Ovid’s Modern Metamorphoses: 10 Full-Cast Contemporary BBC Radio Dramatisations including Orpheus, Euridice, Phaethon, Echo & Narcissus

Ten contemporary reimaginings of Ovid’s iconic tales, with star-studded casts including Toby Jones, Shaun Dooley and Robert Glenister

The Roman love poet Ovid has influenced writers past and present, with his witty, sexy tales inspiring authors from Shakespeare to Ezra Pound. Included here are ten scintillating retellings that take a fresh look at his classic works, viewing these ancient stories from a modern perspective.

New Metamorphoses, themed around the topics of desire, seduction and transformation: In Zeus and Semele, by Sebastian Baczkiewicz, paparazzo Harry gets in over his head when he is welcomed into the glamorous world he feeds on. And in Hattie Naylor’s Echo and Narcissus, Mat joins a gym, while Debbie becomes mesmerised by the boy across the road. Myrrah by Colin Teevan sees a teenage girl gripped by a terrible passion, and in Callisto by Nick Warburton, a photographer faces a dilemma when he captures a photo he never intended to take. Meanwhile, Phaethon by Katie Hims revolves around a family reunion and a promise that cannot be broken…

Transformations continues with the leitmotifs of fluidity, change and the different aspects of love: Ceyx and Alcyone centres on the King of Trachis, who is determined to travel by ship to visit the Oracle. But the winds at sea are capricious and cruel, and a storm is coming… Pygmalion tells of a sculptor who, alone and broken, becomes enamoured of one of his own statues. Will the goddess of love be kind, and bring her to life? In Orpheus and Eurydice, when his beloved wife is killed by a snake, Orpheus travels to the realm of the dead in a desperate bid to bring her back. Byblis and Cannus sees a young girl falling hopelessly in love with her own brother… And in Baucis and Philemon, an elderly couple find their lives changed when they receive two unexpected guests.

And two bonus programmes: In Our Time: Ovid and Ovid: Changing Times.

With thanks to Keith Wickham of the Radio Circle for supplying the audio recordings.

Cast and Credits

Zeus and Semele Starring Toby Jones, Daniel Cerqueira, Robert Glenister, Lyndsey Marshal, Peter Mann Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz Produced and directed by Jessica Drumgoole

Echo and Narcissus Starring Toby Jones, Carl Prekopp, Laura Molyneux, Burn Gorman, Harry Myers, Deborah Findlay, Gbemisola Ikumelo Written by Hattie Naylor Produced and directed by Sasha Yevtushenko

Myrrha Starring Toby Jones, Gerard McSorley, Marcella Plunkett, Niall Buggy, Derbhle Crotty, Jonathan Forbes, Ben Crowe, Chris Pavlo, Liz Sutherland, Peter Marinker, Kate Binchy Written by Colin Teevan Produced and directed by Jeremy Mortimer

Callisto Starring Shaun Dooley, Joannah Tincey, Rachel Atkins, John Rowe, Anna Bengo, Ben Onwukwe Written by Nick Warburton Produced and directed by Tracey Neale

Phaethon Starring Toby Jones, Rosie Cavaliero, Vincenzo Nicoli, Paul Hilton, Steven Webb, Robert Madge, Liza Sadovy Written by Katie Hims Produced and directed by Marc Beeby

Transformations Written by Lucy Catherine Directed by Marc Beeby Starring Jim Norton Ceyx and Alcyone Featuring Clare Corbett, Philip Bretherton, Neil McCaul, Isabella Inchbald, Tayla Kovacevi-Ebong, Abby Andrews

Pygmalion Featuring Rupert Holliday Evans, Gary Duncan, Abbie Andrews, Isabella Inchbald

Orpheus and Eurydice Featuring Tom Forrister, Madeline Hatt, Neil McCaul, Philip Bretherton, Isabella Inchbald, Clive Hayward

Byblis and Cannus Featuring Abbie Andrews, Adam Fitzgerald, Isabella Inchbald, Ellie Darvill, Kath Weare

Baucis and Philemon Featuring Sheila Reid, John Rowe, Clive Hayward, Tayla Kovacevi-Ebong

In Our Time: Ovid Presented by Melvyn Bragg With Maria Wyke, Gail Trimble and Dunstan Lowe Produced by Simon Tillotson

Ovid: Changing Times Presented by Tom Holland Produced by Mark Rickards

© 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

© 2026 BBC Digital Audio (Lydbog): 9781529992496

Udgivelsesdato

Lydbog: 11. juni 2026