13 episodes
The Dark Is Rising BBC World Service
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- Fiction
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4.6 • 223 Ratings
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A young boy’s time-travelling fight against ancient evil. When the Dark comes rising, who will hold it back? This dramatisation of Susan Cooper’s cult novel is a magical journey into the supernatural.
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Introducing The Dark Is Rising
Fighting against evil in a time-travelling midwinter family drama. A gripping journey through a frozen landscape... and an unending epic battle against the forces of “the Dark”. On midwinter’s eve, 11-year-old Will Stanton discovers he is an ancient being and guardian of “the Light”. This eerie drama is best experienced on headphones for a unique, immersive ‘binaural’ experience. The 12-part adaptation of Susan Cooper’s cult novel has its world premiere on 19 December 2022 and drops daily from 21 December. When the dark comes rising, who will hold it back? #TheDarkIsRising
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1. Midwinter Eve
This night will be bad. Tomorrow will be beyond all imagining. December 20, the day before Will’s 11th birthday, and all he wants is snow. But something is not right. On his way to Dawson’s Farm, a hunched old man scuttles into trees, the animals are disturbed. And then Will receives a present. It is a Sign. Listen on headphones for 3D immersive sound. #TheDarkIsRising
Will Stanton: Noah Alexander
John Smith/Paul Stanton/Mr Beaumont: Thomas Arnold
Bus Conductor/Jamaican Old One/James Stanton: Danny Bailey
Stephen Stanton: Simon Bubb
Mrs Stanton/Mrs Pettigrew/Dr Armstrong: Amanda Hadingue
The Walker/Hawkin: Toby Jones
Narrator: Simon McBurney
The Rider/Mr Mithothin/Mr Stanton/Farmer Dawson: Tim McMullan
Merriman: Paul Rhys
Maggie Barnes/Mary Stanton: Natasha Stone
The Lady/Miss Greythorne: Harriet Walter
Herne: Miles Yekinni
The chorister: Vinay Singh
Radio announcer: Samuel West
Soundscape design: Gareth Fry
Music: Josh Sneesby
Original songs by Johnny Flynn, Luisa Gerstein and Héloïse Tunstall-Behrens
Adapted for audio by Robert Macfarlane and Simon McBurney
Dramaturg: James Yeatman
Director: Simon McBurney
Producers: Catherine Bailey and Tim Bell
A Complicité and Catherine Bailey Production for BBC World Service
Commissioned by Simon Pitts -
2. Midwinter Day
Will awakes in a different time, centuries before his own. Where a familiar farm stood there is a huge forest, blanketed in snow. The Rider, a terrifying agent of the Dark, tries to kidnap him but Will is rescued by a white horse and taken to a pair of carved oak doors set on a hillside. Listen on headphones for 3D immersive sound. #TheDarkIsRising
Will Stanton: Noah Alexander
John Smith/Paul Stanton/Mr Beaumont: Thomas Arnold
Bus Conductor/Jamaican Old One/James Stanton: Danny Bailey
Stephen Stanton: Simon Bubb
Mrs Stanton/Mrs Pettigrew/Dr Armstrong: Amanda Hadingue
The Walker/Hawkin: Toby Jones
Narrator: Simon McBurney
The Rider/Mr Mithothin/Mr Stanton/Farmer Dawson: Tim McMullan
Merriman: Paul Rhys
Maggie Barnes/Mary Stanton: Natasha Stone
The Lady/Miss Greythorne: Harriet Walter
Herne: Miles Yekinni
The chorister: Vinay Singh
Radio announcer: Samuel West
Soundscape design: Gareth Fry
Music: Josh Sneesby
Original songs by Johnny Flynn, Luisa Gerstein and Héloïse Tunstall-Behrens
Adapted for audio by Robert Macfarlane and Simon McBurney
Dramaturg: James Yeatman
Director: Simon McBurney
Producers: Catherine Bailey and Tim Bell
A Complicité and Catherine Bailey Production for BBC World Service
Commissioned by Simon Pitts -
3. The Sign-Seeker
Will learns of his task: To find the six Signs of the Light before the Dark destroys them. He discovers an unexpected power and learns he is an Old One, whose duty is to fight the rising strength of the Dark across the centuries. Listen on headphones for 3D immersive sound. #TheDarkIsRising
Will Stanton: Noah Alexander
John Smith/Paul Stanton/Mr Beaumont: Thomas Arnold
Bus Conductor/Jamaican Old One/James Stanton: Danny Bailey
Stephen Stanton: Simon Bubb
Mrs Stanton/Mrs Pettigrew/Dr Armstrong: Amanda Hadingue
The Walker/Hawkin: Toby Jones
Narrator: Simon McBurney
The Rider/Mr Mithothin/Mr Stanton/Farmer Dawson: Tim McMullan
Merriman: Paul Rhys
Maggie Barnes/Mary Stanton: Natasha Stone
The Lady/Miss Greythorne: Harriet Walter
Herne: Miles Yekinni
