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Vanunu: A Time To Be Heard

New drama set in 2004, on the release of Israeli nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu. Journalist Peter Hounam has to find a way to interview him, despite restrictions.

New drama set in 2004, on the release of Israeli nuclear whistleblower, Mordechai Vanunu, who was immediately barred from speaking to the foreign media. Peter Hounam, investigative journalist, attempts to find a way to conduct an interview without breaking the terms of Vanunu's freedom.

After exposing the assembly of nuclear weapon making capabilities at the Dimona nuclear plant where he worked as a technician, Mordechai Vanunu spent nearly 18 years in prison, 15 of those in solitary confinement. He emerged as keen as ever to make public what he knew and his treatment by the state. However, on the day of his release, Vanunu was banned from speaking to foreign media, and forbidden from leaving the country.

Peter Hounam, who broke Vanunu's story in the Sunday Times originally, travelled to Israel to meet Vanunu on release and interview him for UK press and television. Once the restrictions were announced, he set out to find way to give Vanunu a voice without compromising his freedom.

This new drama looks at the relationship between the two men, as well as exploring the difficult issues of investigative journalism and freedom of speech. Award winning television and radio writer Jon Sen (Second Generation, Frances Tuesday, 4.4.68) worked from firsthand accounts of this very particular time to be heard.

The cast
Peter Hounam........David Westhead
Mordechai Vanunu......Shai Matheson
Meir Vanunu.......Uriel Emil
Hilarie Hounam ....Rebecca Knowles
Chris Mitchell....Matthew Gravelle
Security Guard.....Josh Becker

Producer.......Polly Thomas
A ±«Óãtv Radio Drama Cymru/Wales production.

1 hour

Last on

Sat 5 Mar 2011 14:30

Broadcast

  • Sat 5 Mar 2011 14:30

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