Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Closely Observed Trains by Bohumil Hrabal

For young apprentice Milos Hrma, life at the railway station in Bohemia is full of complex preoccupations. Stars John Bradley.

It is 1945. For gauche young apprentice Milos Hrma, life at the sleepy railway station in Bohemia is full of complex preoccupations.

There's the burden of dispatching German troop trains; the shocking scandal of Dispatcher Hubicka; and the vexing problem of his sexual performance.

Celebrated Czech author Bohumil Hrabal's classic of post-war literature is a small masterpiece of humour, humanity and heroism.

First published in 1965 and dramatised by Ian Kershaw

Milos ..... John Bradley
Masha/Virginia ..... Verity Henry
Hubicka ..... Jason Done
Lansky ..... Howard Chadwick
Mother/Viktoria ..... Fiona Clarke
Slusny/Father ..... Jonathan Keeble
Zednicek ..... Hamilton Berstock

Director: Gary Brown

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2015.

*** The novel also became the award-winning Jiri Menzel film of the 'Prague Spring'

1 hour

Last on

Wed 1 Oct 202505:00

Credits

RoleContributor
MilosJohn Bradley
MashaVerity Henry
VirginiaVerity Henry
HubickaJason Done
LanskyHoward Chadwick
MotherFiona Clarke
ViktoriaFiona Clarke
SlusnyJonathan Keeble
FatherJonathan Keeble
ZednicekHamilton Berstock
DirectorGary Brown
ProducerGary Brown
AuthorBohumil Hrabal
AdaptorIan Kershaw

Broadcasts

  • Sat 29 Aug 201514:30
  • Sun 21 Jul 201916:00
  • Mon 22 Jul 201904:00
  • Sun 2 Aug 202015:00
  • Tue 30 Sep 202515:00
  • Tue 30 Sep 202521:00
  • Wed 1 Oct 202505:00

Opening Lines

Opening Lines

John Yorke unpacks the themes behind the stories in Radio 4's weekend afternoon dramas.

The Shakespeare Sessions

The Shakespeare Sessions

Immerse yourself in Shakespeare’s world