Learning on ScreenThe Insect Play
- Summary
- 1950 BBC live studio production of The Insect Play by Karel apek and Josef apek.
- Theatre play
- The Insect Play [Ze ivota hmyzu] by Karel apek and Josef apek [more information]
- Date of transmission
- Sunday 28 May 1950
- Time
- 9.00-10.15pm
- Channel
- BBC Television
- Production company
- BBC
Credits
- Producer
- Michael Barry
- Playwright
- Josef apek
- Playwright
- Karel apek
- Adapted for Television by
- Michael Barry
- Translator
- Paul Selver
- Set Designer
- Barry Learoyd
- Masks by
- Barry Learoyd
- Dances Arranged by
- Viola Merrett
- Cast
Jack Allen Otto / Second Engineer Jill Balcon A Chrysalis Richard Bebb Felix; Soldier Jessie Evans Clytie / Ichneumon Fly’s Daughter / Second Snail Musetta Fonnereau Moth Gretchen Franklin Mrs Beetle / First Snail John Gabriel Victor / A Parasite Sibell Gill A Philanthropist Colin Gordon A Lepidopterist / An Ichneumon Fly Desmond Keith Mr Beetle / A Journalist Duncan Lewis Another Beetle / Soldier / A Woodcutter Shelley Lynn Iris / A Woman Viola Merrett Moth Bernard Miles A Tramp Jack Newmark Mr Cricket / Soldier Andrew Osborn Chief Engineer Victor Platt Blind Timekeeper William Roderick Commander-in-chief of the Yellows Paul Russell Schoolboy Hilda Schroder Mrs Cricket / Schoolgirl Martin Starkie A Signal Officer Catherine Summerton Moth
Additional details
- Origination
- Live from studio
- Vision original
- Monochrome
- Later transmissions
- Presented again at 8.45pm on Thursday 1 June 1950.
- Extant status
- No archival copy is known to exist.
- Play tags
- Czech drama
Print sources
- Title
- Radio Times, 26 May 1950 (Magazine)
- Linking notes
- listing, p. 44; article by Lionel Hale, ‘Insects Who Speak as Humans’, p. 43; article, p. 42
Record Stats
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