Love Across the Ages

Shahid Iqbal Khan’s BBC Radio 4 afternoon drama debut tackles love between two Muslim men from Iran in 815 through to modern-day Bradford using classical poet Abu Nuwas as our guide, our Cupid.

Abū Nuwās al-Ḥasan ibn Hānī al-Ḥakamī (c. 756 – c. 814) was a classical Arabic poet, and the foremost representative of the modern (muhdath) poetry, famous for his wine, hunting and homoerotic oeuvre. He also entered the folkloric tradition, appearing several times in One Thousand and One Nights.

Starring Raad Rawi (Spy, Coronation Street, Tumanbay), Esh Alladi (Ordinary Love, A Confession) Darren Kuppan (Bangla Bantams, Coronation Street) and Nadia Emam (Everything I Know About Love, Playing Dead), Love Across The Ages is a reflective, dynamic drama.

As part of Naked Productions' initiative to introduce more diverse audio drama directors to BBC audio drama, Nickie Miles-Wildin makes her debut as director. Nickie is a freelance director, specializing in theatre, making work that challenges, connects and is full of hope.

The drama:

It’s 2022. Danyaal and Saif meet in a bookshop in Bradford. They are both drawn to the poetry book of Abu Nuwas, but with only one copy left who will become its lucky owner? Abu Nuwas plays Cupid with his words, with the enchanting powers of his poetry as we are transported to different eras, different countries, each with different views on gay relationships. Can Danyaal and Saif navigate the ups and downs of their relationship during these times and will they live happily ever after? Abu Nuwas reminds us to let down our guard and to reach out… Where will it take us?

The writer:

Shahid Iqbal Khan is an Offies finalist and Olivier-nominated playwright published by Methuen Drama. He has been part of BBC Writersroom and Write To Play. He is on attachment and under co-commission to Graeae and Royal Court Theatre for the year of 2022. His full-length stage plays are Stardust (Belgrade Theatre) and 10 Nights (Bush Theatre). His radio portfolio includes audio shorts such as Bhavika, Night of the Living Flatpacks (both on community channels) and Brandlesholme (Sheltering) (BBC Radio 4).

Cast:
Danyaal ..... Esh Alladi
Saif ..... Darren Kuppan
Abu Nuwas ..... Raad Rawi
Shop assistant / Shazia ..... Nadia Emam

The quotes from poems by Abu Nuwas were translated by James Montgomery, Jim Colville and Philip Kennedy. Forget the Windswept Traces and Don't Cry for Layla from Poems Of Wine & Revelry, 1st Edition by Colville, published by Routledge © Jim Colville, quoted by arrangement with Taylor & Francis Group.

Production team:
Director, Nickie Miles-Wildin
Sound Recordist, Greg Veryard
Sound Designer, Steve Brooke
Composer, Sarah Sayeed
Illustration, Isobel Platt
Production Manager, Darren Spruce
Producer, Polly Thomas
Executive Producer, Eloise Whitmore

A Naked Production for BBC Radio 4

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