The Flashing Stream

Summary

1949 BBC live studio production of Charles Morgan’s drama The Flashing Stream. H. G. Stoker, who here takes the role of The Rt Hon Walter Harrowby, was in the cast of the original London production in 1938.

Theatre play

The Flashing Stream by Charles Morgan [more information]

Play synopsis

On the British island of St Hilary in the Atlantic, an experimental naval unit is working on an aerial torpedo device called the Scorpion. Three of the group are career navy men, but also present is Karen Selby, a young civilian woman who has been forced into the group by Walter Harrowby, MP. Her involvement triggers conflict and romance, both of which could prove devastating to the project.

Production history

First performed on 1 September 1938 at the Lyric Theatre, London, where it enjoyed a six month run.

Date of transmission

Sunday 1 May 1949

Time

8.30-10.00pm

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Theatre company

[choose none of these]

Credits

Producer

George More O’Ferrall (1907-1982)

Playwright

Charles Morgan

Sets / Settings

Barry Learoyd

Cast

Norman Claridge	Captain Winter
Peter Hammond	Lt-Cmdr Richard Sandford
Stanley Lemin	Denham
R. Stuart [Stuart] Lindsell	Commander Henry Carr
Eileen Peel	Lady Helston
John Robinson	Lt-Cmdr Peter Brissing
Margaretta Scott	Karen Selby
Sebastian Shaw	Commander Edward Ferrers
H. G. Stoker	Rt Hon Walter Harrowby
Arthur Wontner	Read-Admiral Sir George Helston

Additional details

Origination

Live from studio

Vision original

Monochrome

Later transmissions

Presented again at 8.30pm on Thursday 5 May 1949.

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

military / army / navy / air-force; sea-faring

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 29 April 1949 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing, p. 30; brief article, p. 28; and article by J. C. Trewin, ‘Down the Flashing Stream’, p. 29