Lemn Sissay's Homecoming on BBC Radio 4 was broadcast and recorded live at The African Jazz Village in The Ghion Hotel in Addis Ababa 2016. Features include my sister making the national dish of Ethiopia, interviews with Ethiopias and a full live performance.  Nominated for a Rose D'Or.   Written and performed by lemn Sissay, Produced by Ed Morrish.

Lemn Sissay's Homecoming Ep1 (Addis)

Lemn Sissay's Homecoming Episode 2 on BBC Radio 4 was broadcast and recorded in front of a live audience at RADA in Central London.    Features include interviews with Jude Kelly (artistic director of SOuthbank Centre) and Terry Christian (broadcaster).    Written and performed by lemn Sissay, Produced by Ed Morrish for BBC Radio 4.

Lemn Sissay's Homecoming Ep2 (London)

In this first episode, Lemn discusses his experiences as a foster child, comparing them to the life of Harry Potter. Like Harry, he found his foster parents harsh and unforgiving. But, like Harry, he came through those problems, avoided the dementors, and grew up.  As well as storytelling, comedy and poetry, Lemn imagines an interview with Vernon and Petunia Dursley - Harry's foster parents. Finally, they get to tell their side of the story.
Written and performed by ... Lemn Sissay
Producer ... Ed Morrish

Origin Stories Episode 1 Harry Potter

In this second episode, Lemn looks at the children at Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, otherwise known as The X-Men Academy; specifically, Rogue and Wolverine, whose dark and tragic origins lie long before either of them reached the School. But there, Xavier - Professor X - sought to teach the children how to control their powers and make the most of them. Lemn's experiences in children's homes in Wigan was not the same. What difference would it have made it it had been?  Lemn also talks to comedian and care leaver Sophie Willan, who spent most of her childhood in foster care and assisted accommodation. What superpowers did she discover she had, removed from the security of family?
Written and performed by ... Lemn Sissay
Guest ... Sophie Willan
Producer ... Ed Morrish

Origin Stories episode 2 Mutatis Mutandis

The most important thing that John and Martha Kent taught Clark, the boy they found in a strange-looking pod that crash-landed on their Kansas farm, was to keep his true self secret. People wouldn't understand that you can lift cars, melt steel beams with your eyes, or fly. People will be scared of you because you are different. Every adoptee and every care leaver knows this feeling. Lemn examines how he hid his feelings, his experiences, his identity, in order to fit in better with the world around him.  Lemn also talks to comedian and adoptee Deborah Frances-White about secret identities - and how to go about reinventing yourself.

Written and performed by ... Lemn Sissay
Guest ... Deborah Frances-White
Producer ... Ed Morrish

Origin Stories episode 3 Superman

No-one, really, believes they are doing evil. Anakin Skywalker did not become Darth Vader because he liked being bad, he did it because he believed his pregnant wife was in danger - and so began his journey to the Dark Side. In this final, and possibly toughest, episode, Lemn examines his bad choices; where he let himself do the wrong thing - and how he has attempted to make amends. When must you let go of your memories and live?
Written and performed by ... Lemn Sissay
Producer ... Ed Morrish

Origin Stories Episode 4 Darth Vader

Child of The State is a BBC radio progamme made in 2010 in which Lemn searches for his files.

Introduction

Child of The State. (BBC Radio in search of files)

Desert Island Discs with Lemn Sissay broadcast October 2015

Desert Island Discs

An extraordinary interview in Byron Bay, Australia for  ABC - The Australian Broadcasting Corporaton.

Lemn Sissay

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