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The Keys to the Kingdom is a new play by Nick Dear in the Radio 4 series Secrets and Lies. It stars Roger Allam as Tanner, a once extremely powerful film director, and his reliable and loyal assistant Pippin, played by Penny Downie.

Over the course of a day and night we witness Tanner’s power unravel - piece by piece his protective armour is ripped from him as he realises that his past is about to catch up with him.

Visited by a young life writer interested in creating his autobiography, and by an old friend and colleague from his theatre days who is also interested in telling his story, we see the tables turn and the power dynamics shift. Pippin is a loyal assistant who protects Tanner, and he pays her a lot of money, which she likes. But there’s more to it than that and with the arrival of these two characters, one of whom comes brandishing serious allegations threatening to unearth something from the past that could seriously damage Tanner’s reputation, what will Pippin come up with this time and who will write his life story?

Roger Allam…………………..Tanner
Penny Downie……………….Pippin
Julian Rhind-Tutt……………Mick Michaels
Preeya Kalidas……………….Ria Devereux

Directed by Celia de Wolff
Sound Design by David Thomas
Production Co Coordinators: Eleanor Mein and Nina Semple

A Pier production for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4