The Switchback

Summary

1939 BBC studio production of James Bridie’s drama The Switchback.

Theatre play

The Switchback by James Bridie (1888-1951) [more information]

Play synopsis

A play inspired by Osborne Mavor’s experiences as a physician, concerned with the conflicts between individual creativity and social constraints.

Production history

First performed by the Birmingham Repertory Theatre on 9 March 1929; published London: Constable & Co, 1931.

Date of transmission

Friday 24 March 1939

Time

9.30-11.00pm

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

Moultrie R. Kelsall (1901-1980)

Playwright

James Bridie (1888-1951)

Cast

Meg Buchanan
James Gibson	Dr Mallaby
Tracy Holmes
Alex McCrindle
Murrie Orr
Anthony Shaw
Abraham Sofaer
Wilfrid Walter
Lesley Wareing	Mrs Mallaby
Anne Wilson

Additional details

Origination

Live from studio

Vision original

Monochrome

Later transmissions

Presented again at 3.00pm on Tuesday 28 March 1939.

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

medical drama

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 17 March 1939 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing, p. 18

Title

Television: Theatre or Studio? (Magazine review)

Author/creator

Grace Wyndham Goldie (Author)

Reference

The Listener, 6 April 1939, p. 755