Shakespeare's exhilarating late play of lovers under strain and leaders under pressure. Staged in an alternative present-day Britain.

An ineffectual ruler governs a divided, insular Britain, alienated from the rest of Europe. That ruler, Cymbeline (Michael Maloney), refuses to pay the taxes demanded by a foreign power, clinging to mythical notions of sovereignty. "Britain's a world by itself and we will nothing pay for wearing our own noses." But Cymbeline's judgement is clouded by grief, having lost his two older children as babies. When his daughter Imogen (Lydia Wilson) rebels and marries boyfriend Posthumus (Daniel Rock) in secret, Cymbeline is enraged and banishes Posthumus. But waiting in the wings is a power-hungry figure, plotting to seize control by any means necessary.

Adapted and directed for radio by Emma Harding

Introduced by Professor Edith Hall

Imogen ..... Lydia Wilson

Cymbeline ..... Michael Maloney

Posthumus Leonatus ..... Daniel Rock

Iachimo ..... Philip Arditti

Queen ..... Amanda Lawrence

Cloten ..... Will Close

Caia Lucius ..... Greta Scacchi

Pisanio ..... Ayesha Dharker

Belarius ..... Ifan Huw Dafydd

Guiderius ..... Zak Ghazi-Torbati

Arviragus ..... Matthew Aubrey

Cornelia ..... Nadia Williams

Philario ..... Harry Taurasi

Jailer. .... Philippe Spall

Sue Sayer ..... Sara Gregory

Original music composed by Joseph Howard, performed by Zak Ghazi-Torbati, Joseph Howard and Eosaph Caimbeul.

Shakespeare consultant, Paul Prescott

Production co-ordinator, Eleri Sydney McAuliffe

Sound design, Catherine Robinson

A BBC Audio Drama Wales production