Episode 1

“Somewhere in La Mancha, in a place whose name is best forgotten...”

So begins the odyssey of the knight-errant, Don Quixote de la Mancha, resolved to restore honour and chivalry to a world that has lost its values. He recruits to his cause a loyal squire, Sancho Panza, and saddles up his mighty steed, Rocinante – all in the name of the fair maiden Dulcinea, the object of his courtly love.

Except that Sancho is a gluttonous farm labourer, Rocinante a bony old nag and Dulcinea a local peasant woman. But this is of little concern to this Knight of the Sad Countenance, who sees the world as he wishes to see it, in a quest that has him take on brigands, muleteers, rival knights, and famously, windmills.

An epic tale of set in the wide, open plains and the mountains of Spain. With original music recorded in Castile on medieval and 16th century instruments.

By Miguel de Cervantes
Adapted by Ernesto Caballero
Translated by David Johnston and Nicolas Jackson

Don Quixote de la Mancha ..... Jason Watkins
Sancho Panza ….. Mackenzie Crook
Cide Hamete Benengeli ..... Khalid Laith
Niece ….. Sofia Oxenham
Priest ….. John Sackville
Barber ….. Will Howard
Maritornes ….. Lucy Speed
Muleteer ….. Jason Forbes
Galleyslave ….. Tyler Pringle
Housekeeper….. Liis Mikk

Other voices performed by the cast

Music performed by Paco Díez and recorded at the Aula-Museo Paco Díez, Mucientes, Spain

Armour foley by Emma Pearn
Jousting by The Knights of Middle England

Script supervisor ..... Liis Mikk
Executive producer ..... Sara Davies
Production manager ..... Eleanor Mein

Track laying ...... Andreina Gómez Casanova
Sound design, music production and mix ..... Jon Nicholls

Directed and produced by Nicolas Jackson

An Afonica production for BBC Radio 4