An anxious patient consults with a therapist about a problem that threatens to destroy him. But, as the session progresses, the patient starts to wonder whether the therapist might be part of the problem. The Barrell of Laughs was written by C

#32 Slippy Maggie by Miranda Langley

Nov 18th, 2022 14m 30s

You have been listening to Slippy Maggie, written by Miranda Langley, and starring Lesley Sharp as Jeanette. Slippy Maggie was directed by Alice Fitzgerald with sound design by Nicola T Chang. It was produced by Hew Rous-Eyre. Through The Pain

#31 Serve, Fault, Ace by Lucy Curtis

Sep 11th, 2022 9m 19s

The problem with theory is that once you’ve started, you can’t stop.”A student sits down to begin work on her dissertation. She has things to say but she’s finding it difficult to say them, and before long she begins to spiral. You have been li

#30 God of Circles by Billy Brooks

Aug 12th, 2022 10m 55s

Foreseeing an endless succession of disasters and tragedies awaiting them beneath the streets of London, Charlotte and Samuel will do anything it takes in order to stay out of harm’s way. You have been listening to God of Circles by Billy Brook

#29 Deja Vu by Sarah Baylis

Jun 23rd, 2022 12m 20s

Passing a restaurant window, a woman feels a powerful sense of connection to a man sitting inside, and is compelled to enter... Deja Vu was written by Sarah Baylis. It was performed by Amy Loughton, directed by Nicky Allpress, with sound design

#28 I Love Television by Matthew Stephen Smith

Mar 11th, 2022 9m 48s

Kyla and Dario are here to execute a job. Kyla has a knife. Dario has a secret.I Love Television was written by Matthew Stephen Smith and performed by Tamara Lawrance as Kyla and Philip Arditti as Dario. It was directed by Oscar Toeman with so

#27 Two Fingers by Rosaleen Cox

Feb 17th, 2022 11m 5s

Ann works at Poundland. It isn’t the most exciting job, but when the gorgeous Larry Simmons walks in, that quickly starts to change.Two Fingers was written and performed by Rosaleen Cox, with Declan Rodgers as Larry. It was directed by Hannah

#26 The Dig by Stephen Condor - performed by Hannah Stokley

Jan 27th, 2022 12m 12s

Cathy is gardening. Or at least, she’s pretending to. The truth is she’s looking for something. Something she doesn’t necessarily want to find.The Dig was written by Stephen Condor. It was performed by Hannah Stokley and directed by Evangeline

#25 Fracture Mechanics by Hester Styles-Vickery - performed by Kate O'Flynn

Jan 14th, 2022 10m 6s

Fracture Mechanics was written by Hester Styles-Vickery. It was performed by Kate O’Flynn. Fracture Mechanics was directed by Georgie Staight with sound design by Nicola T Chang. It was produced by Hew Rous-Eyre. Through The Painkiller Project,

#24 Tree Rings by Mandy Wheeler - performed by Sarah Woodward and Breffni Holahan

Oct 20th, 2021 10m 54s

"A young woman has a question to ask. It’s a big question, it could change everything. She needs to be prepared."Tree Rings was written by Mandy Wheeler. It was performed by Breffni Holahan as Amy and Sarah Woodward as the Director. Tree Rings

#23 Clear-Up by Charlotte Cromie - performed by Daniel Ings

Jul 15th, 2021 10m 1s

Ethan’s a different person when he’s drunk. And one morning, clearing up after the night before turns out to be a bigger job than he’d expected.Clear-Up was written by Charlotte Cromie and performed by Daniel Ings. It was directed by Dom Riley

#22 Moderation by Alice McKee - performed by Freya Mavor

Jun 14th, 2021 11m 42s

A social media moderator is forced to view thousands of graphic images every day. At a toddler’s birthday party, she finds herself plagued by intrusive thoughts. Moderation was written by Alice McKee and performed by Freya Mavor. It was direct

#21 Send Nudes written and performed by Katie Burnett

May 21st, 2021 11m 12s

It can be easy and simple, it can be fun and sexy, but sometimes it can be more. A nude image is not just a photo – but also a reflection of our hopes and dreams.Send Nudes was written and performed by Katie Burnett. It was directed by Joshua R

