Spec Fic Radio Theatre is an anthology of top audio drama, written by amazing writers and produced by the multi-award winning team at Alternative Stories.
From hard science fiction to folkloric tales and mythology to futuristic climate disasters and a murder mystery on Noah's Ark, you'll find yourself immersed in unexpected and original stories performed by professional actors and supported by impeccable sound design.
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More from Alternative Stories:
The Dex Legacy: https://pod.link/1603811886/
Wasteland - A Dex Legacy Story: https://pod.link/1790863463
Burnout: https://pod.link/1798982875
In the county of Cornwall in the far southwest of England, a strange game has been played between villages for centuries. When the covid lockdown brings Holly to the area she learns more about the game and the mysterious stone circles dotting the landscape. The county is rich in folklore and Holly's aunt, Helen shares some of it in this tale of folklore and fantasy written by Cornish poet and folklorist, Anna Chorlton.
The Silver Ball was recorded and produced during the UK's Covid lockdown using actors from or with close connections to the county of Cornwall. Sound quality varies a little and we hope this does not spoil your enjoyment of the story. The Silver Ball was selected as Cornwall's entry into the British Library's archive of artistic projects created in the Covid pandemic lockdowns. It's a hug pleasure to share this magical story as the final episode in season 2 of Spec Fic Radio Theatre.
In the Silver Ball by Anna Chorlton you heard, in order of appearance
Tim Cartwright As Conan
Michael Fenner as the Vicar of St Cleer
Jowan Jacobs as Hedrek
Jamie Trotter as Jago
Tiffany Clare as Holly
Kate Edney as Helen
Carly Barnes as Amy and Heather
And Sally Walker-Taylor as Mary
Other voices were played by members of the cast
The music in The Silver Ball was arranged and performed by Mike O’Connor based on traditional Cornish tunes. Additional music is by Chris Gregory
Production, sound design and soundscapes were by Chris Gregory
Sound effects are from Freesound.org
If you would like to find out more about the author of The Silver Ball, the Cornish poet and folklorist Anna Chorlton you can do so by visiting her website here https://annachorlton.com/
And follow Anna on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/chorltonanna
All the locations and customs mentioned in the story are based on real sites and events in Cornwall.
If you enjoy Spec Fic Radio Theatre you might enjoy other Alternative Stories podcasts. We have a number of drama series including our award winning science fiction drama The Dex Legacy and our podcast about world building 'Writing Worlds'. Find all our shows and links to our social media, website and more here https://linktr.ee/AlternativeStories
To get early release and ad-free listening to all alternative stories shows, bonus content, newsletters and more you can join the Alternative Stories Patreon. You'll get access to our discord where you can connect with other fans, our production team and actors and you'll be supporting us to make more of the shows you enjoy. To find out more and choose your membership tier please click the link below https://www.patreon.com/AltStories
Spec Fic Radio Theatre is an Alternative Stories production.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
4 Feb 2026
A Memory Of Robin
A Memory of Robin by David Green tells the story of Gem, the daughter of a woman called Robin who we follow through extracts from her voice diary as she seeks to escape the confines of an increasingly oppressive and totalitarian government.
In A Memory of Robin by David Green you heard:
Jackie Jorgenson as Robin
Abby Hilden as Gem, Robin's daughter
Keli Winkler as the Voice of the Nation
A Memory of Robin is based on the short story of the same name by David Green.
Additional material and adaptation were by Chris Gregory.
Music, sound design and mixing were by Chris Gregory
Find out more about writer David Green by following him on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/davidgreenwriter/
And visit his website www.davidgreenwritercom.wordpress.com
Find David on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/davidgreenwriter/
If you enjoy Spec Fic Radio Theatre you might enjoy other Alternative Stories podcasts. We have a number of drama series including our award winning science fiction drama The Dex Legacy and our podcast about world building 'Writing Worlds'. Find all our shows and links to our social media, website and more here https://linktr.ee/AlternativeStories
To get early release and ad-free listening to all alternative stories shows, bonus content, newsletters and more you can join the Alternative Stories Patreon. You'll get access to our discord where you can connect with other fans, our production team and actors and you'll be supporting us to make more of the shows you enjoy. To find out more and choose your membership tier please click the link below https://www.patreon.com/AltStories
Spec Fic Radio Theatre is an Alternative Stories production.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
28 Jan 2026
The Lake Isle
There are few things more mysterious in nature than an island in a lake. This psychological drama explores the pull and attraction of one such island in a Highland Loch which we view against the backdrop of the fracturing of a familial relationship.
I will arise and go now, for always night and dayI hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,I hear it in the deep heart’s core.
W.B Yeats from his poem 'The Lake Isle of Innisfree'
In the Lake Isle you heard
Kelsey Griffin as Kirsty Monroe
Sophie Macnair as Helena Monroe
Carl Wharton as Mr Monroe
Warren Graham as Michael, the counsellor
Chris Gregory as the man in the coffee shop
The Lake Isle was written by Chris Gregory with script review by Sophie Macnair and Kelsey Griffin
Music, sound design and mixing were by Chris Gregory
If you enjoy Spec Fic Radio Theatre you might enjoy other Alternative Stories podcast. We have a number of drama series including our award winning science fiction drama The Dex Legacy and our podcast about world building 'Writing Worlds'. You'll find a link in our show notes to find out more
To get early release and ad-free listening to all alternative stories shows, bonus content, newletters and more you can join the Alternative Stories patreon. You'll get access to our discord where you can connect with other fans, our production team and actors and you'll be supporting us to make more of the shows you enjoy.
To find out more and choose your membership tier please click the link below
https://www.patreon.com/AltStories
Find all our shows and links to our social media, website and more here https://linktr.ee/AlternativeStories
Spec Fic Radio Theatre is an Alternative Stories production.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Who has been a guest on Spec Fic Radio Theatre
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Verity Blyth
Rosa Samuels
Charlie Richards
Sadie Pepperrell
Marie Claire Wood
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
18,568
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 45 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
46
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
32
Contact Spec Fic Radio Theatre
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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