EPISODE 1 | WHEN THE LUSITANIA WENT DOWN

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.

FEBRUARY 1915. Colonel House, President Wilson’s right-hand man, is aboard the Lusitania bound for Liverpool. His mission: to negotiate peace. But the voyage is a perilous one. German submarines are on the prowl in the Irish Sea.

CAST (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)LORD NORTHCLIFFE – Henry Goodman | COLONEL HOUSE – Nathan Osgood | COUNT VON BERNSTORFF – Chris Pavlo | WILLIAM HINES PAGE – William Hope | COUNTESS BLÜCHER – Jasmine Hyde

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