#20 Bath Time by Daisy Hall - performed by Anna Chancellor and Jason Watkins

Apr 29th, 2021 12m 27s

Alfred is desperate to get in the bath but for his own good, Marjory won’t let him. He knows she’s right of course, but surely one toe wouldn’t hurt? Bath Time was written by Daisy Hall and performed by Jason Watkins and Anna Chancellor. It was

#19 Sharp by Cat Kolubayev - performed by Aisling Franciosi and Troy Alexander

Apr 9th, 2021 11m 28s

Gina is flying home from Puerto Rico when her plane makes an unscheduled stop. Before long, she is in an interrogation room, trying to answer some awkward questions about the contents of her suitcase.Sharp was written by Cat Kolubayev and perfo

#18 Tremors by Nadya Menuhin - performed by Tamsin Greig

Mar 26th, 2021 10m 56s

Feeling the rumblings of violence and social collapse, a woman prepares for the end of the world. As she does, it becomes increasingly clear that everyone else is ignoring the inevitable. Tremors was written by Nadya Menuhin and performed by Ta

#17 Fib by Annie Williams - performed by Aimie Atkinson

Mar 10th, 2021 9m

"I have lied about a lot of things. I have lied about where I live, how old I am, about why I’m late to the party. I have lied about reading certain books, about visiting certain countries, about having an A in GCSE Spanish. I have lied about w

#16 Box Ticking by Robert Darke - performed by Conor MacNeill

Feb 12th, 2021 13m 38s

"We both agreed that I was the funny one in the relationship. The only joke I ever told she didn't like was that one about those little Thai footy fellas that fell down that well and had to be scoobied out by that fella that turned out to not b

#15 Breech by Georgia Green - performed by Jessica Clark

Jan 29th, 2021 12m 45s

Deep in the heart of the Devon countryside, Billie and her boyfriend are trying to enjoy a romantic getaway when they are interrupted by a strange encounter. As her boyfriend searches for help, Billie decides to take the problem into her own ha

#14 The Utopians by Joe Regan - performed by Tom Mothersdale

Jan 14th, 2021 14m 53s

"They say travel broadens the mind. It’s flattened mine. I really should think about leaving this hostel soon. This hostel’s largely the problem, I suspect. There’s a younger crowd here. The Utopians, I call them. I’ve lived a little longer tha

#13 Shadows Burning by William Dobson - performed by Chris Lew Kum Hoi

Dec 23rd, 2020 15m 6s

"A kill’s a kill. Death comes as a thief in the night, wearing only socks. Or a waiter slipping poison into the groom’s champagne. I don’t choose my hits. Some do, but I think that’s a recipe for discrimination."When an assassin is tasked with

#12 Tenants by Marcus Orlandi - performed by Rachel Stirling

Dec 10th, 2020 9m 36s

"Yes, I know you've only got your pension to live off and no, I know it's not much these days, but what do you think my mortgage is going to do, pay itself?"Matilda has been renting out her second home for years and those walls hold some storie

#11 Arsehole by Louis Catliff - performed by Daniel Portman

Nov 26th, 2020 18m 44s

#11 Arsehole by Louis Catliff - performed by Daniel Portman"I know what you’re thinking. How can you let them do that to you? Just sit there and get pumped full of semi-digested fast food for a dare by some spotty little orc and his posse of sn

#10 Wow! I Feel Nothing by Nicola Maclean - performed by Kate Fleetwood

Nov 11th, 2020 10m 6s

"My mum had three rules for sex: Rule 1: Keep your head down, eyes up.Rule 2: Always take your pill.Rule 3: If they ask you, "Who's your daddy?" tell them you can't remember. It always throws them off."Olive is walking through the city streets

#9 Object by Theo Hristov - performed by Alex Lawther

Oct 20th, 2020 7m 8s

"You know what’s crazy? It’s crazy I’m actually saying this out loud because this sort of makes it... what? Real. Tangible. Legitimate. Gives it weight. It being what happens next."When his teacher asks him to stay behind after class, Leo doesn