Marcia Lecky, Francesca Isherwood and More to Star in New Audio Drama HUMANE
Timely and lyrical, Humane is a new six-part audio drama about protests and motherhood and how our values can both unite and divide us.

Timely and lyrical, Humane is a new six-part audio drama about protests and motherhood and how our values can both unite and divide us. Starring Marcia Lecky (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time), Francesca Isherwood (The Worst Witch, The Catherine Tate Show), Graham Seed (The Archers, Coronation Street) and Dr Who star, Louise Jameson (EastEnders, Tenko), this is an urgent story about animal rights prompting us to consider where our food comes from.
In 1995, lorries thundered through a small port town carrying live animals in horrendous conditions and a motley crew of grandmothers, housewives and school children took to the streets in a series of demonstrations. This powerful audio drama unearths how a group of women from rural Essex took on an increasingly brutal police presence and the behemoth of the agricultural industry to become remarkable activists, protesting the cruel conditions of livestock exports. Humane sheds light on the nearly forgotten story of a small community, their struggle for justice and the unshakeable friendships they made during the Battle of Brightlingsea.
Written by rising talent Polly Creed, whose work as an activist has been featured by The Guilty Feminist and the Tate, Humane will also star Rose Reade (film adaptations of Private Peaceful and Journey's End), Esmonde Cole (Autopsy, Still So Awkward), Margaret Ashley (The Bill, London's Burning, Strange But True) and Luke Barton (One Man Two Guv'nors, New Wolsey Ipswich, Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four).
Polly Creed comments, This is a play about connections between lonely and isolated people. It's about activism and protest, about police brutality, and where our food comes from. Coming out of lockdown, this story could not be more timely or more urgent. There are such strong, contemporary connections. I'm therefore thrilled to have been able to adapt my original stage play Humane for an audio format, reaching wider and more diverse audiences across the UK.
The audio series will be serialised as 6 episodes released on a weekly basis. They are being digitally hosted by a range of venues, including the Arcola Theatre, The Omnibus Theatre and Pleasance.
Details:
Title:
Humane
Release Schedule:
11th May - Pleasance
18th May - The Omnibus Theatre
25th May - Theatre Deli Sheffield
1st June - TBC
8th June - Compassion in World Farming
15th June - Arcola Theatre
20-30 mins per episode
Box Office:
Episodes are free to download and will be available on major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts and RadioPublic.
Producer
True Name Theatre and John Ainsworth
Director
Imy Wyatt Corner
Writer
Polly Creed
Original music
Tingying Dong
Sound Designer
David Roocroft
Cast:
Margaret Ashley
Luke Barton
Esmonde Cole
Francesca Isherwood
Louise Jameson
Marcia Lecky
Rose Reade
Graham Seed
Videos
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Michael Spicer - Hope All''s Well Royal and Derngate (10/28-10/28) |
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Sounds of the 60s at Winchester Royal Theatre Sunday 17th October 2027 with The Zoots - Winchester Theatre Royal Winchester (10/17-10/17) |
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Count Arthur Strong - And it''s Goodnight from Me! Gordon Craig Theatre (6/04-6/04) |
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THE HOPE CONSPIRACY at The Underworld - London The Underworld (11/19-11/19) |
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Funhouse Comedy Club – Comedy Night in Grantham June 2026 Grantham Railway Social Club (6/25-6/25) |
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The War of the Worlds - Live the Concert Experience Waterfront Hall Auditorium (10/06-10/07) |
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SocAfro Carnival Brunch and Party The Stage Door (6/06-6/07) |
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Disney''s Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert Royal Concert Hall Nottingham (12/04-12/04) |
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James McMurtry + BettySoo at Union Chapel - London Union Chapel (10/13-10/13) |
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Count Arthur Strong - And Its Goodnight From Me! Ipswich Regent Theatre (4/28-4/28) |
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