Kirsty Williams is a radio drama director and producer for BBC Radio Drama at Pacific Quay, Glasgow.
Plays written by Oliver Emanuel that she directed have received several awards: Daniel and Mary received a Bronze Sony Radio Academy Award for Best Drama in 2010,Sony Radio Academy Awards – Official site (not currently useful!)Sony Radio Academy Awards – Diversity website (temporary substitute)Sony Radio Academy Awards nominees, The Telegraph, 8 April 2010 A History of Paper was shortlisted for the Tinniswood Award 2017, When The Pips Stop won the Tinniswood Award in 2019, and The Truth About Hawaii won the BBC Audio Drama Award for Best Original Series or Serial in 2019.
a==Radio Plays== Radio Plays Directed or Produced by Kirsty Williams Date first broadcast Play Author Cast SynopsisAwards StationSeries 2 January 2006 BillyBBC – Scottish Shorts – Billy Kenneth Steven Read by Paul Blair Stories showcasing new Scottish writing. A young Celtic supporter gets a life-changing job with a fanatical Rangers fan. BBC Radio 4 Scottish ShortsBBC – Scottish Shorts 2 May 2006 – 5 May 2006 The Caliph's House – A Year in Casablanca Tahir Shah abridged by Laurence Wareing Read by Shiv Grewal Frustrated with his cramped London lifestyle, travel writer Tahir Shah decides to set up home in Morocco. But, when he buys the Caliph's house, he and his family discover they've got more than they'd bargained for: the property is looked after by three guardians who are convinced the house is full of ill-tempered jinns who don't want a new owner moving in on their territory. BBC Radio 4 Book of the WeekBBC – Book of the Week 21 August 2006 – 1 September 2006 Belonging Ron Butlin Read by Simon Donaldson A dark and gripping contemporary psychological thriller about Scottish drifter, Jack McCall – that takes us from the ski slopes of France to a Spanish wilderness. BBC Radio 4 Book at BedtimeBBC – Book at Bedtime 6 October 2006 The Good Shepherd Laura Marney Read by James Fleet When a church is threatened with closure, the pastor sets out on a recruitment drive and meets the most unlikely would-be parishioner. BBC Radio 4 1 January 2007 HouseworkBBC – Scottish Shorts – Housework Sally Beamish Read by Joanna Tope Stories showcasing new Scottish writing. A woman's life is turned upside down when her husband leaves her. BBC Radio 4 Scottish Shorts 18 January 2007 The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Series 3, Part 1: How to Handle Men through the Application of PsychologyBBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Series 3, Part 1: How to Handle Men through the Application of Psychology Alexander McCall Smith Claire Benedict, Nadine Marshall, Joseph Marcell, Janice Acquah, Adjoa Andoh, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Chuk Iwuji and Kedar Williams-Stirling Precious Ramotswe, owner and founder of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, sets out to release her fiancé, Mr JLB Matekoni, from a terrifying obligation. Meanwhile, a new case comes into the agency, and the ladies find themselves on a love quest. BBC Radio 4 Afternoon PlayBBC – Afternoon Play 25 January 2007 The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Series 3, Part 2: House of HopeBBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Series 3, Part 2: House of Hope Alexander McCall Smith Claire Benedict, Nadine Marshall, Joseph Marcell, Janice Acquah, Jude Akuwudike and Noma Dumezweni Mma Ramotswe and her assistant Mma Makutsi visit some bad girls in their quest to find a husband for their client. But Mma Ramotswe has some marriage problems of her own. When her fiancé seems no closer to setting a date for their wedding, she seeks the advice of a crafty friend. BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play 1 February 2007 The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Series 3, Part 3: The Return of NoteBBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Series 3, Part 3: The Return of Note Alexander McCall Smith Claire Benedict, Nadine Marshall, Janice Acquah, Jude Akuwudike, Adjoa Andoh, Chuk Iwuji, Alibe Parsons, Danny Sapani and Ben Thomas Mma Ramotswe finds herself in a compromising situation when her past catches up with her. But things are looking brighter for her assistant, Mma Makutsi, when she takes up ballroom dancing. BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play 8 February 2007 The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Series 3, Part 4: The CeremonyBBC – Afternoon Play – The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Series 3, Part 4: The Ceremony Alexander McCall Smith Claire Benedict, Nadine Marshall, Joseph Marcell, Janice Acquah, Jude Akuwudike, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Patrice Naiambana and Danny Sapani With her agency work under control, Mma Ramotswe has time at last to take care of her own problems. Can she release her fiancé, Mr JLB Matekoni, from his rash undertaking to do a charity parachute jump? And will the return of an old love jeopardise her plan to spring a romantic surprise on her husband-to-be? BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play 15 