Dorrien of Cranston

At Cranston Hall, a formidable retired general presides over a quiet breakfast, his mind occupied by a terse letter from his wayward son, Roland, who plans to return after eight years abroad. The two share a legacy of iron‑willed discipline and a bitter rivalry that has left the family divided, especially after the tragic loss of the elder brother in the Alps. As the General stares out over the estate’s gardens, the weight of duty, pride, and unresolved resentment settles like a storm cloud.

The arrival of an equally resolute lady of the house only deepens the tension, as both grapple with questions of inheritance, honor, and the future of the Dorrien line. Listeners are drawn into a world of stately English country life, where the rigid codes of the military intersect with the fragile emotions of a family torn apart by past choices. The first act sets the stage for a gripping exploration of loyalty, forgiveness, and the price of unwavering principles.