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The Sleeper and the Spindle
A brand new BBC Radio adaptation of Neil Gaiman's award-winning fairytale, merging Snow White and Sleeping Beauty to enchanting effect
In a mountain kingdom far away, a young queen prepares for her wedding, believing her future is sealed. But when three dwarves bring news of a sleeping sickness sweeping across her realm, she knows she cannot stand by and do nothing. As a girl, she survived her own long, magical sleep, so she must try to turn back this new plague and save her people.
Abandoning her bridal finery, she dons her armour instead, and rides out to a castle at the very heart of the sleeping lands. There, she finds a beautiful princess, sound asleep, and a very old woman, forever awake. With no handsome prince in sight, the queen wakes the princess in the traditional way - but things are not as they seem, and it will take more than a kiss to ensure everyone lives happily ever after...
Penelope Wilton, Gwendoline Christie, Ralph Ineson and Neil Gaiman himself are among the star cast in this captivating fable of love, loss, hope and destiny.
This release is an extended cut of the story broadcast on BBC Radio 4, and features an exclusive introduction from Neil Gaiman.
Credits
Written by Neil Gaiman
Adapted by Katie Hims
Directed and produced by Allegra McIlroy
Recorded remotely by Sharon Hughes and John Benton
Sound design by Sharon Hughes
A BBC Audio North Production
Cast
The Narrator/The Old Woman - Dame Penelope Wilton
The Queen - Gwendoline Christie
The Home Secretary - Neil Gaiman
The First Dwarf - Ralph Ineson
The Second Dwarf - Stefan Adegbola
The Third Dwarf/The Prince/The Tinker/The Woodcutter - Ian Dunnett Jnr
The Pot Girl/The Young Girl/The Mother - Cecilia Appiah
The Maid/The Other Woman/The Stepmother - Emma Handy
The Father/The Inn Keeper/The Bandit - Roger Ringrose
The Child - Milton Dighton
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 December 2020
In a mountain kingdom far away, a young queen prepares for her wedding, believing her future is sealed. But when three dwarves bring news of a sleeping sickness sweeping across her realm, she knows she cannot stand by and do nothing. As a girl, she survived her own long, magical sleep, so she must try to turn back this new plague and save her people.
Abandoning her bridal finery, she dons her armour instead, and rides out to a castle at the very heart of the sleeping lands. There, she finds a beautiful princess, sound asleep, and a very old woman, forever awake. With no handsome prince in sight, the queen wakes the princess in the traditional way - but things are not as they seem, and it will take more than a kiss to ensure everyone lives happily ever after...
Penelope Wilton, Gwendoline Christie, Ralph Ineson and Neil Gaiman himself are among the star cast in this captivating fable of love, loss, hope and destiny.
This release is an extended cut of the story broadcast on BBC Radio 4, and features an exclusive introduction from Neil Gaiman.
Credits
Written by Neil Gaiman
Adapted by Katie Hims
Directed and produced by Allegra McIlroy
Recorded remotely by Sharon Hughes and John Benton
Sound design by Sharon Hughes
A BBC Audio North Production
Cast
The Narrator/The Old Woman - Dame Penelope Wilton
The Queen - Gwendoline Christie
The Home Secretary - Neil Gaiman
The First Dwarf - Ralph Ineson
The Second Dwarf - Stefan Adegbola
The Third Dwarf/The Prince/The Tinker/The Woodcutter - Ian Dunnett Jnr
The Pot Girl/The Young Girl/The Mother - Cecilia Appiah
The Maid/The Other Woman/The Stepmother - Emma Handy
The Father/The Inn Keeper/The Bandit - Roger Ringrose
The Child - Milton Dighton
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 December 2020
2 pages, Audiobook
Published January 28, 2021
4 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
January 19, 2021
My first NG book, actually enjoyed the dramatisation, and now I'm tempted to try more of his books :) A big thank you to Kerri who shared the link, and now I follow suit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00... Leave the chores for 57 minutes and plunge into this splendid version of a story that we all seem to know :)
January 20, 2021
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000...
Absolutely wonderful! Free to listen to for the next 7 days(at the time of writing). 57 minutes long. I was actually able to access it from New Zealand which was exciting - - I've gotten so used to things blocked to my country!
The voice cast was excellent and I loved revisiting this brilliant story.🍎🕸️🌹
Absolutely wonderful! Free to listen to for the next 7 days(at the time of writing). 57 minutes long. I was actually able to access it from New Zealand which was exciting - - I've gotten so used to things blocked to my country!
The voice cast was excellent and I loved revisiting this brilliant story.🍎🕸️🌹
January 12, 2021
Marvelous, just marvelous!
December 29, 2020
Bitən kimi yenidən dinləmək istədim. Hal-hazırda BBC radio səhifəsində 28 günlük pulsuz dinləmədədi: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00...
