Taking It Up the Octave: A BBC Radio 4 Sitcom

The hilarious mishaps and adventures of Opera Sunderland, starring Godfrey James

Staging opera can be a chaotic business – as this brilliant five-part comedy drama, written by Fintan Coyle and Tom Miles, shows. Opera Sunderland has a tradition of performing a new work every season - celebrating "its umbilical cord to civilisation". However, when managing director, Dwight Gaggenheim opts for West Side Story over innovative gay opera St Sebastien, the tempers and egos of a multitude of opera-types bubble hilariously to the surface. Even if the divas can agree on a creative direction, there is trouble ahead when the local cash-strapped council wants to use Opera Sunderland’s funding for a public convenience. Things go from bad to worse when Keyboard Ken, a stalwart member of the troupe, collapses and has to be rushed to hospital. Meanwhile, Natasha, Opera Sunderland's prima donna, tours pubs, clubs and local radio stations trying to drum-up an audience. Tensions mount, voices are raised higher than a soprano’s and sparks fly as the cast battle with nerves as first night approaches… After all, the show must go on!

Available to download for the first time, this chaotic and comedic series features music by Tom Miles and Georges Bizet, and stars Godfrey James. Godfrey James is best known for his appearances in classic television series such as The Avengers, Z-Cars and The Sweeney as well as Doctor Who, Emerdale and Coronation Street.

Cast and credits

Written by Fintan Coyle and Tom Miles

Produced by Chris Neill

Music by Tom Miles and Georges Bizet

Derek - Andrew Branch

Keyboard Ken - Tom Miles

Cilla - Carolyn Bonnyman

Gareth - Godfrey James

Natasha - Caz Weller

Dwight - Jonathan Kydd

James - Simon Butteriss

Claire Long - Sally Grace

Singers:

Alison Porter

Susan Jelley

Henrik Wager

Ian Bloomfield

Benjamin Davies

Kathryn Jenkin

Susan Jelley

Jochem van Ast

First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 12th Jun-10th Jul 1997

©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

© 2025 BBC Digital Audio (Lydbog): 9781529935097

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Lydbog: 13. februar 2025