Bird in Hand

Summary

1952 BBC production of the comedy Bird in Hand by John Drinkwater.

Theatre play

Bird in Hand by John Drinkwater (1882-1937) [more information]

Play synopsis

A ‘comedy of character’, peopled by ‘a group of entirely disparate travellers’ who are staying in a Gloucestershire country pub called Bird in Hand. The central character is Thomas Greenleaf, played by Herbert Lomas who took the role in the stage premiere in 1928. The traditionalism of this old countryman, a tyrannical father, is the focus of the plot. (Source: Radio Times, 23 December 1955, p. 17.)

Production history

Produced at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 1927 and at the Royalty Theatre, London in 1928. Published London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 1927.

Date of transmission

Sunday 13 April 1952

Time

8.30-10.00pm

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

Dennis Vance

Playwright

John Drinkwater (1882-1937)

Sets / Settings

Barry Learoyd

Cast

Basil Appleby	Gerald Arnwood
Peter Cushing	Cyril Beverley
Leslie Dwyer	Mr Blanquet
Ann Hayes	Joan Greenleaf
Herbert Lomas	Thomas Greenleaf
Anthony Nicholls	Ambrose Godolphin
Robert Speaight	Sir Robert Arnwood
Beatrice Varley	Alice Greenleaf

Additional details

Origination

Live from studio

Vision original

Monochrome

Later transmissions

Presented again at 7.30pm on Thursday 17 April 1952.

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

class issues / differences; comedy

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 11 April 1952 (Magazine)

Linking notes

article by Lionel Hale, ‘A fresh and alluring comedy’, and listing on p. 42