Tales of the Night Sky

The Argonauts have arrived in Colchis, the Golden Fleece is within their reach. But Jason will need the help of the goddess Aphrodite and the sorceress, Medea, to face the challenges ahead. And that help will come at a price. *Sensitive listeners beware - some of this episode is gruesome!* Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Original compositions written and performed by Chloe Dunn - with Louis appearing as Eros. Featuring: Tom Morton as Aeëtes, Chloe Dunn as Aphrodite, Tercelin Kirtley as Orpheus, Ciaran Cresswell as Jason, Rose Romain as Medea. Sources for this episode include: Apollonius’ ‘Argonautica’, ‘The Orphic Argonautica’, Euripides’ ‘Medea’, Seneca’s ‘Medea’, Pinder’s 4th Pythian. The extract from Euripide’s ‘Medea’ is in a translation by Ian Johnston, Vancouver Island University.

Join Orpheus aboard the magical ship, the Argo, from Iolchus en route to Colchis in search of the Golden Fleece. Jason leads the expedition, but can he keep his team of heroes and demigods united as they face untold dangers? For the full back story of the Golden Fleece, listen to our Aries episode. The constellation of Argo Navis was one of Ptolemy’s 48 but now exists as a grouping of 3 constellations. Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Featuring: Tercelin Kirtley as Orpheus, Ciaran Cresswell as Jason, Sophie Helsing as the Argo, Doug Rand as Heracles, David Stanley as Polydeuces and Glaucus, Kester Lovelace as Castor, Additional voices by Anton Antebi. Original guitar compositions by Fredi Shehadi: ‘Starfish’ in the opening scene. ‘Sail Away’ instrumental version as the Argo sails towards Lemnos and the full song with the credits: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FPRZQJVEeXg Original guitar compositions by Tercelin Kirtley: ‘Hoffman 1968’ when the Argo sets sail. ‘Solovibrato’ when Orpheus is grieving Eurydice. ‘Fastest Cars’ in Lemnos. ‘Fire’ when they meet King Cyzicus. ‘Fragix’ when Orpheus talks about his lyre. We recorded in the SACD podcast studio, Paris and the Argo was recorded in Mikaël Sundin’s studio in Stockholm. Thank you Micke!

Some say Hera birthed the monstrous Typhon, others that it was Gaia, the Earth. Whoever it was wanted to challenge Zeus and create a new order in the cosmos. Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Featuring Sandy Bernard as Hera. Narrated by Bibi Jacob. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Sources include Nonnus’ ‘Dionysiaca’, Euripides' ‘Prometheus Bound’, the ‘Homeric Hymn to Apollo’, Hesiod’s Theogony, Roberto Calasso’s 'The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony’ and Aratus’ ‘Phaenomena.’ We were also loosely inspired by the philosophical concept of ‘musica universalis’.

It’s party time in Olympus. Heracles, the hero is now a god and about to be adopted by Hera. Before the rebirthing ceremony begins, he and the Queen of the gods must make peace in spite of all their suffering and loss. *Sensitive listeners be aware - some of this episode is gruesome* Written by Doug Rand and Bibi Jacob. Directed by Bibi Jacob. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Featuring: Doug Rand as Heracles, Sandy Bernard as Hera, Kester Lovelace as Apollo, Chris Mack as Hermes, Dario Costa as Zeus, Hephaestus and the groom, David Stanley as Diomedes, and Bibi Jacob as Hebe. Recorded at the SACD studios in Paris. The quote comes from Diodorus Siculus’ Library of History, Book 4, in a translation by CH Oldfather. Aristotle refers to Heracles in Book 3 of his Politics. For our other sources, check out our website!

What connects a golden-fleeced ram, a goddess crafted from clouds and a set of twins? Davina the Diviner reveals all. The key to your destiny may lie in the stars. Written by Morag Cross. Directed by Bibi Jacob. Featuring: Morag Cross as Verity, Helle & Nephele, Bibi Jacob as Davina & Ino. Tom Morton as Aeëtes and the Messenger. Ciaran Cresswell as Phrixos. Nigel Pilkington as the Newspaper and Market Vendors. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. A big thanks to Nige.

Laelaps, Europa’s yellow dog, has forgotten what love is, until Procris enters his life. His devotion to her will lead him to some unexpected places in this heartbreaking tale of loyalty and treachery. Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Narrated by Sandy Bernard. Featuring Rufo Quintavalle as Minos and Zelda Rittner as Procris. And also featuring the lovely dogs, Luna and Gus. With huge thanks to their mistresses, Sandy and Gaëlle. Check out the substack Stelliferous for more on the constellations.

This epic and madcap episode concludes Ariadne’s story. It takes us into the heart of the labyrinth and up into the heavens with the constellation of the Northen Crown - Corona Borealis. Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Featuring: Tom Morton as Silenus, Charlotte Donnelly as Psalakantha, Nigel Pilkington as Dionysus. Bibi Jacob as Ariadne, Rufo Quintavalle as Minos, Ciaran Cresswell as Theseus. Original violin loops by Chloe Dunn Sound and production by Geoff Chong.

