Rossum’s Universal Robots
A Musical Adaptation of Karel Capek’s R.U.R.
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Rossum’s Universal Robots
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Narrated by:
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full cast
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Paul Chahidi
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Jasmine Hyde
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Paul Hilton
About this listen
A musical reinvention of Karel Capek's darkly comic sci-fi masterpiece.
First published in 1921, Karel Capek's ultra-prescient play R.U.R has become a classic of dystopian literature, giving us the word 'robot' and inspiring movies and TV series from Blade Runner to Westworld. Set in Capek's 1920s version of the future, this radio reimagining blends music, comedy and drama to tell the story of a world dominated by mechanisation and the pursuit of profit.
It is the year 2000, and an incredible new technology—the robot—has been invented, freeing human beings from the need to work. Grown from human cells, these androids appear identical to humans—only stronger and cleverer. They have no free will and no desires. They want nothing—until the idealistic Lady Helen visits their island factory and persuades one of the scientists to instil consciousness into them. But once sentient, the robots become aware that they have unwittingly enabled a runaway cycle of overproduction, which is now wrecking the planet. There is only one logical solution: humanity must be destroyed....
Tackling big, contentious questions with a light touch, this moving production is full of humour and heart. Made by the team behind the award-winning Magnitsky the Musical, it features an immersive retro-futurist soundscape and stunning original songs and stars an ensemble cast including Paul Chahidi (The Death of Stalin, This Country), Jasmine Hyde (Doctors) and Paul Hilton (Slow Horses).
Also included is a fascinating episode of Radio 3's Sunday Feature, The Robots Are Us, in which Ken Hollings examines the creation and legacy of R.U.R, talking to historians and roboticists to discover how Capek's landmark play gave birth to the idea of the 'revolt of the machines' and presaged our 21st Century ethical conundrums of existence, rights and reasoning.
Cast:
Domin - Paul Chahidi
Lady Helen - Jasmine Hyde
Radius - Paul Hilton
Helen 2 - Clare Foster
Alpha - Anneika Rose
Brown Owl - Neil McCaul
Alquist - Matthew Durkan
Sulla - Alexandra Hannant
Fabry - Michael Begley
Busman - Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong
Logicbot/Benoit - Chris Jack
Music and Lyrics by Susannah Pearse.
Book by Robert Hudson.
Arrangements and Musical Direction: Harry Sever
Production co-ordinator: Luke MacGregor
Sound: Peter Ringrose
Directed by Sasha Yevtushenko.
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3rd - 10th April 2022
©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution LtdListeners also enjoyed...
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R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots)
- By: Karel Capek
- Narrated by: Ellis Freeman
- Length: 2 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 12
-
Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 11
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 11
The play begins in a factory that manufactures artificial people (called robots) from synthetic organic matter. They are living creatures of artificial flesh and blood rather than machines and are closer to the later idea of androids. Happy to work for humans at first, the robots eventually rebel, and the human race becomes extinct.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
The play is great—narration is garbage
- By L on 06-18-23
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-
R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots)
- By: Karel Čapek, Paul Selver - translator, Nigel Playfair - translator
- Narrated by: Laura Richcreek, Kristina Rothe, John Burlinson, and others
- Length: 2 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall3 out of 5 stars 3
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Performance2.5 out of 5 stars 2
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Story3 out of 5 stars 2
R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots) is a science-fiction drama that was first presented in Czech in 1921. It introduced the term "robot", which is derived from a Czech word meaning "worker," to international vocabulary. The action opens in a factory that has successfully produced thousands of robots, who are essentially mindless drones. An idealistic humanitarian activist launches a plan to imbue some of the robots with human traits. The robots which have been humanized then assume leadership over the other robots and seek to organize them in a revolution to take over the world.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 4,565
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At last, one of the world’s greatest works of science fiction is available - just as author Stanislaw Lem intended it. To mark the 50th anniversary of the publication of Solaris, Audible, in cooperation with the Lem Estate, has commissioned a brand-new translation - complete for the first time, and the first ever directly from the original Polish to English. Beautifully narrated by Alessandro Juliani ( Battlestar Galactica), Lem’s provocative novel comes alive for a new generation.
