The playwright Tom Stoppard was first asked to concoct a play based on Pink Floyd’s hit album Dark Side of the Moon but the 75 year-old claims he had no idea how to approach it, until recently, despite initially being attracted to the idea. The BBC reports that the radio play entitled Dark Side will be aired on BBC Radio 2 on August 26, 2013 and has been commissioned to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the band’s landmark album.

Starring in the radio play will be Bill Nighy, Rufus Sewell, Iwan Rheon and Amala Okafor and it will incorporate music from the album in its “fantastical and psychedelic” story. Pink Floyd’s guitarist and vocalist, David Gilmour said that he found Stoppard’s script “fascinating” and added “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the Dark Side Of The Moon’s 40-year anniversary.” Radio 2’s head of music, Jeff Smith, said that the play would be a “dramatic examination” of the themes of the album, which include “conflict, greed and madness.” A seasoned and talented playwright, Stoppard won an Oscar in 1999, for his play Shakespeare In Love.

The album, Dark Side Of The Moon, which was recently admitted to the US Library of Congress’ National Recording Register, has sold an estimated 50 million copies since its release 40 years ago. 

Tom Stoppard
Tom Stoppard has penned new radio play based on The Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd