The Barretts of Wimpole Street

Summary

1961 BBC production of The Barretts of Wimpole Street by Rudolf Besier.

Theatre play

The Barretts of Wimpole Street by Rudolf Besier (1878-1942) [more information]

Play synopsis

The story of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning’s courtship and her tyrant father’s unwillingness to allow them to marry.

Production history

This play, Besier’s only major success, premiered at the Malvern Festival of 1930, produced by Sir Barry Jackson.

Date of transmission

Sunday 24 December 1961

Time

8.40-10.25pm

Series

Sunday-Night Play

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

Harold Clayton

Playwright

Rudolf Besier (1878-1942)

Designer

Barry Learoyd

Costume Supervisor

Joyce Hammond

Make-up

Tommy Manderson

Cast

Andrew Cruickshank	Edward Moulton Barrett
Christopher Cruise	Alfred Moulton Barrett
John Downing	Charles Moulton Barrett
Julian d’Albie	Dr Ford-Waterlow
Scot Finch	Octavius Moulton Barrett
Ian Fleming	Dr Chambers
Christopher Gilmore	Henry Moulton Barrett
William Job	George Moulton Barrett
John Neville	Robert Browning
Katharine Newman	Bella Hedley
Anne Ridler	Henrietta Moulton Barrett
Anne Robson	Wilson
Rosemary Rogers	Arabel Moulton Barrett
David Stuart	Captain Surtees Cook
Danvers Walker	Septimus Moulton Barrett
Gwen[doline] Watford	Elizabeth Moulton Barrett
Kenneth Watson	Henry Bevan

Additional details

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

19th-century setting; poetry and literature, as theme

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 21 December 1961 (Magazine)

Linking notes

illustrated article, p. 13; listing, p. 15