A new version of "Under Milk Wood" by Dylan Thomas can currently be heard on the BBC website (URL below). This is digitally remastered, and was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 a few days ago to mark the 50th anniversary of the author�s death.

I listened to it today and I thought it very good, having also heard the original a few years ago. It�s 90 minutes long, full of memorable characters and very funny.

For anyone unfamiliar with it, it was written as a "play for voices". It�s set in the Welsh village of Llareggub (read that backwards), and portrays such a village perfectly, with a heavy focus on the sex lives of its inhabitants. How they got away with it in the 1950s I don�t know.

It�s generally regarded as the greatest radio play of all time. The original version made Richard Burton�s reputation in the 1950s: if you listen you�ll see why. He plays "First Voice" in both versions.

It�s full of characters and sayings which have passed into the language (which is why I�ve posted it in this forum): No Good Boyo, Organ Morgan, "To begin at the beginning", "starless and bible-black"...

It will only be available for a few more days (because of performers� rights issues). Enjoy... Stephen

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/under_milk_wood.shtml

I shall be listening tomorrow at 14.30. Thanks for that link

madsue, you can listen anytime! Just click on - "Listen to the drama"

tried that, it doesn�t work on my PC, nothing happens. So will tune in to Radio 4 tomorrow at 14.30

Ah!, you need realplayer...Radio4 Audio Help

Thanks for the info and link Stephen! Listening in with my headphones and all the lights off was the most pleasurable experience of my week!

C

Laidback, thank you!!! After a few attempts I have now managed to download the realplayer and am listening to Under Milk Wood as I write this

Wish I understood why I cannot listen to the same on my satellite tv Radio 4. The BBC did say it was being broadcast at 14.30 today. But it wasn�t!

Under Milk Wood was broadcast on Sat 15th, it still appears to be there today (Sun 23rd). Most things are only available for a week after broadcast because of the rights issues mentioned.

Also of interest to norteamericanos may be the weekly Alistair Cooke�s Letter from America which he has been doing since 1946 (though it�s only been continuous since later). In this case, the programmes are available permanently. I�ve listened to it for years, and very interesting it is too. As he�s about 95 (but very much on-the-ball) it won�t go on for much longer.

Everything available for listening from BBC Radio 4 is at the URL below. This might be of interest also to more advanced students of English.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/progs/listenagain.shtml

Cheers Stephen! Under Milk wood was excellent and I'll have to find time to listen to letter from America again, not heard it for a few years!