Five dazzling plays showcasing characters from the reign of biblical King David

In these fascinating, moving and insightful plays, a different light is shone on the famous biblical King. From the original mission of King Saul to find the shepherd boy after Samuel's prophecy, to David's final days of sickness and neglect, and taking in his days of war raids and spying as well as his loves and losses as his wives battle for status and attention, the tales bring to life a man who all too often is a figure of myth rather than a flawed and passionate human.

Featuring a rich cast including Sheridan Smith (The Royale Family, Cilla, Gavin & Stacey), Linda Bassett (Call the Midwife, Lark Rise to Candleford), David Calder (The Lovecraft Investigations, Conclave), Claire Rushbrook (Whitechapel, Secrets & Lies), Adam Levy (Industry, The Witcher) and Christopher Godwin (The Dig, The Miniaturist).

True Anointed

Eleazar - David Calder

David - Adam Levy

Goliath - Ewan Bailey

Saul - Gerard Murphy

Samuel - John Bennett

Jesse - David Timson

Agag - Christopher Godwin

Michal - Claire Rushbrook

Other parts were played by Sarah Paul and Carl Prekopp

Music by Sylvia Hallett

Musicians - Dirk Campbell, Paul Clarvis, Sylvia Hallett

Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz

Directed by Jeremy Mortimer

Hazar's Chicken

Bone - Tony Marshall

David - Adam Levy

Abner - David Timson

Hazar - Ewan Bailey

Abigail - Helen Longworth

Saul - Gerard Murphy

Jonathan - Carl Prekopp

Head Man - Christopher Godwin

Music by Sylvia Hallett

Musicians - Dirk Campbell, Paul Clarvis, Sylvia Hallett

Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz

Directed by Jeremy Mortimer

The Loved One

Anat - Ann Mitchell

Young Anat - Gemma Saunders

Saul - Gerard Murphy

Abaiathar - Ewan Bailey

Sweet - David Timson

Samuel - John Bennett

Eleazar - David Calder

Music by Sylvia Hallett

Musicians - Dirk Campbell, Paul Clarvis, Sylvia Hallett

Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz

Directed by David Hunter

Michal, Saul's Daughter

Eglah - Sheridan Smith

Michal - Claire Rushbrook

Abigail - Caroline Langrishe

Servant - Ewan Bailey

Music by Sylvia Hallett

Musicians - Dirk Campbell, Paul Clarvis, Sylvia Hallett

Written by Kate Clanchy

Directed by Jeremy Mortimer

Abishag the Virgin

Bathsheba - Linda Bassett

Abishag - Alison Pettitt

Nathan - Christopher Godwin

David - David Timson

Music by Sylvia Hallett

Musicians - Dirk Campbell, Paul Clarvis, Sylvia Hallett

Written by Kate Clanchy

Directed by David Hunter

Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4:

15 January - 12 February 2002