Former Genesis LAMDA Scholar Samuel Barnett in ground-breaking new drama

Former Genesis LAMDA Scholar, Samuel Barnett, stars alongside legendary stage and screen actor Simon Callow in a ground-breaking new online drama about a little known period in the life of the 19th Century writer, wit and raconteur, Oscar Wilde.

Death in Genoa is an imaginative dramatic reconstruction of the time Wilde spent in Italy in February 1899, when he visited the grave of his wife, Constance - a poignant and little known episode in his life.

The radio drama is the second to be promoted and premiered via a national newspaper’s website and marks the launch of Independent Drama following the cementing of a relationship between the paper and award-winning production company, Made in Manchester (MIM).  Last month, a 30 minute radio drama about persecuted Enigma Code breaker Alan Turing was promoted in the newspaper and premiered online. Turing's Test which also starred History Boys actor Samuel Barnett was regularly in the Top 20 in its category on iTunes.

History Boys and Desperate Romantics actor Samuel Barnett stars as Omero and Blake Ritson (Emma and The League of Gentlemen) as Dr Carlo Bazzani.

The new initiative to bring regular radio drama via The Independent newspaper is being supported by a whole host of top actors, writers, directors and producers.

Among those supporting Independent Drama are Vicky Binns from Coronation Street, radio and theatre director Joyce Branagh, Doctors writer and director Adrian Bean, writer Tim Fountain, Reggie Perrin creator and writer David Nobbs and poet Ian McMillan.

Death In Genoa is available for download from The Independent website: www.independent.co.uk/drama.