A Forbidden Song
A love story with songs, about two young women separated by war. 2023. Valya and Masha are teenage musicians, but they have to keep their relationship a secret, because of prejudice and fear of violence. And now Valya is a refugee, living with her mother in Wales, while Masha remains in Kyiv. Sarah Woods' drama tells their story, but also the story of the bandura, the Ukrainian national instrument, suppressed at various points in history, not least under Stalin, who had bandurists persecuted and murdered. The drama draws upon interviews with Ukrainian refugees and features new music by Boff Whalley and a cast of Ukrainian performers. Valya....Diana Simchuk Nataliia....Elena Sophya Gryshchenko Masha....Aliese Chydzhan Susi.....Eiry Thomas The bandura is played by Sonia Savchuk Music by Boff Whalley, with Sonia Savchuk Drama by Sarah Woods, with Diana Simchuk, Aliese Chydzhan, Elena Sophya Gryshchenko Sound design by Catherine Robinson and Nigel Lewis Directed by Emma Harding, BBC Audio Drama Wales
