I had not heard of this radio play (or - obviously - heard it) and did not think highly of the premise (though the fact Kafka was tone deaf is an appreciated irony). Murray Gold, who composes the music for Dr. Who, wrote it and, I gotta say, he has done an enjoyable and fun job. There is an authentic blend of Kafka's writing oeuvre and his real life,  mixed in a, well, Kafkaesque manner.  I'm not sure Kafka would himself enjoy it - but he might appreciate the effort.

Franz Kafka (1883-1924) (© AP/Sipa)

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David Tennant nominated for BBC Audio awardTennant, Damian Lewis and June Whitfield are up for the inaugural awards

Written ByWilliam Gallagher

David Tennant leads a list of nominees for the inaugural BBC Audio Drama awards for his role in BBC Radio 3's Kafka – the Musical, written by Doctor Who composer Murray Gold. 

The play is a biography of Franz Kafka's life but the story is told using the idea that Kafka is trapped into performing himself in a musical. Suitably nightmarish, it's about how we have so little time to grasp what is happening to ourselves before we face a final curtain.

RT's radio editor Jane Anderson said of Tennant's performance: "From nervous stutters through to grunting intercourse [it] is nuanced with such sadness that it's impossible to get to the end without weeping."

(more)

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-01-09/david-tennant-nominated-for-bbc-audio-award

(the radio play via YouTube  1-4)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f-kvSFREyA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEQCs-yE8Fc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcyvmQfYOWs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl6BJKjjyj8&feature=related