Tom Stoppard’ BBC Radio 2 play Darkside is to be released as a deluxe CD package on November 25.
The play, which incorporates music from Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, was an original commission by Radio 2 to mark the 40th anniversary of the album, and broadcast on August 26, 2013.
Tom Stoppard said: “When The Dark Side of the Moon was a new album in 1973, a friend of mine walked into my room where I was working with a copy in his hand and said ‘You really have to do a play about this album.’ So, when, roughly 39-and-a-half years later, Jeff Smith from Radio 2 asked me if I’d like to do some kind of play around the 40thbirthday of the Pink Floyd album, it really wasn’t a very difficult decision.”
Produced in collaboration with Faber And Faber, the package resembles a hard-backed book, including a CD carrying the 54-minute play, which includes the majority of the Dark Side of the Moon album, plus a 56-page bound insert of the play’s script.
The cover features artwork by Hipgnosis designer Aubrey ‘Po’ Powell in collaboration with StormStudios, based on the specially-created Aardman Animations piece used to publicise the broadcast.
The full play script includes all the dialogue and stage directions, plus Roger Waters’ original lyrics from the album. The package will feature a bonus disc with text translations in German, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, Mandarin and Russian.
“I found the script of Tom’s play fascinating,” said Dave Gilmour. “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate The Dark Side of The Moon’s 40 year anniversary.”
“I love it,” said Nick Mason. “If anyone is going to mess with the crown jewel of albums, Tom is a very good choice.”
Pink Floyd and Dark Side Of The Moon are on the cover of the current issue of Uncut.