General Qulan arrives in the provinces to gather the armies to fight rebel 'queen' Maya. In Tumanbay, Gregor is under pressure to find the spies.
In the fifth episode of this epic saga inspired by the Mamluk slave-dynasty of Egypt, General Qulan (Christopher Fulford) finds the Provincial Governors less than enthusiastic as he arrives to gather the armies to fight rebel "queen" Maya. In Tumanbay, Gregor is under pressure to find the spies but his investigations keep leading him back to Shajar the Sultan's chief wife (Sarah Beck Mather) and a reliquary she has secreted away.
Tumanbay, the beating heart of a vast empire, is threatened by a rebellion in a far-off province and a mysterious force devouring the city from within. Gregor (Rufus Wright), Master of the Palace Guard, is charged by Sultan Al-Ghuri (Raad Rawi) with the task of rooting out this insurgence and crushing it.
Music - Sacha Puttnam
Sound Design - Steve Bond, Jon Ouin
Editors - Ania Przygoda, James Morgan
Producers - Emma Hearn, Nadir Khan, John Dryden
Written and Directed by John Dryden
A Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4.
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Who were the Mamluks?
Chivalrous, ruthless and filthy rich. The Mamluks ruled Egypt for over 300 years.
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Characters to watch out for
Slaves, warriors and spies. Get to know Tumanbay's key characters.
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A barbarian demonstrates his lust for war
Duration: 03:05
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Gregor | Rufus Wright |
| Sarah | Nina Yndis |
| Shajar | Sarah Beck Mather |
| Cadali | Matthew Marsh |
| Physician | Vivek Madan |
| Wolf | Alexander Siddig |
| The Hafiz | Antony Bunsee |
| Bello | Albert Welling |
| Ibn | Nabil Elouahabi |
| Maya's Envoy | Nadir Khan |
| Daniel | Gareth Kennerley |
| Al-Ghuri | Raad Rawi |
| General Qulan | Christopher Fulford |
| Provincial Governor Usman | John Sessions |
| Fatima | Sirine Saba |
| Actor | Christian Hillborg |
| Actor | Alec Utgoff |
| Actor | Akbar Kurtha |
| Writer | John Dryden |
| Director | John Dryden |
| Producer | Emma Hearn |
| Producer | Nadir Khan |
| Producer | John Dryden |
Broadcast
- Wed 30 Dec 2015 14:15BBC Radio 4
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Tumanbay
Epic saga by John Dryden and Mike Walker, inspired by the Mamluk slave dynasty of Egypt.
