Peer Gynt, Part 1

Summary: 1954 BBC production of Ibsen’s Peer Gynt, given in two parts.
Theatre play: Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) [more information]
Play synopsis: 'Ibsen believed Per Gynt, the Norwegian fairy tale on which the play is loosely based, to be rooted in fact, and several of the characters are modelled after Ibsen’s own family, notably his parents Knud Ibsen and Marichen Altenburg. He was also generally inspired by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen’s collection of Norwegian fairy tales, published in 1845. [...] Peer Gynt is the son of the once highly regarded Jon Gynt. Jon Gynt spent all his money on feasting and living lavishly, and had to go from his farm as a wandering salesman, leaving his wife and son behind in debt. Åse, the mother, wished to raise her son to restore the lost fortune of his father, but Peer is soon to be considered useless. He is a poet and a braggart, not unlike the youngest son from Norwegian fairy tales, the "Ash Lad", with whom he shares some characteristics.' Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peer_Gynt.
Production history: Peer Gynt was first performed in Christiania (now Oslo) on 24 February 1876, with original music composed by Edvard Grieg.
Date of transmission: Sunday 31 October 1954
Time: 8.30-10.15pm
Series: Saturday Night Theatre
Channel: BBC Television
Production company: BBC

Producer

Royston Morley

Playwright

Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906)

Translator

R. Ellis Roberts

Director of Orchestra

Eric Robinson

Designer

Barry Learoyd

Dances Arranged by

Michael de Lutry

Assistant Producer

Charles Rogers

Cast

Mark Bering	unnamed part
Patricia Blyton	Farm Girl
Fanny Carby	Ingrid
Joy Carter	unnamed part
Erik Chitty (1907-1977)	The Old Man of the Dovre, the Troll King
Norman Claridge	Solveig’s Father
Diane Cook	Helga
Leslie Cooper	unnamed part
Josephine Crombie	Solveig
Frances Crossley	unnamed part
Rosalie Crutchley	A Green-clad Woman
Michael de Lutry	Oldest Troll Courtier
Dudy Foulds	Farm Girl
Irene French	An Ugly Brat
Roger Gage	A Lad
Robert Harrold	unnamed part
Reginald Hearne	Bridegroom’s Father
Winifred Hill	An Old Woman
Michael Holmes	unnamed part
Wendy Hyde	unnamed part
Stuart Latham	The Bridegroom
Christine Lindsay	Bridegroom’s Mother
Jeanne Lusby	unnamed part
Nan Marriott-Watson	Solveig’s Mother
Mary Mojeska	unnamed part
Phyllis Morris	An Old Woman; Kari
Mary O’Farrell	Ase
Susan Richards	A Woman
Janette Richer	Farm Girl
John Sharplin	Aslak
Frank Shelley	A Man
Peter Ustinov (1921-2004)	Peer Gynt
George Woodbridge	The Kitchen-Master
Marjorie Woodhams	unnamed part

Title: Peer Gynt (BBC, 1954)
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