In Depth with Shaun McKenna: Adapting John le Carré for Radio
08/05/24 • 46 min
In this episode of The le Carré Cast, I interview acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Shaun McKenna. Sean discusses his journey into writing, his collaboration process for bringing le Carré’s complex characters to life on BBC Radio 4, and the challenges of adapting intricate novels for audio. about his adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Looking Glass War while highlighting Shaun’s eclectic career, including his involvement in the ‘Lord of the Rings’ musical. Sean also shares insights on the enduring appeal of audio drama in the UK and his current and upcoming projects.
Our previous look at The Smiley Radio Dramas can be found here –
00:46 Meet Shaun McKenna: The Adaptation Maestro
02:37 Shaun’s Journey into Audio Drama
04:13 The Smiley Radio Dramas: A Deep Dive
06:13 Challenges and Triumphs in Adaptation
08:39 The Art of Radio Drama
16:06 Capturing the Essence of le Carré
23:56 The Joys and Challenges of Radio Drama
26:11 The Decline of Radio Drama in the UK
28:48 A Writer’s Journey: From Actor to Adaptation Specialist
33:12 The Legacy of John le Carré’s Smiley Series
38:56 Reviving The Lord of the Rings Musical
41:20 Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts
Shaun McKenna’s Website – ShaunMcKenna.me
The Lord of the Rings World Tour
The Lord of the Rings in Chicago
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Google Podcasts Listen on Spotify RSS Feed
In this episode of The le Carré Cast, I interview acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Shaun McKenna. Sean discusses his journey into writing, his collaboration process for bringing le Carré’s complex characters to life on BBC Radio 4, and the challenges of adapting intricate novels for audio. about his adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Looking Glass War while highlighting Shaun’s eclectic career, including his involvement in the ‘Lord of the Rings’ musical. Sean also shares insights on the enduring appeal of audio drama in the UK and his current and upcoming projects.
Our previous look at The Smiley Radio Dramas can be found here –
00:46 Meet Shaun McKenna: The Adaptation Maestro
02:37 Shaun’s Journey into Audio Drama
04:13 The Smiley Radio Dramas: A Deep Dive
06:13 Challenges and Triumphs in Adaptation
08:39 The Art of Radio Drama
16:06 Capturing the Essence of le Carré
23:56 The Joys and Challenges of Radio Drama
26:11 The Decline of Radio Drama in the UK
28:48 A Writer’s Journey: From Actor to Adaptation Specialist
33:12 The Legacy of John le Carré’s Smiley Series
38:56 Reviving The Lord of the Rings Musical
41:20 Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts
Shaun McKenna’s Website – ShaunMcKenna.me
The Lord of the Rings World Tour
The Lord of the Rings in Chicago
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Google Podcasts Listen on Spotify RSS Feed
Previous Episode
A Most Wanted Man by John le Carré Explored Part 2
In this episode we continue our look at John le Carré’s 2008 novel, A Most Wanted Man.
I’m pleased to welcome back poet Clarissa Aykroyd to the show.
If you missed Part 1, you can find it here.
We talk about parallels between the novel’s characters and another famous spy duo, Jackson Lamb and Catherine Standish from Mick Herron’s ‘Slough House’ series. The conversation highlights the novel’s exploration of complex characters, long-term espionage strategies, and critiques of American actions post-9/11. We also discuss the film adaptation’s strengths and weaknesses, particularly praising its ending and Hoffman’s portrayal of the main character. Additionally, we speculate about a new TV adaptation of the novel for German television and its potential impact. The episode closes with a personal anecdote from Clarissa related to the novel.
All that and more in this episode.
Ernst Barlach Haus, the museum Clarissa mentioned from the book – https://www.barlach-haus.de/
Clarissa’s Website – https://thestoneandthestar.blogspot.com/
Clarissa’s Twitter – https://x.com/stoneandthestar
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Google Podcasts Listen on Spotify RSS FeedNext Episode
After le Carré: Sarah Gainham Explored Part 1
Discovering Sarah Gainham: Unveiling the Overlooked Cold War Novelist
In this episode of the le Carré Cast, we introduce a new feature – ‘After le Carré,’ spotlighting authors beyond John le Carré. Jeff welcomes back Jeremy Duns, writer and spy fiction enthusiast, to discuss Sarah Gainham, a lesser-known but richly talented spy novelist. They delve into the essential elements of le Carré’s works, Gainham’s life and career, and especially her novel The Tiger, Life.
The discussion explores Gainham’s intricate plotting, authentic depictions of Cold War espionage, and her personal experiences that shaped her stories. The episode wraps up with intriguing insights into the realities of spy life and the dynamic between Gainham and her contemporaries.
All that and more in this episode.
00:00 Welcome to the le Carré Cast
00:38 Introducing ‘After le Carré’
00:48 Guest Introduction: Jeremy Duns
01:01 Defining a le Carré Novel
03:21 Spotlight on Sarah Gainham
06:24 Sarah Gainham’s Life and Career
09:30 Exploring Gainham’s Spy Novels
16:22 The Tiger, Life: Gainham’s Masterpiece
23:41 Debating Book Titles and Their Impact
26:33 Exploring the Novel’s Setting and Characters
28:23 Autobiographical Elements and Espionage
30:02 Complex Relationships and Character Analysis
39:38 Real-Life Inspirations and Historical Context
44:29 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes
Title Fight! The Good, the Bad and Ugly of Spy Book Titles with Jeremy Duns and Jeff Quest. (102)Jeremy’s twitter – @JeremyDuns
Jeremy’s Website – Jeremy-Duns.com
Jeff’s site – SpyWrite.com
Jeff’s twitter – @spywrite
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Google Podcasts Listen on Spotify RSS FeedIf you like this episode you’ll love
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