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Arriving from Earth onto a planet with ambigendered humans, Genly Ai must let go of his identity. Stars Kobna Holdbrook-Smith.

In the middle of an Ice Age on an alien world, two friends flee across endless snow plains on a journey that will take them to the edge of their physical and emotional endurance. The stakes are high – to save a world from war, and save their own lives.

The first radio dramatisation of Ursula Le Guin’s novel which is as groundbreaking in its approach to gender as when it was first published in 1969.

Genly Ai has arrived from Earth onto the planet Gethen, a world in which humans are ambigendered - everyone can be a mother and everyone can be a father. In coming to terms with their otherness - and also their sameness - Genly must let go of everything he understood about his own identity.

Adapted by Judith Adams

Estraven – Lesley Sharp
Genly Ai – Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
Ashe – Ruth Gemmell
Gaum – Louise Brealey
Obsle – David Acton
Shusgis – Stephen Critchlow
Esvans and Asra – Sam Dale
Sorve – Ayesha Antoine
Doctor – Rhiannon Neads
Skipper – David Hounslow

Director: Allegra McIlroy

First broadcast on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4 in April 2015.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 3 Nov 2019 00:00

Credits

Role Contributor
Estraven Lesley Sharp
Genly Ai Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
Ashe Ruth Gemmell
Gaum Louise Brealey
Obsle David Acton
Shusgis Stephen Critchlow
Esvans and Asra Sam Dale
Sorve Ayesha Antoine
Doctor Rhiannon Neads
Skipper David Hounslow
Author Ursula Le Guin
Adaptor Judith Adams
Director Allegra McIlroy

Broadcasts

  • Sun 19 Apr 2015 15:00
  • Sat 25 Apr 2015 21:00
  • Sat 2 Nov 2019 18:00
  • Sun 3 Nov 2019 00:00

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