Yatmış gözəl nağılını fərqli formada danışan bu hekayənin bədiiləşdirilib radioya uyğunlaşmış mükəmməl versiyası. Ağca qızın öz cırtdanları ilə də qatıldığı bu macəra həm süjet xətti ilə xatırlanacaq, həm də aktyor işi ilə həyəcanlandıracaq. Tək mənfi tərəfi qısa olması idi :D
Gedim Alininodan hekayəsini alım :))
Yatmış gözəl nağılını fərqli formada danışan bu hekayənin bədiiləşdirilib radioya uyğunlaşmış mükəmməl versiyası. Ağca qızın öz cırtdanları ilə də qatıldığı bu macəra həm süjet xətti ilə xatırlanacaq, həm də aktyor işi ilə həyəcanlandıracaq. Tək mənfi tərəfi qısa olması idi :D
Gedim Alininodan hekayəsini alım :))
April 7, 2024
4.5 stars overall, a middle ground between the 4 stars I'd give for the story and the well-deserved 5 stars for the audiobook performance. It's just lovely!
If you've never read a dramatised or full-cast audiobook before, try this one.
If you love fairytale retellings, this is for you.
If you want to be immersed but only have time for a short story right now, listen to this.
If you've been meaning to read a Gaiman book but couldn't decide where to begin, this is your sign.
This is a charming fairytale retelling with strong female characters who save themselves. It's taken two well-loved fairytales and blended them into one interlinking story. The value and quality of the production is amazing. It adds layer upon layer of sound effects, dialogue, music etc, which builds into a captivating ambience.
If you've never read a dramatised or full-cast audiobook before, try this one.
If you love fairytale retellings, this is for you.
If you want to be immersed but only have time for a short story right now, listen to this.
If you've been meaning to read a Gaiman book but couldn't decide where to begin, this is your sign.
This is a charming fairytale retelling with strong female characters who save themselves. It's taken two well-loved fairytales and blended them into one interlinking story. The value and quality of the production is amazing. It adds layer upon layer of sound effects, dialogue, music etc, which builds into a captivating ambience.
extra-copy
January 13, 2021Free on BBC Radio 4 for the next 29 days:https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000... (56 minutes)
12/26/20 Came across this link on Facebook. Neil Gaiman: It will be up for another 29 days. You can listen to it FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD on the BBC page or (possibly more reliably) through the BBC sounds app. Gwendoline Christie, Dame Penelope Wilton star in the BBC radio adaptation of The Sleeper and the Spindle.
Sorry about the capitals. But every year the next question people ask is whether they can listen to it in (their country). You can.
12/26/20 Came across this link on Facebook. Neil Gaiman: It will be up for another 29 days. You can listen to it FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD on the BBC page or (possibly more reliably) through the BBC sounds app. Gwendoline Christie, Dame Penelope Wilton star in the BBC radio adaptation of The Sleeper and the Spindle.
Sorry about the capitals. But every year the next question people ask is whether they can listen to it in (their country). You can.
January 20, 2021
This is a retelling of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty audio book but fully acted out or "cast dramatization". Fantastic magical story written by master story teller Neil Gaiman. Spend a short afternoon listening to this and I was left wanting more.
January 25, 2021
Delicious! And the link expires today at 4pm...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00...
Read
December 27, 2022Lovely little Christmas audio play
January 1, 2023
Absolutely lovely dramatisation of the story.
January 13, 2021
This is one of my favourites from Gaiman. I'm not much of an audiobook person but I really loved this and honestly, I'd consume anything that has Gaiman's name stamped on it. So... clearly this review is biased. BBC made this available for free for a period of time. To anyone reading this, at this point of time you still have 12 more days to listen to this dramatisation of The Sleeper and the Spindle.
The Sleeper and the Spindle - BBC Audio North
The Sleeper and the Spindle - BBC Audio North
December 29, 2020
Holly mother of plot twist, this book is amazing.
January 6, 2023
This full cast version was quite honestly beautiful to listen to.
Their reading added a different dimension to the words that I remember reading from the print version and made it sound almost new to me, and I love that.
It's easy to say that I want more of Gwendolyn Christie but I've been saying that since seeing her in GoT so many years ago and this narration she did has just made me fangirl some more. It's a well done narration from the entire cast and I loved all 57 minutes of it. SO much that I wish there was more to listen to.
If anyone wants to give it a listen it's on BBC for the next 18 days as of 1/4/23
Their reading added a different dimension to the words that I remember reading from the print version and made it sound almost new to me, and I love that.
It's easy to say that I want more of Gwendolyn Christie but I've been saying that since seeing her in GoT so many years ago and this narration she did has just made me fangirl some more. It's a well done narration from the entire cast and I loved all 57 minutes of it. SO much that I wish there was more to listen to.
If anyone wants to give it a listen it's on BBC for the next 18 days as of 1/4/23
December 31, 2022
I love this production of this book. Highly recommend!
December 27, 2022
4.5 Stars
This refers to the 2022 BBC 4 Sleeper and the Spindle Production.
I won't review the book as I have done already (paperback) but this radio production was wonderful and of great quality.
The added humour made it so much fun and my favourite character of all was first dwarf Ralph Ineson, his rumbling Leeds/Yorkshire accent made great listening, he was cast perfectly and Neil Gaiman been added in himself as Home Secretary was a bonus touch.