The chorister: Vinay Singh
Radio announcer: Samuel West
Soundscape design: Gareth Fry
Music: Josh Sneesby
Original songs by Johnny Flynn, Luisa Gerstein and Héloïse Tunstall-Behrens
Adapted for audio by Robert Macfarlane and Simon McBurney
Dramaturg: James Yeatman
Director: Simon McBurney
Producers: Catherine Bailey and Tim Bell
A Complicité and Catherine Bailey Production for BBC World Service
Commissioned by Simon Pitts -
4. The Walker on the Old Way
On an ancient path Will tries his powers for the first time and the Dark appears - in the form of a farm girl who casts a spell. He is powerless to resist as she takes the prized Signs, laughing. Listen on headphones for 3D immersive sound. #TheDarkIsRising
Will Stanton: Noah Alexander
John Smith/Paul Stanton/Mr Beaumont: Thomas Arnold
Bus Conductor/Jamaican Old One/James Stanton: Danny Bailey
Stephen Stanton: Simon Bubb
Mrs Stanton/Mrs Pettigrew/Dr Armstrong: Amanda Hadingue
The Walker/Hawkin: Toby Jones
Narrator: Simon McBurney
The Rider/Mr Mithothin/Mr Stanton/Farmer Dawson: Tim McMullan
Merriman: Paul Rhys
Maggie Barnes/Mary Stanton: Natasha Stone
The Lady/Miss Greythorne: Harriet Walter
Herne: Miles Yekinni
The chorister: Vinay Singh
Radio announcer: Samuel West
Soundscape design: Gareth Fry
Music: Josh Sneesby
Original songs by Johnny Flynn, Luisa Gerstein and Héloïse Tunstall-Behrens
Adapted for audio by Robert Macfarlane and Simon McBurney
Dramaturg: James Yeatman
Director: Simon McBurney
Producers: Catherine Bailey and Tim Bell
A Complicité and Catherine Bailey Production for BBC World Service
Commissioned by Simon Pitts -
5. The Book of Gramarye
It is Christmas Eve and Will has been transported to a different time, 1875. Hawkin risks his life to break a spell and free a tome of ancient knowledge. The book speaks of hidden things - of real magic, of rocks and trees and stars. Listen on headphones for 3D immersive sound. #TheDarkIsRising
Will Stanton: Noah Alexander
John Smith/Paul Stanton/Mr Beaumont: Thomas Arnold
Bus Conductor/Jamaican Old One/James Stanton: Danny Bailey
Stephen Stanton: Simon Bubb
Mrs Stanton/Mrs Pettigrew/Dr Armstrong: Amanda Hadingue
The Walker/Hawkin: Toby Jones
Narrator: Simon McBurney
The Rider/Mr Mithothin/Mr Stanton/Farmer Dawson: Tim McMullan
Merriman: Paul Rhys
Maggie Barnes/Mary Stanton: Natasha Stone
The Lady/Miss Greythorne: Harriet Walter
Herne: Miles Yekinni
The chorister: Vinay Singh
Radio announcer: Samuel West
Soundscape design: Gareth Fry
Music: Josh Sneesby
Original songs by Johnny Flynn, Luisa Gerstein and Héloïse Tunstall-Behrens
Adapted for audio by Robert Macfarlane and Simon McBurney
Dramaturg: James Yeatman
Director: Simon McBurney
Producers: Catherine Bailey and Tim Bell
A Complicité and Catherine Bailey Production for BBC World Service
Commissioned by Simon Pitts
Customer Reviews
Very enjoyable, engrossing in much better than the movie
I very much enjoyed this series as a child. I hope they do the rest of the books. I watch the movie that was made from this first book several years ago. It did not do well because it did not follow the spirit this book.But this reading of it was enchanting. I had a lot of trouble not listening to it—So I ended up staying up very late. I will be late to work most likely because I will be tired in the morning. But I had to listen. That is the mark of a good work.
Fantastic !
I loved these books as a child and loved reading them aloud to my own kids. This is a marvelous adaptation ! Please do the rest of the books!
True to the spirit of the book!
If you want a good adaptation, go to audiodrama, which sticks close to the words, leans into the music implied by the book, and simplifies only to clarify. Changes are well-judged, few, and added with a light touch, (I liked the coda), Will is excellent, and I do believe that's Dame Harriet Vane, excuse me, Walters, adding gravitas as The Lady.
Two very minor quibbles. It feels a trifle rushed now and then, failing to pause for emotional beats to sink in, or dashing through a dramatic sequence on speedrun. But then, that's the nature of abridgement. Also, personally, I expected Merriman to have a deeper, more gravelly voice, a la Peter Capaldi or Christopher Lee. but that's more matter of personal preference.
Other one anyway, I enjoyed it and stayed up half the night because I couldn't stop listening until I'd bibged the whole thing. I am definitely on board if they choose to do any of the other books.