Drama on 3: The Hummingbird

Radio 3, 7.30pm

An evocative adaptation of Italian novelist Sandro Veronese’s impressionistic 2019 novel (translated by Elena Pala), telling the fragmented life story of ophthalmologist Marco Carerra, who juggles an unhappy wife, unrequited love, an estranged brother, miserable parents and a host of other life challenges (such as the pivotal suicide of his sister) – all the while hovering over key moments to build up a portrait of a chaotic but full life. Adapted and directed by John Retallack, with Paul Ansdell as the author/narrator, Simon Lenagan as Marco and Caroline Faber as Luisa.