I'm telling all my book friends to listen to this!
This refers to the 2022 BBC 4 Sleeper and the Spindle Production.
I won't review the book as I have done already (paperback) but this radio production was wonderful and of great quality.
The added humour made it so much fun and my favourite character of all was first dwarf Ralph Ineson, his rumbling Leeds/Yorkshire accent made great listening, he was cast perfectly and Neil Gaiman been added in himself as Home Secretary was a bonus touch.
I'm telling all my book friends to listen to this!
June 29, 2021
“They fall asleep whatever they are doing, and they do not wake up,” said the sot. “Look at us. We fled the towns to come here. We have brothers and sisters, wives and children, sleeping now in their houses or cowsheds, at their workbenches. All of us.”
When the BBC and Neil Gaiman team up I rarely find myself disappointed.
This Christmas' offering was a radio play adaptation of The Sleeper and the Spindle, a book I really enjoyed reading.
It is a wonderful take on fairy tales that we all know and love. A plague has swept the Kingdom and whole villages are coming down with 'sleep'. A wake-less state that can't be undone.
When news reaches the Queen she sets out on a quest to the castle at the heart of the Kingdom from where the sickness seems to be spreading. There she will discover the truth!
The adaption is perfect, the story charming. I'll listen to this many time over the coming years and recommend it to everyone.
Plus, there's a sneaky hedgehog reference...
The dwarf shrugged. He had a russet-brown beard that had always made the queen think of an angry hedgehog attached to the lower portion of his face.
When the BBC and Neil Gaiman team up I rarely find myself disappointed.
This Christmas' offering was a radio play adaptation of The Sleeper and the Spindle, a book I really enjoyed reading.
It is a wonderful take on fairy tales that we all know and love. A plague has swept the Kingdom and whole villages are coming down with 'sleep'. A wake-less state that can't be undone.
When news reaches the Queen she sets out on a quest to the castle at the heart of the Kingdom from where the sickness seems to be spreading. There she will discover the truth!
The adaption is perfect, the story charming. I'll listen to this many time over the coming years and recommend it to everyone.
Plus, there's a sneaky hedgehog reference...
The dwarf shrugged. He had a russet-brown beard that had always made the queen think of an angry hedgehog attached to the lower portion of his face.
January 16, 2021
This was a fun audiobook to listen to! It was quite interesting to see this story in two different forms of media: an illustrated novel/picture book and a full-cast dramatisation. Having read the book before, I already knew what to expect, and having seen Chris Riddell's illustrations, it was easy to picture the story and the characters while listening to this dramatisation. The story was fun (like the original novel), and I still really like how Neil Gaiman made his own versions of Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. The actors (and their accents) were a pleasant and nice addition.
Overall, I highly recommend this audiobook if you are a fan of the book or Neil Gaiman in general, or if you're interested in this story. Personally, I would read the illustrated book first and listen to this dramatisation afterwards to get the "full" experience.
Overall, I highly recommend this audiobook if you are a fan of the book or Neil Gaiman in general, or if you're interested in this story. Personally, I would read the illustrated book first and listen to this dramatisation afterwards to get the "full" experience.
July 22, 2021
I hope this dramatization becomes available in the US. UPDATE - JULY 20212 - now available!
Wonderful story, wonderful cast.
"The Queen said nothing but sat on the moss beneath an oak tree and tasted the stillness heartbeat by heartbeat."
Wonderful story, wonderful cast.
"The Queen said nothing but sat on the moss beneath an oak tree and tasted the stillness heartbeat by heartbeat."
May 18, 2022
I own the hardback print version illustrated by Chris Riddell, and it’s incredibly beautiful. The Audio play by the BBC is also absolutely beautiful although in a very different way. Very atmospheric and telling the stories of women who are their own heroes and can save themselves.
January 10, 2023
Neil puso en Twitter el link para escucharlo gratis (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00... y le quedan 12 días gratis al momento de poner esta publicación) y tuve que escucharlo. Me encantó escucharlo, también porque tengo un crush con Gwendoline Christie.
December 28, 2020
An excellent adaptation of a beautifully twisted fairy tale.
January 14, 2021
A delightful dramatization (57 mins). Available at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00... until the 24th of January.
March 4, 2022
The audio production is gorgeous with full sound effects. I found the retelling and combination of two fairy tales underwritten and underwhelming. Gaiman has written better and more inventive stories.
November 20, 2023
The audiobook is told as a full cast recording with sound effects and music. I enjoyed this dark, modern, one hour listen. A semi-dark retelling of sleeping beauty (or maybe it’s the second book of Snow White?). Fun.
January 1, 2022
Perfect listening over the New Year...
March 29, 2022
So, so good!
May 17, 2022
Truly satisfying. A quick, new adaptation of two beloved fairy tales. Now I need to read the graphic novel.
January 6, 2023
Gwendolyn Christie is amazing as the Queen! Listen to this audio while you have a chance!! Most well done!
January 10, 2024
It is a delicious retelling. Two intertwined fairy tales and I wish it was longer.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews