Clare In The Community. Copyright: BBC
Clare In The Community

Clare In The Community

  • Radio sitcom
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2004 - 2019
  • 73 episodes (12 series)

Social worker Clare Barker (Sally Phillips) has a tendancy to find solutions to other people's problems rather than solving her own. Also features Alex Lowe, Nina Conti, Richard Lumsden, Gemma Craven, Liza Tarbuck and more.

Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 6 - Stage Fright

Brian writes a play, for his A level pupils, which is a barely disguised portrayal of his own personal life.

Further details

It has been 10 years since Clare and Brian got together, and so Brian has planned an evening in. He calls it an anniversary but Clare differs, not classing "a fumble in a minibus coming back from Leeds" as a special day to remember. After Clare leaves, Brian realises that he has never been to Leeds. At his school, Brian is with some pupils who are rehearsing his play about a man, a romantic adventurer, torn by conflict. The pupils ask for more background to the play, which is clearly Brian's perspective of his relationship with Clare. Brin (Brian) is in a crumbling relationship with Carol (Clare) and he wants to be with Meg (Megan), who is an 'idealised representation of woman'.

At the office, everyone has been given invited to an anti-discrimination workshop. Clare says she doesn't need a workshop on anti-discrimination, which Helen thinks is arrogant. Irene calls her prejudiced and more or less forces her to go. Clare arrives during the rehearsal of Brian's play and asks if he wants to go to the pub. While having a drink, Brian tells Clare that she is completely self-obsessed and asks her to take an interest in him. She asks him about his play, but he doesn't want to talk about it. He claims he won't get an audience, but Clare secretly asks her colleagues to go with her to be part of the audience rather than going to the workshop.

They meet Megan at the school, because it turns out she too has come to see Brian's play. Brian is backstage and looks through the curtains to see Clare in the audience and he becomes almost sick with fear. The play begins exactly the same as Brian and Clare at the flat at the start of the episode. When the play finishes, everyone leaves and Clare stays behind, telling Brian that she'll leave him by the weekend. They tell each other that they don't want to break apart and that they still love each other. Brian wants to tear down the 'wall of words' they have made over the years and he wants to have sex with Clare on the stage. They decide to go home but, spoiling the moment as they leave, one of the pupils asks if they are still getting their ride home from Brian.

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 31st December 2004
Time
11:30am
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Tuesday 23rd November 2010 5:00pm Radio 4
Wednesday 16th November 2011 7:00am Radio 4 Extra
Wednesday 16th November 2011 5:30pm Radio 4 Extra
Thursday 17th November 2011 5:30am Radio 4 Extra
Sunday 27th August 2017 11:00pm Radio 4 Extra
Sunday 30th August 2020 2:30pm Radio 4 Extra
Monday 31st August 2020 2:30am Radio 4 Extra
Friday 22nd October 2021 9:30am Radio 4 Extra
Friday 22nd October 2021 4:30pm Radio 4 Extra
Saturday 23rd October 2021 4:30am Radio 4 Extra
Saturday 3rd September 2022 10:30am Radio 4 Extra
Saturday 3rd September 2022 8:30pm Radio 4 Extra

Cast & crew

Cast
Sally Phillips Clare
Alex Lowe Brian
Nina Conti Megan
Richard Lumsden Ray
Gemma Craven Helen
Ellen Thomas Irene
Guest cast
Paul Chequer Craig
Emily Wachter Louise
Alex Tregear Sophie
Sartaj Garewal Mr Haji
Bharti Patel Mrs Haji
Writing team
Harry Venning Writer
David Ramsden Writer
Production team
Katie Tyrrell Producer
Paul Schlesinger Executive Producer

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