English Touring Theatre has announced the release of new audio drama, Phoenix, as part of the Signal Fires project.

With the Olivier award-winning team who previously collaborated on BBC’s Doctor Foster, Phoenix is written by Mike Bartlett and read by Bertie Carvel, with sound design by Ben and Max Ringham.

Phoenix is about fire, destruction, and rebirth; about the impact an individual’s choice can have on the national psyche; about the breakdown of collective trust. This is a story of someone in power who breaks the rules. 

A searing exploration of Britain's relationship to its government, Phoenix is a beautifully written, sharply comic and darkly provocative piece that interrogates the tension between our collective responsibility and individual desires. 

Artistic Director Richard Twyman and Executive Producer of ETT Sophie Scull said: “As we head into a second lockdown, we’re delighted to be able to offer this short story by Mike Bartlett that looks at how the trust of the first was broken. We were originally due to produce a live storytelling event for an audience gathered around a fire, as part of Signal Fires. But as we're unable to gather in person, Mike wrote a new piece, set by a fire, for audiences to enjoy at home. Performed by the extraordinary Bertie Carvel we hope audiences can sit back, light a candle or a fire and listen to this offering for Bonfire Night and the dark evenings ahead.”

Phoenix is released today on English Touring Theatre’s website and social media channels, ahead of being available on iTunes and Spotify.