The Apple Cart

Summary

1975 BBC production of G. B. Shaw’s The Apple Cart.

Theatre play

The Apple Cart by [George] Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) [more information]

Play synopsis

The Apple Cart: A Political Extravaganza is a 1928 play by George Bernard Shaw. It is satirical comedy about several political philosophies which are expounded by the characters, often in lengthy monologue. The plot follows the fictional English King Magnus as he spars with, and ultimately outwits, Prime Minister Proteus and his cabinet, who seek to strip the monarchy of its remaining political influence.' (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Apple_Cart.)

Production history

First performed in Warsaw, in Polish, in June 1929.

Date of transmission

Sunday 19 January 1975

Time

8.15-10.10pm

Series

Play of the Month

Channel

BBC1

Production company

BBC

Credits

Director

Cedric Messina

Producer

Alan Smallcross

Lighting

Sam Barclay

Playwright

[George] Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

Designer

Tony Abbott

Sound

Colin Dixon

Cast

Peter Barkworth	Prime Minister
Trevor Baxter	Colonial Secretary
Nigel Davenport	King Magnus
Bill Fraser	Boanerges
Joyce Grant	Lysistrata
Griffith Jones	Foreign Secretary
Simon Lack	Pamphilius
James Leith	Sempronius
Deborah Makepeace	Princess Royal
Helen Mirren	Orinthia
Reg Pritchard	Chancellor of the Exchequer
Beryl Reid	Amanda
Prunella Scales	Queen Jemima
Bernard Taylor	American Ambassador
Thorley Walters	Home Secretary

Additional details

Play tags

comedy

Audiovisual sources

Title

The Apple Cart (BBC, 1975)

Archive

BBC Information and Archives [more information]

Address

White City
London
UK

Telephone

+44 (0)20 8008 2288

Website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/informationandarchives/

Access

BBC Information and Archives is not open to the public.

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 16 January 1975 (Magazine)

Linking notes

article, p. 5; listing with photograph, p. 26