DRAMA ON RADIO|
I have been collecting radio drama programmes since 1958 I propose to look at some of the Classic Radio productions that have made a great impact on listeners over the years. I suppose one must start with the Dorothy L. Sayers cycle of plays "THE MAN BORN TO BE KING". This consists of a run of twelve plays (usually about 45 minutes long) on the life of Christ. There were four productions of the work and each started on the following dates: 1: 21 December, 1941 2: 23 December, 1951 3: 7 February, 1965 4: 19 January, 1975 There was a new cast for each production. Although some actors managerd to get into more than one production. All four versions are safely preserved in the Jeremy Stevenson Sound Archives. It is worth mentioning that two excellent documentary programmes also exist. They are "This Blasphemous Outrage" (Tx 12/1/75) and "An Enormously Definite Person" (Tx 13/12/80). |
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UNDER MILK WOOD This is the famous work for radio by Dylan Thomas. By my calculations there have been six productions of this work. I do not count the Cinema Film. They run as follows: 1: 1953 (exact day unknown) 2: 25 January 1954 3: 11 October 1963 4: 17 April 1978 5: 15 October 2006 6: 2 May 2007 If anyone knows of any more - I'll be pleased to hear from them. |
| THE CANTERBURY TALES THE CANTERBURY TALES is a run of fourteen programmes. The first of which was transmitted on the 4 July 1949 (previously recorded on the 13 March). This episode consists of the prologue. It is first read in Chaucerian English and then again in modern language. The translation - that is to say of the whole work - is by Nevill Coghill. The production is by Stephen Potter. |
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The First Stage This is the entertainment created by John Barton. The first programme was broadcast on the 18 November 1956. The whole series consists of thirteen programmes. It sets out to tell the story of the development of drama from the earliest times. Because the programmes are so long, there is plenty of time devoted to the production of plays. Most exciting of all (in my opinion, that is!) is a performance of "Gammer Gurton's Needle". Other works include: The Mystery Plays, Everyman, John John the Husband, Tyb his Wife and Sir John the Priest, The Play of the Weather, Nice Wanton, King Johan, Jacob and Esau, Ralph Roister Doister, Gorboduc, The Spanish Tragedy and The Jig of Rowland. The production is by Raymond Raikes.
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A Really Great Discovery The recording of the BBC production of Ivor Novello's "King's Rhapsody" has turned up. It was broadcast on the 26th. December 1951. An extract from The Radio Times can be seen opposite. |
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Another Ivor Novello Programme . . . another great discovery. This was transmitted by the BBC Home Service on the 16th January 1952. For details of the cast, see opposite. |
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This is one of my favorite images Despite having a large number of recordings of Shakespeare's "King Lear", it always seems to be me who ends up in the stocks - and not Kent ! The following versions exist in the Jeremy Stevenson Archives: 13/9/46 (Scenes) CBS 26/4/49 Third 29/9/67 Third 8/11/86 WS 10/4/94 R3 16/9/01 R3 24/12/06 WS 15/12/74 R3 19/9/82 BBC2 3/4/83 Ch4 21/3/98 BBC2 |
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The Merry Widow I first saw this work in the Summer of 1958. It starred June Bronhill and Thomas Round. The performance made a lasting impression on me. Click opposite to hear an extract. |