The Sinking of the Laconia
by Alan Bleasdale
Directed by Uwe Janson
Produced by Jonathan Young
for Talkback Thames and Team Worx
Directed by Uwe Janson
Produced by Jonathan Young
for Talkback Thames and Team Worx
During World War II a German U-boat sinks a ship carrying Italian prisoners of war and defies orders to rescue 400 survivors. By doing so it becomes a target for Allied planes.
These true events, dramatised with great humanity by Alan Bleasdale caused German commanders to decree that U-boats must never again stop to pick up survivors, a decision that reverberated powerfully at the Nuremberg trials.
Cast: Brian Cox, Andrew Buchan, Lindsay Duncan, Jodi Balfour, Ken Duken, Morven Christie, Jacob Matschenz, Paul Hilton.
Music - Adrian Johnston
Conductor - Terry Davies
Solo Viola - Paul Silverthorne
Solo Vocals - Melanie Pappenheim
Solo Timpani - John Chimes
Orchestra Leader - Sonia Slany
Musicians' Contractor - Isobel Griffiths
Music Preparation - Colin Rae
Recorded at Angel Studios and British Grove Studios, 22nd & 29th November 2010
Mixed by Steve Parr at Hear No Evil
Cinematographer - Michael Schreitel
Editor - Matthew Newman
Casting Directors - Rachel Freck & Nina Haun
Production Design - Knut Loewe
1st broadcast on BBC2, January 6th & 7th, 2011