A Rose on the Obverse

BBC Radio 4; May 1986
Producer: Caroline Raphael
29 min
 
Summer 1982. An elderly English couple, Jake and Sarah, pre-occupy themselves with the mundane. The hot sun takes its toll on the roses, on their nerves and on Winston, the family dog who must finally be laid to rest. Barely concealed beneath the surface of their dialogue lies a poignant anxiety: their only son Martin is serving with the Paratroop regiment in the Falklands. A Rose on the Obverse explores themes of patriotism, meaning and ultimate sacrifice.
 
Starring Pauline Letts and Timothy Bateson, A Rose on the Obverse was Tim’s first professional drama commission. The BBC commissioned a radio adaptation after a stage version of the play was presented at the finals of the Sunday Times’ National Student Drama Festival in 1985.