Noughts & Crosses: A BBC Radio Full-Cast Dramatisation - REVIEW

Playwright Janice Okoh's adaptation of Noughts & Crosses flows beautifully within the audio medium - her use of dialogue really demonstrates her ability to portray character's internal and external conflict without feeling like exposition. Every character interaction and narration was natural. bringing individuality to both protagonists' perspective on the world and events. Okoh's script captures the transition of adolescence and adulthood perfectly - her play tackled aspects of the novel which the TV series chose to leave out, this script relying on nuance and the effects on the characters in the aftermath of pivotal and devastating events. dealing with racism is shown through blatant and micro-aggressive discrimination that the Nought characters face. Okoh's adaptation of Blackman's novel is personally my favourite written to date, the translation from page to radio really works with this piece.

The casting for this is just brilliant - Zawe Ashton and Rikki Lawton are great as the star-crossed lovers, both giving strong and moving performances. Adjoa Andoh's performance as both Meggie and Jasmine is just superb, she really delivered in both roles - I cannot express enough how good Andoh was in this production. Like I said, this adaptation explores aspects of the book we didn't get from the recent BBC TV show run - supporting characters such as Jude (Alex Lanipekun), Ryan/Andrew Dorn ( Carl Prekopp), Lynette/Sarah (Tracy Wiles) and Kamal (Jude Akuwudike) are given way more nuance and complexity, exploring the supporting cast's arcs as well as Sephy and Callum's.

This gave a complete narrative, giving audiences the heart-breaking ending from the book with moving performances. This leaves the audience with a punch in the gut, it embraces the Romeo & Juliet aspects of this story - yes it is a romance, but it is also a tragedy. There's no forced happy-ending or leaving it up to the audience decide what happens next - which is what you want in a faithful adaptation and why Okoh's writing perfectly encapsulates the tone of Blackman's novel.

This was my first time listening to BBC Radio 4's adaptation and I loved every moment of it - from the writing, acting and sound design - it was an incredibly strong production. This is absolutely a FIVE-STAR review, I was surprised and pleased by this faithful adaptation. If BBC Radio decided to adapt the five following novels, I'd happily listen - especially if Janice Okoh returned as writer.

A thrilling adaptation of Malorie Blackman's best-selling novel about young love in a dystopian world.

Callum and Sephy have known each other since they were babies. His mum used to work for hers as housekeeper, and they played together and became best friends. Then Callum's mother lost her job and they had to start meeting in secret. Because Callum is a Nought - a second class citizen - and Sephy a Cross, one of the elite. And Noughts and Crosses can't mix....

In this segregated society, Noughts are nonentities - discriminated against, denigrated, denied decent education. But now Callum's passed the entrance exams and been allowed into Sephy's posh school. Surely this is his first step to a better life, one where he and Sephy can be together?

Only it doesn't work out that way. Instead of acceptance, the couple face opposition, intimidation and violence. They know they're made for each other - but the world keeps tearing them apart. And soon bigger things will prevail.

Malorie Blackman's groundbreaking book has won a host of awards and become a modern classic, with themes of racism and prejudice that still resonate today. This powerful, hard-hitting dramatisation was written by award-winning playwright Janice Okoh, and stars Zawe Ashton as Sephy, with Rikki Lawton as Callum.

Also included is a bonus episode of Word of Mouth, in which Malorie Blackman talks to Michael Rosen about her lifelong love of reading, the writing that has shaped her and how she's used language in her own influential work.

Cast & Creatives:

• Sephy - Zawe Ashton
• Callum - Rikki Lawton
• Meggie/Jasmine - Adjoa Andoh
• Ryan/Andrew Dorn - Carl Prekopp
• Jude - Alex Lanipekun
• Lynette/Sarah - Tracy Wiles
• Kamal - Jude Akuwudike
• Kelani Adams - Nikki Amuka Bird
• Mr Pingule - Israel Oyelumade
• Mr Stoll/Judge - Richard Pepple
• Soanes/Sgt Collins - Gerard McDermott
• Shania - Victoria Inez Hardy
• Adapted by Janice Okoh
• Director/Producer Marion Nancarrow

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25th February 2012.

Get your copy of Noughts & Crosses here