Richard of Bordeaux

Summary: 1938 BBC studio production of the historical drama Richard of Bordeaux by Gordon Daviot. Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies, who takes the role here, played the part of Anne of Bohemia in John Gielgud’s 1933 stage production at the New Theatre, London.
Theatre play: Richard of Bordeaux by Gordon Daviot (1896-1952) [more information]
Play synopsis: The play depicts the story of Richard II of England in a romantic fashion, emphasizing the relationship between Richard and his queen, Anne of Bohemia.
Production history: John Gielgud directed the play at the New Theatre, London in 1933 in a production in which he himself played Richard.
Date of transmission: Sunday 18 December 1938
Time: 9.05-10.45pm
Channel: BBC Television
Production company: BBC

Producer

Michael Barry

Playwright

Gordon Daviot (1896-1952)

Adapted for Television by

Michael Barry

Cast

Origination: Live from studio
Vision original: Monochrome
Later transmissions: Presented again at 3.00pm on Wednesday 27 December 1938.
Extant status: No archival copy is known to exist.
Play tags: 14th-century setting; historical drama; medieval world, as theme or setting; monarchy, British; royalty

Title: Broadcast Drama: Reviewing the Year (Magazine review)
Author/creator: Grace Wyndham Goldie (Author)
Reference: The Listener, 29 December 1938, p. 1428
Notes: 'The whole thing was a delight to the eye and a first-rate entertainment. And all this in one’s own sitting-room by turning a switch. Just think of it. The real thing. For television plays, in spite of their increasingly film-like handling, do succeed in remaining different in quality from film [...] this was a peak production; the most complicated and complete I have yet seen.'

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