EPISODE 4 | IT’S A LONG WAY TO BERLIN

On 2 April 1917, President Woodrow Wilson went to Congress to seek permission to declare war. He was met with tumultuous applause and on 6 April 1917 America finally entered the conflict. A new drama from Martyn Wade - ENTER THE PEACE BROKER - brings America’s journey into war vividly alive. Based on first-hand accounts – diaries, letters and contemporary press coverage – it is a compelling story of duplicity and diplomatic intrigue, of colourful personalities engaged in great power politics, and of secret communications between Washington, London and Berlin set against the backdrop of war.

JANUARY 1917. Germany declares unrestricted U-boat warfare. President Wilson goes before the Senate to appeal to the world for ‘peace without victory’. But interception of a telegram from German Foreign Minister Zimmermann to the German Ambassador in Mexico City forces the peace broker President to reconsider his position.

CAST (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)KURT RIEZLER – Gunnar Cauthery | COUNT VON BERNSTORFF – Chris Pavlo | LORD NORTHCLIFFE – Henry Goodman | COLONEL HOUSE – Nathan Osgood | EDITH WILSON – Laurel Lefkow | WILLIAM HINES PAGE – William Hope | FRANCES STEVENSON – Tuppence Middleton | PRINCESS BLÜCHER – Jasmine Hyde | AJ BALFOUR – Tim Woodward

CREDITSScript consultant - Professor Sir Hew Strachan | Producer - Catriona Oliphant | Director - Elizabeth Rigbey | Sound design - David Chilton | Songs performed by Jessica Walker, with James Holmes on piano

A ChromeRadio Production 2017 | With thanks to the Rothermere Foundation

#History #WW1