49 Donkeys Hanged (BBC Radio 3: Drama on 3‪)‬

A surreal, dark comedy from BBC Radio 3's 'The Wire', by Cornish writer Carl Grose that was inspired by seeing a Johannesburg local newspaper headline about a farmer who hanged 49 donkeys from tree branches on his land. Originally broadcast 1 November 2008 and repeated 18 Jul 2009.

In Grose's play, Stanley Bray, a Cornish farmer, is compelled to hang donkeys and his wheelchair-bound wife Joy is desperate to get out of the house. Their way of life is fast disappearing, the farm is bankrupt and this is Stanley's bizarre response.

'The Wire' is BBC Radio 3's showcase for works that push the boundaries of drama and narrative. '49 Donkeys Hanged' stars Charles Barnecut as Stanley Bray and Amanda Lawrence as Joy Bray. Also included in the cast are Sibusiso Mamba, Helen Longworth, John Canford, and the writer Carl Grose as himself. Directed by Claire Grove.