February 2007 The Places In BetweenBBC – Afternoon Play – The Places In BetweenRadio Pick of the Day, The Guardian, 15 February 2007 Rory Stewart dramatised by Benjamin Yeoh Greg Wise, Mido Hamada, Omar Berdouni, Nayef Rashed, Nitin Ganatra, Emun Elliott and Tahmoures Tehrani In January 2002, Rory Stewart walked across Afghanistan just after the fall of the Taliban. Surviving by his wits, his knowledge of Persian dialects and Muslim customs, and the kindness of strangers, this dramatisation tells the story of this epic journey. BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play 23 April 2007 Coconut Chaos Diana Souhami Read by Eleanor Bron Diana Souhami's story interweaves her voyage to Pitcairn Island with the dark and compelling tale of the island's history. BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week 30 July 2007 Be Prepared: The Amateur AssassinBBC – Afternoon Reading – Be Prepared: The Amateur Assassin Conn Iggulden Read by Paul Young Stories inspired by the motto of the Scouting movement. A clothing retailer accidentally finds himself embroiled in the murder business. BBC Radio 4 Afternoon ReadingBBC – Afternoon Reading 31 July 2007 Be Prepared: The Dog WatchBBC – Afternoon Reading – Be Prepared: The Dog Watch Candia McWilliam Read by Tamara Kennedy To mark the centenary of the Scouting movement, a series of stories inspired by their famous motto. A couple tipsily celebrate their wedding anniversary. BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Reading 1 August 2007 Be Prepared: ImagineBBC – Afternoon Reading – Be Prepared: Imagine Pauline McLynn Read by Joanna Tope To mark the centenary of the Scouting movement, a series of stories inspired by their famous motto. A woman shows the most incredible capacity to look on the bright side. BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Reading 2 August 2007 Be Prepared: Man's Best FriendBBC – Afternoon Reading – Be Prepared: Man's Best Friend Des Dillon Read by Nick Underwood Series of stories inspired by the famous motto of the Scouting movement. The dark story of a futuristic Britain in which dogs sniff out terrorist threats. BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Reading 3 August 2007 Be Prepared: Vanishing PointBBC – Afternoon Reading – Be Prepared: Vanishing Point Luke Sutherland Read by Sandy Grierson To mark the centenary of the Scouting movement, a series of stories inspired by their famous motto. A very small man intervenes in a scene similar to a nursery rhyme and helps a young lady in distress. BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Reading 14 August 2007 Cut to the HeartBBC – Afternoon Play – Cut to the Heart Nicola Wilson Mark Bonnar, Sally Hawkins, Anastasia Hille, Georgia Rich, Mark Emerson and Richard Dillane When Ted leaves Alice for her best friend, it takes ten years for the ripples of betrayal to die down. BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play 15 October 2007 – 26 October 2007 The Tenderness of WolvesBBC – Woman's Hour Drama – The Tenderness of Wolves Stef Penney dramatised by Chris Dolan Meg Fraser, Michael Goldsmith, Lewis Howden, Iain Robertson, Lucy Paterson, Nick Underwood, Simon Tait, Steven Cartwright, Richard Greenwood and Angus MacInnes 1860s Canada. Mrs Ross' son has been missing since the day she discovered the murdered body of her neighbour – she fears her errant son will be blamed, so she treks through the wilderness in a bid to save him. BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour DramaBBC – Woman's Hour Drama 9 January 2008 Jimmy Murphy Makes AmendsBBC – Afternoon Play – Jimmy Murphy Makes Amends Andrew Doyle David Ireland, Iain Robertson, James Bryce, Gabriel Quigley, Jill Riddiford and Una McLean Black comedy about friendship and the fear of God. Desperate to save himself from eternal damnation, Jimmy sets out to make amends for all his wrongdoings, only to discover a truth far more terrifying than divine retribution. BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play 25 January 2008 My Heart's in the HighlandsBBC – BBC Radio Scotland – My Heart's in the HighlandsBBC – Press Office – My Heart's in the HighlandsWhat if Burns turned up in your kitchen?, The Scotsman, 17 January 2008 Liz Lochhead Siobhan Redmond, Lewis Howden and Ann Scott Jones Roberta's had a strange year, but things are about to get stranger when, preparing a Burns Supper, the man himself turns up in her kitchen. BBC Radio Scotland DramaBBC – BBC Radio Scotland – Drama 14 February 2008 A Most Civil ArrangementBBC – BBC Radio Scotland – A Most Civil ArrangementBBC – Jeff Zycinski, Head of Radio at BBC Scotland – Preview of A Most Civil Arrangement (includes photo of Kirsty Williams) Colin Hough Barbara Rafferty A comedy monologue about a downtrodden woman preparing for her daughter's unconventional wedding. The antidote to Valentine's Day. BBC Radio Scotland Drama 3 March 2008 – 7 March 2008 My Father's CountryBBC – Book of the Week – My Father's Country Wibke Bruhns Read by Joanna Tope Wibke Bruhns's chronicle of the life of her father, who was executed in 1944 for failing to disclose a plot to assassinate Hitler.