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 314
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 314
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- By: Albert Camus
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 6,180
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Albert Camus' The Stranger is one of the most widely read novels in the world, with millions of copies sold. It stands as perhaps the greatest existentialist tale ever conceived, and is certainly one of the most important and influential books ever produced. Now, for the first time, this revered masterpiece is available as an unabridged audio production.
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4 out of 5 stars
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R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots)
- By: Karel Capek
- Narrated by: Ellis Freeman
- Length: 2 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 12
-
Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 11
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 11
The play begins in a factory that manufactures artificial people (called robots) from synthetic organic matter. They are living creatures of artificial flesh and blood rather than machines and are closer to the later idea of androids. Happy to work for humans at first, the robots eventually rebel, and the human race becomes extinct.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
The play is great—narration is garbage
- By L on 06-18-23
By: Karel Capek
-
R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots)
- By: Karel Čapek, Paul Selver - translator, Nigel Playfair - translator
- Narrated by: Laura Richcreek, Kristina Rothe, John Burlinson, and others
- Length: 2 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars 3
-
Performance2.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story3 out of 5 stars 2
R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots) is a science-fiction drama that was first presented in Czech in 1921. It introduced the term "robot", which is derived from a Czech word meaning "worker," to international vocabulary. The action opens in a factory that has successfully produced thousands of robots, who are essentially mindless drones. An idealistic humanitarian activist launches a plan to imbue some of the robots with human traits. The robots which have been humanized then assume leadership over the other robots and seek to organize them in a revolution to take over the world.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Wow. I can't believe I finished it.
- By Eugene Tellier Jr on 11-10-22
By: Karel Čapek, and others
-
Solaris
- The Definitive Edition
- By: Stanislaw Lem, Bill Johnston - translator
- Narrated by: Alessandro Juliani
- Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 5,294
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 4,565
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 4,581
At last, one of the world’s greatest works of science fiction is available - just as author Stanislaw Lem intended it. To mark the 50th anniversary of the publication of Solaris, Audible, in cooperation with the Lem Estate, has commissioned a brand-new translation - complete for the first time, and the first ever directly from the original Polish to English. Beautifully narrated by Alessandro Juliani ( Battlestar Galactica), Lem’s provocative novel comes alive for a new generation.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A comment on negative reviews
- By Burns on 09-20-11
By: Stanislaw Lem, and others
-
Snow Crash
- By: Neal Stephenson
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
- Length: 17 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 21,267
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 16,880
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 16,966
Neal Stephenson is a blazing new force on the sci-fi scene. With the groundbreaking cyberpunk novel Snow Crash, he has "vaulted onto the literary stage." It weaves virtual reality, Sumerian myth, and just about everything in between with a cool, hip cybersensibility - in short, it is the gigathriller of the information age.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
A solid sci-fi novel
- By Brent on 02-05-03
By: Neal Stephenson
-
The Illustrated Man
- By: Ray Bradbury
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 359
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 314
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 314
Ray Bradbury brings wonders alive. For this peerless American storyteller, the most bewitching force in the universe is human nature. In these 18 startling tales unfolding across a canvas of tattooed skin, living cities take their vengeance, technology awakens the most primal natural instincts, and dreams are carried aloft in junkyard rockets. Provocative and powerful, The Illustrated Man is a kaleidoscopic blending of magic, imagination, and truth.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
I shall remain on Mars and read a book.
- By Darwin8u on 02-01-20
By: Ray Bradbury
-
The Stranger
- By: Albert Camus
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
- Length: 3 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 6,180
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 5,061
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 5,051
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4 out of 5 stars
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Is amorality bad?
- By Rolando on 03-10-14
By: Albert Camus
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What listeners say about Rossum’s Universal Robots
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- L. Brown
- 04-11-23
WT actual F
I don’t even know what to say here. This is a lot of fun. It’s nuts. There are jaunty musical numbers about getting your head cut off. I have a pretty high threshold for weird things, so I enjoyed it overall. I suspect a great many people will not share those feelings.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Triceracop
- 03-23-23
Unexpectedly funny and optimistic
I went into this expecting Westworld and was pleasantly surprised by the goofiness and levity with which the subject matter was handled! Had me laughing out loud at work. Fortunately everyone had already left for the day
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