world radio premiere of albert camus the plague
The radio premiere of Albert Camus's The Plague explores a community facing quarantine during a deadly plague, recorded with actors in isolation during the UK lockdown.
The world radio premiere of Albert Camus's classic novel, The Plague, offers a compelling exploration of a town grappling with a deadly plague and the subsequent quarantine measures implemented by its residents. Recorded during the UK lockdown, the adaptation features actors in self-isolation, contributing to the thematic resonance of the narrative.
Adapted from Camus's celebrated work La Peste, the radio production is directed by Neil Bartlett, who previously staged it at the Arcola Theatre in 2017. This adaptation serves as the English language world radio premiere of The Plague and centres around five characters, utilising only the words found within the original novel.
Written in 1947, La Peste reflects on the rise of fascism across Europe, although Camus consistently denied this interpretation. Today, however, the narrative's parallels to the COVID-19 pandemic, including lockdowns and moral dilemmas, have become strikingly apparent. The production echoes concerns regarding the resurgence of extremist ideologies present in various countries.
Similar to current global challenges, the characters in The Plague encompass a range of behaviours—selfless and selfish acts, individuals who change for the better, and those who face regrettable consequences after the plague is eventually overcome. The prospect of hope arises with discussions of a potential serum, leading to ethical considerations surrounding the selection of individuals for clinical trials.
The resonance of this drama is further heightened as it was produced during a real pandemic, with actors isolated in their homes, yet the creative scope remained largely intact.
