8pm, 24 April 2022 – RTÉ Radio 1
Marconi & Me by Zoë Comyns
A podcast producer finds a set of code books. They are the Marconi International Code books. They contain 500 pages of 5-letter codes and their translations. The main character starts to read the codes obsessively and twist them into her own life story. In themselves the codes form extraordinarily poetic lists. The innovative drama charts a crumbling relationship from its origins, via a history of sound, telegraphy and communication, Marconi’s telegraphic work in Ireland and a flight into family madness.
Written and narrated by Zoë Comyns.
Performed by Zoë Comyns and José Miguel Jiménez
Additional roles were voiced by Nathalie Cazaux, Michael Comyns, Leo Oosterweghel,
Oliver Hochadel, Kerstin Aquaviva, Jesper Bergmann and Dora Vargha.
Extra recordings by Colette Kinsella
Sound Design by Brendan Rehill, Brendan Jenkinson, and Damian Chennells
Sound Supervision by Damian Chennells
Producer for RTÉ: Kevin Brew
Producer for New Normal Culture: Zoë Comyns
The original text was published in the Australian journal The Lifted Brow under the title ‘Owing to the Failure Of.’ An early version of the piece was performed at Hearsay International Audio Arts Festival and at Dublin Fringe Festival 2018, with direction by Caitriona McLaughlin
Available for download at rte.ie/dramaonone
Marconi & Me was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland Sound & Vision Fund with the Television Licence Fee.