Tales of the Night Sky

Laelaps, Europa’s yellow dog, has forgotten what love is, until Procris enters his life. His devotion to her will lead him to some unexpected places in this heartbreaking tale of loyalty and treachery. Written and directed by Bibi Jacob.  Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Narrated by Sandy Bernard. Featuring Rufo Quintavalle as Minos and Zelda Rittner as Procris. And also featuring the lovely dogs, Luna and Gus. With huge thanks to their mistresses, Sandy and Gaëlle. Check out the substack Stelliferous for more on the constellations.

This epic and madcap episode concludes Ariadne’s story. It takes us into the heart of the labyrinth and up into the heavens with the constellation of the Northen Crown - Corona Borealis. Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Featuring: Tom Morton as Silenus, Charlotte Donnelly as Psalakantha, Nigel Pilkington as Dionysus. Bibi Jacob as Ariadne, Rufo Quintavalle as Minos, Ciaran Cresswell as Theseus.   Original violin loops by Chloe Dunn Sound and production by Geoff Chong.

Pasiphaë, Queen of Crete, pays the price when her husband breaks his oath to Poseidon and refuses to sacrifice the Cretan Bull. In a letter to her daughter, Ariadne, she explains the terrible events that lead to the birth of the Minotaur. Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Featuring Rose Romain as Pasiphaë and Bibi Jacob as Ariadne. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Sources include ‘Euripides Dramatic Fragments - Cretans’ and of course Roberto Calasso’s ‘The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony.’

When Dionysus, god of wine and insanity, appears to Ariadne, determined to marry her, she tells him the tale of her ancestor Io.  Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. With Nigel Pilkington as Dionysus and Bibi Jacob as Ariadne. Original violin loops were created and performed by Chloe Dunn. Sound and production by Geoff Chong.    Sources include: Aeschylus’ 'Prometheus Bound', Moschus’ poem 'Europa', Walter Otto’s ‘Dionysus: Myth and Cult’ and Roberto Calasso’s ‘The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony,’  

Ariadne has been abandoned on the island of Naxos by Theseus. As she battles with heartache and homesickness she remembers her grandmother Europa. Written and narrated by Bibi Jacob. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Sources for this re-telling include Moschus’ poem ‘Europa’; Roberto Calasso’s ‘The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony,’ and Ariadne’s letter to Theseus from Ovid’s ‘Heroides’ which you can hear me read on Late Night Classics: S1 E4: Heroides – Ariadne to Theseus

How do a slipper and an eagle lead to love?  Hermes explains all.    Written by Chris Mack with Bibi Jacob. Featuring Chris Mack and Bibi Jacob. Sound and production by Geoff Chong.   Discover our new show, Late Night Classics

You may know them as the Dioscuri - sons of Zeus - or as the Gemini Twins. In this episode discover the very unusal afterlife of the inimitable Castor and Polydeuces. Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Starring David Stanley as Polydeuces, Kester Lovelace as Castor and Chris Mack as Hermes. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Recorded at the SACD studios in Paris.  The quote from the Homeric Hymn to the Dioscuri comes from the  Evelyn-White translation.

In this final Trojan episode, the ghosts of the war rise up and tell tales of loss and consolation.  Sensitive listeners be aware  - some of the stories are disturbing. Written and narrated by Bibi Jacob. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Extracts from 17314 Aisakos and 884 Priamus feature Ciaran Cresswell and Les Clack. A thank you to Chloe Dunn.

Andromache appears in the university observatory to recount her tragic tale. 175 Andromache is a main-belt asteroid – not a Trojan in the L4 or L5 Lagrange points in Jupiter’s orbit. But since her character is central to the Trojan war, we’ve included her in this special series.  Written and directed by KJ Dwyer. Edited by Bibi Jacob. With Mia Leahy as Dardana and Kate Colebrook as Petra. Original violin and vocal compositions written and performed by Chloe Dunn. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Recorded at the SACD studios, Paris. You can listen to more of Chloe Dunn’s beautiful music, on becaflor.com / Bècaflor Teaser

Strange things happen one night, in a university observatory as Éloi struggles to stay awake and observe the 617 Patroclus asteroid. Written and directed by KJ Dwyer. With KJ Dwyer as Elio. Mitchell Moreno as Patroclus. Ken Starcevic as  Menoetius. Bibi Jacob as the radio announcer. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. The actors recorded at the SACD Podcast Studio, Paris. And in London - with huge thanks to Nigel Pilkington.

Achilles, ‘the best of the Greeks’, slaughters Trojans mercilessly as he battles with his own grief and regrets.  Starring Tom Morton. Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Production and sound by Geoff Chong.

