British Comedy Guide

The Uncertainty Principle

  • Radio comedy drama
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 1999
  • 1 episode

Sci-fi comic play set in a world where everyone knows when they will die. Stars Kerry Shale, Mia Soteriou, Clive Swift, Paul Bhattacharjee, Barbara Barnes and Nigel Anthony

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Key details

Genre
Comedy Drama
Broadcast
1999
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Episodes
1
Stars
Kerry Shale, Mia Soteriou, Clive Swift, Paul Bhattacharjee, Barbara Barnes and Nigel Anthony
Writer
Marcy Kahan
Director
Gordon House
Company

Set in the year 2099, Marcy Kahan's drama explores the comic implications of a society where people know the exact length of their lifespan from the day they are born. Or at least they think they do. So in a world where everyone knows the date of their death, people live at the appropriate pace: Short-lifers are frenetic with a short-attention-span and are beer-swilling hedonists. Long-lifers are more laid back: advocates of lifelong learning, retraining for different jobs each decade, and making long-term investments. So when a short-lifer overstays his welcome by not dying at the right time, why does it have to be kept secret?

Additional details

Also known as
  • The 7th Dimension - The Uncertainty Principle
  • The Friday Play: The Uncertainty Principle
Production
Studio
Soundtrack
Music composed and played by Mia Soteriou.

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Friday 20th August 1999 at 9pm on BBC Radio 4
Episode length
1 hour
All previous repeats
  • Sunday 20th September 2020 at 12:00am on Radio 4 Extra
  • Saturday 19th September 2020 at 6:00pm on Radio 4 Extra

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