R. U. R.

Summary: 1948 BBC live studio production of the futuristic fable R. U. R. by Karel apek.
Theatre play: R. U. R. by Karel apek [more information]
Play synopsis: The play is set in the future in a factory that makes synthetic humans known as robots (although late twentieth-century usage might regard them as cyborgs). Robots are cheap to manufacture and plentiful. Helena arrives with a plan to ‘free’ the robots but she is convinced that this is absurd and she marries the factory’s general manager. Ten years later, robots across the world have risen up against their human masters and they invade the factory and kill all the humans, apart from one, but not before Helen has burned the formula to create the robots. The last remaining human is ordered to replicate more robots but fails to do so, although he realises that two of the most advanced have developed human feelings and will become a new Adam and Eve.
Production history: R. U. R. was published in Prague in 1920 and premiered on the stage there in the following year. An English translation (by Paul Selver) and adaptation (by Nigel Playfair) was staged by Basil Dean at the St Martin’s Theatre, London in April 1923.
Date of transmission: Thursday 4 March 1948
Time: 8.30-10.00pm
Channel: BBC Television
Production company: BBC

Producer

Jan Bussell

Playwright

Karel apek

Adapted for Television by

Jan Bussell

Translator

Paul Selver

Sets / Settings

Barry Learoyd

Cast

Title: Radio Times, 27 February 1948 (Magazine)
Linking notes: article by John Swift ‘The Shock of R. U. R.', p. 25; listing, p. 27

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