Gilgamesh

Available for 28 days

A dramatisation of UK Poet Laureate Simon Armitage's new verse translation capturing the timeless and immersive power of the world's oldest poem The Epic of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh originated in Ancient Mesopotamia nearly 4,000 years ago, yet its themes of power, loyalty, love and loss resound with contemporary relevance. The eponymous demigod tyrannically rules the kingdom of Uruk. To establish peace, the gods create his counterpart, the wild man Enkidu. The two rivals-turned-comrades embark on a series of extraordinary adventures including battles with Humbaba, guardian of the Cedar Forest, and the Bull of Heaven. After tragedy strikes, Gilgamesh sets out alone on a desperate quest for immortality that leads him to the very edge of the world. NARRATOR ..... Paterson Joseph GILGAMESH ..... Sacha Dhawan ENKIDU/ HE-SCORPION ...... Ciarán Owens SHAMHAT/ISHTAR ..... Leila Farzad HUMBABA/UR_SHANABI/HUNTER ..... Kadiff Kirwan UTA-NAPISTI/HUNTER'S FATHER ..... Raad Rawi NINSUN / WIFE OF UTA-NAPISHTI ..... Souad Faress SHIDURI/TOWNSWOMAN ..... Debbie Korley A new verse translation by Simon Armitage. Director: Nadia Molinari Composer: Erland Cooper Sound Designer: Sharon Hughes Production Co-ordinator: Pippa Day Technical Producers: Keith Graham, Sam Dickinson. A BBC Studios Production for BBC Radio 4