Pasiphaë, Queen of Crete, pays the price when her husband breaks his oath to Poseidon and refuses to sacrifice the Cretan Bull. In a letter to her daughter, Ariadne, she explains the terrible events that lead to the birth of the Minotaur. Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Featuring Rose Romain as Pasiphaë and Bibi Jacob as Ariadne. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Sources include ‘Euripides Dramatic Fragments - Cretans’ and of course Roberto Calasso’s ‘The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony.’

When Dionysus, god of wine and insanity, appears to Ariadne, determined to marry her, she tells him the tale of her ancestor Io. Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. With Nigel Pilkington as Dionysus and Bibi Jacob as Ariadne. Original violin loops were created and performed by Chloe Dunn. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Sources include: Aeschylus’ 'Prometheus Bound', Moschus’ poem 'Europa', Walter Otto’s ‘Dionysus: Myth and Cult’ and Roberto Calasso’s ‘The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony,’

Ariadne has been abandoned on the island of Naxos by Theseus. As she battles with heartache and homesickness she remembers her grandmother Europa. Written and narrated by Bibi Jacob. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Sources for this re-telling include Moschus’ poem ‘Europa’; Roberto Calasso’s ‘The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony,’ and Ariadne’s letter to Theseus from Ovid’s ‘Heroides’ which you can hear me read on Late Night Classics: S1 E4: Heroides – Ariadne to Theseus

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How do a slipper and an eagle lead to love? Hermes explains all. Written by Chris Mack with Bibi Jacob. Featuring Chris Mack and Bibi Jacob. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Discover our new show, Late Night Classics

You may know them as the Dioscuri - sons of Zeus - or as the Gemini Twins. In this episode discover the very unusal afterlife of the inimitable Castor and Polydeuces. Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Starring David Stanley as Polydeuces, Kester Lovelace as Castor and Chris Mack as Hermes. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Recorded at the SACD studios in Paris. The quote from the Homeric Hymn to the Dioscuri comes from the Evelyn-White translation.

In this final Trojan episode, the ghosts of the war rise up and tell tales of loss and consolation. Sensitive listeners be aware - some of the stories are disturbing. Written and narrated by Bibi Jacob. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Extracts from 17314 Aisakos and 884 Priamus feature Ciaran Cresswell and Les Clack. A thank you to Chloe Dunn.

Andromache appears in the university observatory to recount her tragic tale. 175 Andromache is a main-belt asteroid – not a Trojan in the L4 or L5 Lagrange points in Jupiter’s orbit. But since her character is central to the Trojan war, we’ve included her in this special series. Written and directed by KJ Dwyer. Edited by Bibi Jacob. With Mia Leahy as Dardana and Kate Colebrook as Petra. Original violin and vocal compositions written and performed by Chloe Dunn. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Recorded at the SACD studios, Paris. You can listen to more of Chloe Dunn’s beautiful music, on becaflor.com / Bècaflor Teaser

Strange things happen one night, in a university observatory as Éloi struggles to stay awake and observe the 617 Patroclus asteroid. Written and directed by KJ Dwyer. With KJ Dwyer as Elio. Mitchell Moreno as Patroclus. Ken Starcevic as Menoetius. Bibi Jacob as the radio announcer. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. The actors recorded at the SACD Podcast Studio, Paris. And in London - with huge thanks to Nigel Pilkington.

Achilles, ‘the best of the Greeks’, slaughters Trojans mercilessly as he battles with his own grief and regrets. Starring Tom Morton. Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Production and sound by Geoff Chong.

There’s an eerie stillness in the port town of Aulis when Iphigenia arrives there for her wedding. What exactly will it take to bring back the winds and allow the Greek ships to sail to Troy? This original series was co-created with Chris Mack and KJ Dwyer. And the original concept was sparked off in our writers' group, run by Chris Mack. Written and performed by Julie Kayla. Directed by Bibi Jacob. Sound and production by Geoff Chong Outro by Bibi Jacob. 112 Iphigenia is a main-belt asteroid – not a Trojan in the L4 or L5 Lagrange points in Jupiter’s orbit. But since her character is central to the Trojan war, we’ve included her in this special series.

In this second Trojan episode, King Priam remembers all that was lost in the first terrible siege of Troy. This original series was co-created with Chris Mack and KJ Dwyer. And the original concept was sparked off in our writers' group, run by Chris Mack. Starring Les Clack. Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Original violin compositions and playing by Chloe Dunn. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Recorded at the SACD Podcast Studio, Paris. If you want to listen to more of Chloe Dunn’s beautiful music, click on the links: becaflor.com / Bècaflor Teaser

In this special series, Tales of the NIght Sky takes you into the heart of a large group of asteroids that orbit with Jupiter around the sun. These two camps of heavenly bodies - the Greeks leading and the Trojans trailing Jupiter - are known as the Trojan asteroids. Each identified asteroid is named after a protagonist in Homer’s Iliad. And these characters find themselves locked in orbit, endlessly reliving the trauma of war. This original series was co-created with Chris Mack and KJ Dwyer. And the original concept was sparked off in our writers' group, run by Chris Mack. In the first of the Trojans, the seer Aisakos interprets Queen Hecuba’s dream. Starring Ciaran Cresswell. Written and directed by Bibi Jacob. Introduction written by KJ Dywer and Bibi Jacob. Sound and production by Geoff Chong. Useful sources for this episode: theoi.com , spannycattroy.livejournal.com