High Rise Series: All Episodes Available Online

Since Thursday 12th August, we have been releasing episodes from the High Rise series on a weekly basis. We are excited to announce that all 11 episodes are out on Podfollow and Spotify.

High Rise is a European Social Fund 12 week creative writing radio drama project.

During these 12 weeks, MBE appointed Louise Wallwein guided each participant to create their own episode. All 11 episodes explored Greater Manchester’s gentrification.

Listen to all episodes below.

EP1: Hong Kong to Manchester

Written and produced by Farwa Naseer.

Hong Kong to Manchester explores themes of race, class and cultural differences. It showcases how humans connect regardless of this and celebrates Manchester’s diversity and evolving skyline.

EP2: Rain, Thunder and Fire

Written by Connor Forsyth.

An argument over the changing city, brought about by an artwork depicting it aflame. The High Rise buildings divide the past and future of the city. A story of sorrow, conflict, and passion.

EP3: Pushed Out Again

Written and produced by Jonathan Williams.

As the echoes of a compulsory order from the past linger, a teenager struggles with the uncertainty looming over his family with history threatening to repeat itself.

EP4: Nothing & Everything

Written & produced by Tom Braithwaite.

Guy, abandoned by the world, searching for the man responsible, runs into the arms of fate and a whirlwind romance with his rival’s daughter.

EP5: Same City. Total Opposites

by Joe Johnstone.

‘Same City. Total Opposites’ follows one boy, who is torn from his mother and is introduced to the tower blocks of Manchester.

EP6: No Power Great Responsibility

Written and directed by Alapelode Oluwatobi.

In ‘No Power Great Responsibility’, a builder fights for the freedoms of his family as a big Construction firm kicks local builders out of business.

EP7: Block 2 Block

Written and directed by Jozef Bryer.

‘Block 2 Block’ is a story of one young adult adapting back to normal life. He encounters many obstacles in his way, as he navigates two different environments.

EP8: A Day In the Life

Written by Alanis Leah MacDonald.

“Reality leaves a lot to the imagination”. In this episode, Gregory and Samantha are in a relationship and need a new home. Then the Manchester high rises are built. What will happen next?

EP9: Floor 129

Written and produced by Alex Ingham-Brophy.

This episode asks the question, what happens when you want more from life ? Everything’s tested. Relationships, moralities and sense of self-worth are all at risk, and it all starts on Floor 129.

EP10: A Tale from Two Sides

Written & directed by Maddie Zygmunt

Two Men, One Address, this is the story of the class divide.

EP11: Mourning Manchester, Mourning Malik

by Zhahava Waseem

“A drama rooted in grime, simplified in rhyme, inspired by the experience of both yours and mine, is it really one of crime? I mean, some of you may think it’s fine. Malik and Myles, Posh and Poor, one gets wasted and one goes to the floor. A story of friendship, a story of fraud. So sit back and relax, you won’t get bored.”