From BBC Radio 4. Written by Kim Newman; Full-cast dramatisation.
Barty and Angela Flitcroft are having a baby, by the popular method of delayed
obligation parenthood, based on the science of cryo-genesis which everyone
thought would be used for freezing sick old rich people until cures for their
ills were developed, but instead it is being used by busy, professional couples
who no longer have to put off having children. These couples can conceive their
child and leave the Polish surrogate mother to take over and carry them to term.
Then, they put the new-borns on ice until they're ready to make space in their
lives to become parents!
In Kim Newman's science-fiction afternoon play 'Cry Babies', we follow the life
of one of these cryo-children, Joy Flitcroft, and experience what it is like to
be revived and then forced back into stasis every few years. As Joy ages at
a much reduced rate while in the cryo-machine, she is also educated by the voice
of the SleepLearn programme. This advanced education, coupled with the slow
growth rate, marks Joy, and her fellow 'cry-babies' out from the 'normal'
children, and they experience cultural bias, bullying and different laws, all
while coping with the sudden 'jumps' from one period of freedom to the next.
Cry Babies' is a science fiction satire, extrapolating from current trends
in medical science and society in general to look at the way family ties may
change in the future. The structure, scenes set years apart, allows us to have
a sweeping view of future history, and make observations about the way current
obsessions might alter. But at heart it's a story about irresponsible, self-
absorbed parents and a child who suffers from an economically privileged but
emotionally sterile upbringing.
Cast:
Dr Rossiter ..... Alex Jennings
Angela Flitcroft ..... Natasha Little
Barty Flitcroft ..... Rupert Degas
SleepLearn Machine ..... Sarah Douglas
Joy ..... Sia Alexander
Roger ..... Colin Morgan
Jeff ..... Sam Alexander
Aruna ..... Emma Darwall-Smith
Daisy ..... Kirsty Stuart
Ari ..... Rob Kendrick
Marketa/Girl ..... Emma Handy
Music Composed by Jeremy Paul Carroll
Executive Produced by Dirk Maggs
Producer/Director: Neil Gardner
A Ladbroke production for BBC Radio 4.
Download File Size:40.33 MB
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