There’s an eerie stillness in the port town of Aulis when Iphigenia arrives there for her wedding. What exactly will it take to bring back the winds and allow the Greek ships to sail to Troy? This original series was co-created with Chris Mack and KJ Dwyer.
 And the original concept was sparked off in our writers' group, run by Chris Mack. Written and performed by Julie Kayla. Directed by Bibi Jacob. Sound and production by Geoff Chong Outro by Bibi Jacob. 112 Iphigenia is a main-belt asteroid – not a Trojan in the L4 or L5 Lagrange points in Jupiter’s orbit. But since her character is central to the Trojan war, we’ve included her in this special series.

In this second Trojan episode, King Priam remembers all that was lost in the first terrible siege of Troy. This original series was co-created with Chris Mack and KJ Dwyer.
 And the original concept was sparked off in our writers' group, run by Chris Mack. Starring Les Clack.  Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Original violin compositions and playing by Chloe Dunn. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Recorded at the SACD Podcast Studio, Paris.  If you want to listen to more of Chloe Dunn’s beautiful music, click on the links: becaflor.com / Bècaflor Teaser

In this special series, Tales of the NIght Sky takes you into the heart of a large group of asteroids that orbit with Jupiter around the sun. These two camps of heavenly bodies - the Greeks leading and the Trojans trailing Jupiter  - are known as the Trojan asteroids. Each identified asteroid is named after a protagonist in Homer’s Iliad. And these characters find themselves locked in orbit, endlessly reliving the trauma of war. This original series was co-created with Chris Mack and KJ Dwyer.
  And the original concept was sparked off in our writers' group, run by Chris Mack. In the first of the Trojans, the seer Aisakos interprets Queen Hecuba’s dream. Starring Ciaran Cresswell. Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Introduction written by KJ Dywer and Bibi Jacob. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Useful sources for this episode: theoi.com , spannycattroy.livejournal.com

She was known as Helen of Sparta until her face launched a thousand ships and started the Trojan War. Now Helen of Troy examines the multiple versions of her life - sifting through the beauty and sorrow - as the battle rages on outside. Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Starring Hester Wilcox as Helen. Original violin, vocal and bodhrán compositions written and performed by Chloe Dunn. Sound and production by Geoff Chong.  If you want to listen to more of Chloe Dunn’s beautiful music, click on the links: becaflor.com / Bècaflor Teaser

Where is Justice? Who is she? And what does she have to do with the Trojan war? Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Starring Sandy Bernard and Bibi Jacob. Sound and production by Geoff Chong.  

Can Eos, goddess of the dawn, really love the Trojan prince Tithonus for all eternity? Written and narrated by Bibi Jacob. Sound and production by Geoff Chong.

The party in the sea realm is fizzling out and the gossip Kat* finds herself left behind by her friend Lalli.* While looking for him, she stumbles upon a terrible truth. *KATALALIA meaning gossip or defamation in Ancient Greek. Written by Morag Cross. Starring Morag Cross as Kat. Featuring Nigel Pilkington and Doug Rand. Directed by Bibi Jacob. Production and sound by Geoff Chong. All ‘Kithara’ strumming by Morag Cross. The sea shanty is an original violin and vocal composition written and performed by Chloe Dunn and remixed by Geoff Chong. The track, ‘Ain’t Nobody’s Business,’ is by the Underscore Orkestra.

It's party time in the sea realm - the Nereid Amphitrite is about to wed Poseidon - but she’s having second thoughts. Can her sister Thetis persuade her to tie the knot in time? And what’s really behind the ominous rumours the party guests are spreading? This episode was written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Production and sound design by Geoff Chong. It stars: Sharon Mann as Thetis. Elizabeth Wautlet as Amphitrite. Sandy Bernard as Doto. Nigel Pilkington and Morag Cross as the Gossips, Lalli and Kat. Doug Rand as Peleus. Dharni Mistry as the child. Bibi Jacob and Doug Rand as party guests.  The actors recorded in studios in both Paris and London. A huge thank you to Marie Prevost at Voice Addict Studio, Paris, for her support. And thank you to Nigel Pilkington for the London recording. And an enormous thank you to the wonderful Underscore Orkestra - https://www.theunderscoreorkestra.com - for permission to use their music. These tracks feature at the party:  Swing Gitane; It Ain’t Right; Blue Drag; I’se a Muggin.

Ganymede, Prince of Troy, shuns the company of men and only finds pleasure in nature. But when his exceptional beauty comes to the attention of men and gods, his life will never be the same. This episode was written and performed by Mitchell Moreno.  Direction by Bibi Jacob. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Recorded in the studio of the National Theatre, London with Richard Coleby as sound engineer. Thanks to Suzanne Diakun. And thanks to Michel - for his help - and Jean René at Studio Scopitone, Paris.