT).

Das mit Abstand beste Hörspiel dieses Jahre und eines der besten, die ich kenne. Und dazu noch kostenlos als Podcast verfügbar!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06qc...

[Sarah]

gregor? hello? i thought you were a good guy????