Modern Morality Tales: Moderation; Pride; Envy; Wrath; Justice

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In medieval times, allegorical plays such as 'Mankind' and 'Everyman' were used to warn audiences that how they lived in the present would affect their afterlife - whether they would end up in Hell, Purgatory or Heaven. But in a secular age how do we deal with the nature of sins and virtues? Our attitude to good and evil is certainly less black and white. Is it bad to be proud - don't we deserve respect? Can't anger be used to promote change for the better, and isn't envy what drives our materialistic lifestyle? These five tales by some of radio's most talented playwrights explore our attitudes to these questions through the character of 'Eve', a 21st-century Everywoman played by Rebecca Front, to see how contemporary attitudes to morality have changed.

The five plays are introduced by Dr Sue Niebrzydowski, Senior Lecturer in Medieval English Literature at Bangor University, and directed by Sally Avens.

1. Moderation
by Lin Coghlan. A comic look at our attitude towards Moderation as Eve comes face to face with her Spiritual Estate Agent after her car crashes into a canal.

Eve ..... Rebecca Front
Isobel ..... Anastasia Hille
Ana ..... Scarlett Brookes
Jerome ..... Ewan Bailey

2. Pride
Al Smith takes a look at the most venous of sins, Pride. Mrs Eve is the head of an exclusive public school instilling pride and ambition in their pupils, but her lack of respect for one of her former charges is the basis of a shaming encounter.

Mrs Eve ..... Rebecca Front
Tom ..... Tom Hughes

3. Envy
by Duncan MacMillan and Effie Woods. Invidia has gone for a job interview at her old school, but her nemesis, Helen Polidora, is interviewing for the same role. Helen who always beats her at everything. Will this time be different?

Eve/Invidia ..... Rebecca Front
Jonathan ..... Alex Lowe
Headteacher ..... Susan Jameson
Helen ..... Adie Allen

4. Wrath
by Roy Williams. Eve finds herself overcome with anger on the day that she is made redundant, but does her anger necessarily have to have a destructive end?

Eve ..... Rebecca Front
Samson ..... Steve Toussaint
Supervisor ..... Nick Underwood
Bus announcements ..... Adie Allen

5. Justice
by Lizzie Nunnery. Can justice act fairly in a world of the haves and have nots?

Eve ..... Rebecca Front
Managing Director ..... Nick Underwood
Wrath ..... Adie Allen
Spite ..... Scarlett Brookes
Mirth ..... Ewan Bailey
Mercy ..... Susan Jameson