Rob Roy

Our Rob Roy has dispensed with the Jacobite setting and updates the story to the 20th century. It is 1924 and 20-year-old Frank falls foul of his father. He has spent a year in Paris, supposedly learning the business, but actually hanging out with Imagist poets. When he refuses to join the business his father sends him north to stay with his Uncle - a radical and mixed up in the cause of Irish Nationalism.

Scott's book doesn't really depend on the historical trappings on which the author's reputation now rests. A son being banished by his father because he wants to be a long-haired poet is a perennial situation, as is the love-triangle between Frank, Die Vernon and her wicked cousin Rashleigh. With this production the listener is asked to regard Scott as a novelist like any other, concerned with the workings of the human heart and how they play out in a society more like ours.

Starring David Tennant.

A tale by Sir Walter Scott dramatised by Robin Brooks.

Walter Scott ...... David Tennant
Frank ...... Paul Ready
Die Vernon ...... Denise Gough
Rob Roy ...... Mark Bonnar
Quentin ...... Christian Rodska
Frank's Father ...... Christian Rodska
Rashleigh ...... Joe McFadden
Owen ...... Michael Eaves
Uncle Hilary ...... Stuart McGugan
Vernon ...... Stuart McGugan
The Post Master ...... Stuart McGugan
O'Brien ...... Paul Reid
Dougal ...... Callum O'Neill
Henry ...... Callum O'Neill
Cummings ...... Callum O'Neill

All other parts played by members of the cast.

Music composed and performed by Ross Hughes and Esben Tjalve.

Produced and directed by Clive Brill

A Pacificus production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2013.