Everyman

Summary

1947 BBC live studio production of the medieval morality play Everyman.

Theatre play

Everyman by Anonymous [more information]

Play synopsis

A late 15th-century English morality play.'The play is the allegorical accounting of the life of Everyman, who represents all mankind. In the course of the action, Everyman tries to convince other characters to accompany him in the hope of improving his account. All the characters are also allegorical, each personifying an abstract idea such as Fellowship, (material) Goods, and Knowledge. The conflict between good and evil is dramatised by the interactions between characters.' Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everyman_(play).

Production history

The first modern stage production was in July 1901 when William Poel and The Elizabethan Stage Society performed the text in London.

Date of transmission

Friday 4 April 1947

Time

8.30-9.15pm

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

George More O’Ferrall (1907-1982)

Playwright

Anonymous

Designer

Peter Bax

Cast

Robert Adams	Strength
Yvonne Arnaud (1892-1958)	Kindred
Lewis Casson	Doctor / Messenger
Dorothy Green	Knowledge
Lawrence Hanray	Discretion
Margaret Leighton	Beauty
André Morrell	Everyman
Henry Oscar (1891-1969)	Death
Fred O’Donovan (1889-1952)	Confession
Esmé Percy	Goods
Margery Pickard	Cousin
Ralph Richardson	God (pre-recorded voice)
Philip Stainton	Fellowship
Margaret Vines	Good-Deeds
Alan Wheatley	Five-Wits

Additional details

Origination

Live from studio

Vision original

Monochrome

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

15th-century setting; 16th-century setting; Medieval drama; morality play

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 28 March 1947 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing, p. 23 and article, p. 4