British Comedy Guide
. Credit: BBC
War With The Newts

War With The Newts

  • Radio comedy drama
  • BBC Radio 3
  • 2024
  • 1 episode

Satirical 1930s comedy created by Czech author Karel Čapek. Also features Laura Elphinstone, Liza Sadovy, Joseph Ayre, Jude Akuwudike, Oliver Westlake and more.

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Key details

Genre
Comedy Drama
Broadcast
2024
Channel
BBC Radio 3
Episodes
1
Stars
Laura Elphinstone, Liza Sadovy, Joseph Ayre, Jude Akuwudike, Oliver Westlake, Tom Edward-Kane and Doña Croll
Writers
Karel Čapek and Ed Harris
Director
Jeremy Mortimer
Producer
Joby Waldman
Company

A dark satire about the destruction of mankind at the hands of a new species of newt. Written by multi-award winning playwright Ed Harris, adapted from the 1936 novel by cult sci-fi writer, Karel Čapek.

Set in the present day, War With The Newts, follows MP Lili Clay and her family. The newts can use basic tools and language and so a new labour-saving workforce is born. Newtmania sweeps the planet. But with new opportunities, old conflicts arise. The left and right squabble, and companies turn this global disaster into profit.

Told through promotional videos and news reports this timely dystopian farce about the economy, ecocide, and extinction, tracks how an apparent utopia grows around us until the newts outsmart us at our own game.

Catch-up

Additional details

Also known as
  • Drama On 3: War With The Newts
Soundtrack
Original song by Vern Asbury.

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Sunday 8th December 2024 at 8pm on BBC Radio 3
Episode length
100 minutes

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