Dramatisation of Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman as the title suggests, re-tells the stories from Norse myths of dwarves, giants and sea serpents, and of gods who are strong like Thor, beautiful like Sif and wise like Odin, and, of course, of the cunning and sly Loki.

This brilliantly written book is already an audiobook narrated by Neil Gaiman himself – who could read the phone book and make it sound good.

Now, the BBC is bringing us an exciting new radio dramatization of Gaiman’s Norse Mythology. Having previously dramatized other works by Neil Gaiman including Good Omens (his collaboration with Terry Pratchett) and Neverwhere, we have high hopes for this dramatization too.

Norse Mythology, will star Colin Morgan as Loki, Diana Rigg as the teller, Derek Jacobi as Odin, Nathaniel Martello-White as Thor, and Natalie Dormer as Freya. The cast also includes Luke Newberry, Nonso Anozie, Rhashan Stone, Don Gilet, Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong, Lucy Doyle, Michael Bertenshaw, Lewis Bray, Alexandra Constantinidi, Cameron Percival, Saffron Coomber and the great Neil Gaiman himself (who with Terry Pratchett also makes a cameo on the dramatization of Good Omens).

When asked by the BBC about what we can learn from the Norse Gods, Neil Gaiman explained, “What is so marvellous about the gods is how human they are – there is no infallibility. They are the gods of a cold place and they are always on guard against characters who are even colder – the frost giants. They’re very ‘us’, they’re incredibly human and it is that humanity that makes them fascinating.”

The dramatization will air on Boxing Day (26th December) at 3pm on BBC Radio Four and will be available on the BBC webpage to listen to Worldwide. Will you be listening?

Images courtesy of farfarawaysite.com