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Radio 4 presents the first radio dramatisation of Maya Angelou’s autobiographies

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Radio 4 will broadcast dramatisations of six of Maya Angelou’s extraordinary autobiographies over 2018 and into 2019 in what would have been her 90th birthday year.

Starting on 18 June with I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, the dramas will feature three Maya Angelous at different stages in her life, beginning in childhood with Indie Gjesdal playing the young Maya and continuing with Pippa Bennett-Warner playing the adult Maya. Angelou’s remarkable works have been dramatised by award-winning playwrights Patricia Cumper, Janice Okoh and Winsome Pinnock.

The cast also includes Nikki Amuka-Bird (Luther, Denial) as Mrs Flowers, Cecilia Noble (Nine Night, Black Mirror, Call The Midwife) as Momma, Paapa Essiedu (Hamlet/Kiri) as Bailey, Samuel Anderson (Dr Who), Ellen Thomas (EastEnders, Humans), Danny Sapani (Black Panther, The Crown), Sope Dirisu (Coriolanus, Black Mirror) and Roshawn Hewitt.

Maya Angelou’s incredible life encapsulates the story of African American struggle and liberation. Over six series – the six instalments of her autobiography – a crucial period of black history is revealed, and a period of change that would alter attitudes, culture and society irrevocably.

Her rich and diverse life sees her survive racial and physical abuse growing up as a child in the deep South, working as a prostitute and pimp, dancer and singer; to poet and writer and working directly in civil rights.

Offering unique insight into three decades of history, from the 1930s to the late 1960s, the autobiographies cover pivotal moments in the Civil Rights movement and shine a light on a period of change that altered attitudes, culture and society.

She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and was credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. She won three Grammys, a Tony, a National Book Award, and was nominated for a Pulitzer. Maya Angelou would go on to be the first poet in over thirty years to make an inaugural recitation during Bill Clinton’s ceremony and would later receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the highest US civilian award) from Barack Obama.

Jeremy Howe, Radio 4’s Commissioning Editor for Drama and Fiction, says: “The books that make up the life and times of Maya Angelou are some of the best, most beautiful and haunting pieces of autobiography I have ever read. They run the gamut from life affirming to tragedy and back again with a tone that is a joyous, direct and searingly honest, and are an extraordinary portrait of 20th century black America. To turn these wonderful books into drama we have assembled the A team: between them Patricia Cumper, Winsome Pinnock and Janice Okoh have won awards aplenty and have written hours of wonderful radio drama. Radio 4’s celebration of Maya Angelou is an event worth waiting for.”

In addition to the dramatisations, Radio 4 is working with Aardman to create an animation in celebration of Maya Angelou’s life and work which will be available via the Radio 4 website.

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“To Love Is To Perform”: Jada Di’Larosa’s Poetic Meditation on Love, Identity, and Solitude

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On April 17, 2026, independent artist Jada Di’Larosa introduces a deeply evocative new chapter in her creative journey with the release of To Love Is To Perform. Emerging from the rich cultural undercurrent of New Orleans, Di’Larosa delivers a project that feels intimate, cinematic, and emotionally unguarded—an album that quietly lingers long after the final note fades.

Blending elements of alternative, indie, and nu-jazz, the record is less about traditional structure and more about atmosphere and emotional storytelling. It unfolds like a series of late-night reflections—soft, immersive, and deeply personal. Each track carries a sense of stillness, where restraint becomes a powerful artistic choice, allowing listeners to fully absorb the subtle complexities within her sound.

Between the Spotlight and the Shadows

Jada Di’Larosa’s artistry is shaped by a compelling dual existence. As a professional dancer and showgirl, her nights are filled with performance, light, and spectacle. Yet beyond the stage, she retreats into solitude—writing music that mirrors her introspective nature. This contrast is the emotional backbone of To Love Is To Perform, where themes of identity, vulnerability, and perception are explored with striking honesty.

Rather than presenting a polished, conventional album, Di’Larosa embraces imperfection. The project carries the raw essence of demos—unfiltered, organic, and alive. In her own words, it is “a diary” of her experiences, offering a glimpse into a world that is both quietly glamorous and deeply introspective. That authenticity gives the album its emotional weight, transforming it into something profoundly human.

Sound as Atmosphere, Silence as Language

Musically, the album is guided by minimalism and mood. Piano and violin arrangements intertwine with her haunting vocal delivery, creating a soundscape that feels almost suspended in time. Di’Larosa’s voice is uniquely her own—delicate yet assured, drifting through each composition with a poetic cadence that enhances the storytelling.

Tracks such as “showgirl” and “movie star” reflect the tension between persona and reality, while “bayou st. john” grounds the album in a sense of place and memory. The title track, “to love is to perform,” offers a philosophical lens on relationships, suggesting that love itself can be an act shaped by roles and expectations. Meanwhile, “costume” emerges as a defining moment—an exploration of identity, illusion, and the masks we wear.

Tracklist

  1. showgirl
  2. movie star
  3. bayou st. john
  4. to love is to perform
  5. candy
  6. blackbird
  7. spinster
  8. a love noir
  9. costume
  10. curtain call

A Quietly Powerful Artistic Statement

What makes To Love Is To Perform so compelling is its refusal to conform. It does not chase trends or demand attention—it invites it. The album thrives in its subtlety, rewarding listeners who are willing to slow down and engage with its emotional depth.

There is a cinematic quality throughout the record, as if each track is a scene from an unseen film—rich with symbolism, mood, and introspection. It’s an experience designed not just to be heard, but to be felt.

Defining Her Own Space

In an industry often driven by visibility and constant output, Jada Di’Larosa stands apart through intentional distance and artistic focus. She allows her work to speak on her behalf, cultivating a sense of mystery that only enhances her presence.

With To Love Is To Perform, she offers more than music—she offers perspective. It is a body of work that explores the delicate balance between who we are and who we present to the world, capturing the beauty and complexity of both.

As the release date approaches, the album positions Di’Larosa as a distinctive voice in contemporary alternative jazz—an artist unafraid to embrace vulnerability, ambiguity, and the quiet power of self-expression.

Connect with Jada Di’Larosa
Official Website: www.jadadilarosa.com
Instagram: @jada.dilarosa
Available on Spotify, Bandcamp, SoundCloud, and YouTube

For inquiries: jadadilarosa@yahoo.com

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