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Deacon

Deacon

Three BBC Radio full-cast dramas

Summary

Don Warrington stars as the enigmatic Deacon in this gritty contemporary fantasy trilogy

In the spaces between inner-city Bristol and the netherworld walks Deacon, a mysterious, centuries-old drifter who arrives when least expected to save lost souls. In these three dramas, he comes to the aid of a boxer turned petty criminal, a teenager in danger and a refugee in hiding.

Deacon
Offered a 'job' by his former boxing trainer Jimmy, Mack is happy to oblige. All he has to do is deliver a car to a certain address by midnight - and not look in the boot. Then Mack hits an old man with the car. His name is Deacon, and although he looks like a tramp, he speaks words that are wise beyond this world. And he's about to change Mack's life, forever...

Deacon: Moonlight on Water
Sixteen-year-old Jas has a secret boyfriend, Ray, and she's planning to run away with him. But her ex, Zain, has found out, and pursues her into pitch-dark Eastville Park. Jas isn't scared: she knows how to handle Zain. But in this dangerous night-world, powerful spirits are abroad, and all is not what it seems...

Deacon: Gabriel's Feast
Grace has fled her war-torn homeland and sought sanctuary with a strange community on the fringes of Bristol. But what's driving their leader Gabriel? What are they preparing for? Despite Deacon's years and wisdom, he struggles to read the signs. Will he realise what is happening in time, or has he finally met his match?

Created by writer and historian Edson Burton, these thrilling urban fantasy dramas are inspired by West African mythology and spirituality, and feature a predominantly black cast including musician and actor Ashley Thomas, aka Bashy, as Mack; Ashna Rabheru (Sex Education, Indian Summers) as Jas; Raj Bajaj (Killing Eve) as Zain; Don Gilet (EastEnders, Babyfather) as Ray; Diana Yekinni (Ije, Lunchtime Heroes) as Grace and Richard Pepple (Bridgerton, Beasts of No Nation) as Gabriel.




Written by Edson Burton


Starring Don Warrington as Deacon



Deacon
Mack - Ashley Thomas
Mary - Leona Walker
Jimmy - John Cording
Price - Simon Ludders
Waitress - Claire Cage
Directed by James Robinson
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 28 July 2017

Deacon: Moonlight on Water
Jas - Ashna Rabheru
Ray - Don Gilet
Legba - Marega Palser
Zain - Raj Bajaj
Directed by John Norton
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8 July 2019

Deacon: Gabriel's Feast
Grace - Diana Yekinni
Gabriel - Richard Pepple
Khan - Ikky Elyas
Max/Legba - Marc Danbury
Directed by John Norton
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9 October 2020


? 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd


© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

About the author

Edson Burton

Edson Burton is a poet, playwright, performer, storyteller and historian who has written five plays for BBC radio.
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