Athlone writer's radio drama to air on Newstalk on Saturday

PHOTO: Jason Gill.

High quality new Irish drama is coming to your airwaves this weekend, as Newstalk plays host to the world premiere of ‘The Dead Key,’ a new radio thriller by Jason Gill, on Saturday, June 13 at 9pm. It’s the ideal opportunity to sample something new and very exciting in these COVID times.

With two IMRO national radio award nominations under their belts, the production and writing duo of Galway-based Alan Meaney and Athlone-based Jason Gill have turned their attention to this gripping tale of Cold War intrigue and dark family secrets.

Brendan Grattan is a young writer with the world at his feet, until a sex scandal causes him to spend the rest of his life in disgrace and silence.

Back in Ireland for Brendan’s memorial, his niece Stephanie begins to doubt the official explanation of his disgrace. Was Brendan innocent after all? And if so, did his disgrace hide another, infinitely more terrible secret?

By turns pulsating and heartrending, ‘The Dead Key’ unfolds over two episodes, with episode 2 set for broadcast on Saturday, June 20, also at 9pm.

Writer/director Jason Gill says: "It’s been an amazingly challenging show to do. It definitely raises the bar, but it has been worth every minute. People who tune in on Saturday night are in for an experience they’ll never forget.

"I don’t know if an Irish family drama has ever been played out against the backdrop of the Cold War before, so this is probably a first time in more ways than one," he adds.

‘The Dead Key’ features a cast of professional and locally based actors including Martin Kelleher, Sarah Gordon, Pawel Starkowski, Anne Hoey, Irena Cvetkovic, Harry Smith and Oliver Hegarty.

It was made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s Sound and Vision Fund.

Do not miss this unique opportunity to hear thrilling, cutting edge Irish drama at its very best, on Newstalk for the next two Saturday nights.