Midnight Cowboy: Episode One

A two-part radio dramatisation of James Leo Herlihy's landmark 1965 novel Midnight Cowboy - the source material for one of the most celebrated films in American cinema, yet a work whose extraordinary emotional power and literary richness have never been fully realised until now for radio. With very strong language.

At its heart, Midnight Cowboy is a story of dreams, desperation and an unlikely friendship forged in the shadows of a city that promises everything but delivers nothing to those living on the margins.

When Joe Buck, a handsome and hopelessly naïve young Texan, arrives in New York City convinced that charm and ambition will unlock a glamorous new life as a male hustler, he finds himself plunged into a world of predators, drifters and dreamers. As the city strips away his illusions, Joe forms an unexpected bond with Ricco “Ratso “ Rizzo, a sharp-tongued, physically broken con artist whose bravado barely conceals his vulnerability. Together they embark on a desperate struggle not simply to get by, but to find connection and dignity in a world that has forgotten them.

And it’s the portrayal of this complex pairing - by turns funny, combative, heart-breaking and deeply moving which critics have observed ranks with the very best in American literature.

Radical and controversial when first published, Midnight Cowboy was among the first mainstream novels to explore sexuality, masculinity and queer identity with honesty and compassion. More than 60 years later, its themes of loneliness, alienation, friendship and the search for belonging feel strikingly contemporary. At a time when many feel disconnected from the societies around them, this story feels as relevant today as it did when it was first published. But despite the dark themes this adaptation embraces the novel's surprising humour alongside the sadness.

It also carries a personal connection. The Producer/Director Paul Schlesinger’s uncle, John Schlesinger, directed the Academy Award-winning film adaptation.

It’s a timeless story of two outsiders searching for connection in a world that seems determined to leave them behind.

In this first of two parts, we follow Joe Buck’s dysfunctional upbringing in New Mexico and later Texas. Brought up by his unreliable, self-centred grandmother Sally, he searches for meaningful attachments and is repeatedly disappointed until he makes the decision to leave for New York where he is sure a better life awaits him.

Midnight Cowboy by James Leo Herlihy
Dramatised by Colin Bytheway

Joe Buck ..... Brandon Bassir
Rico Rizzo ..... Chase Brown
Sally Buck ..... Madeleine Potter
Young Joe ..... Kobe Warmington
Woodsy Niles/Mr O'Daniel ..... Stuart Milligan
Miss Wilby/Barbara Stanwyck/Park Avenue Lady ..... Antonia Bernath
Annie Pratt ..... Samantha Dakin
Tombaby/Bobby/Wesley ..... Daniel Trainor
Adrian/Chaplain ..... Jake Phillips
Perry/Tony ..... Caleb Mercer
Curtis/Bus Driver/Sci Fi Actor ..... Bentley Kalu
Juanita/Cass ..... Tonya Cornelisse
Dolores ..... Gabriella Fanuele

Music composed by Ed Seed
Sound Design by David Thomas
Production Coordinators: Dawn Williams and Nina Semple

Producer/Director: Paul Schlesinger

A Pier production for BBC Radio 4