The Father

Summary

1962 BBC production of The Father by August Strindberg.

Theatre play

The Father [Fadren] by August Strindberg (1849-1912) [more information]

Play synopsis

Swedish tragedy in which an army scientist (the father of the title) and his wife disagree over the proper upbringing of their daughter. The core of the play is the struggle for power between these two. She fosters doubt in his sanity in the minds of others and drives him to the edge of actual madness by leading him to doubt that he is actually the father of their child.

Production history

Dated to 1887.

Date of transmission

Friday 21 September 1962

Time

9.30-10.45pm

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

Alan Bridges

Playwright

August Strindberg (1849-1912)

Translator

Peter Watts

Musical Arrangements by

Wilfred Josephs

Designer

Barry Learoyd

Cast

Wynne Clark	Old Margaret
Michele Dotrice	Bertha
Philip Howard	Svard
Peter Jesson	Nojd
John Moore	The Pastor
Denis Quilley	Dr Ostermark
Kathleen Saintsbury	The Grandmother
Robert Shaw	The Captain
Daphne Slater	Laura

Additional details

Play tags

19th-century setting; Swedish drama; tragedy

Audiovisual sources

Title

The Father (BBC, 1962)

Archive

BBC Information and Archives [more information]

Address

White City
London
UK

Telephone

+44 (0)20 8008 2288

Website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/informationandarchives/

Access

BBC Information and Archives is not open to the public.

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 13 September 1962 (Magazine)

Linking notes

illustrated article, p. 47; listing, p. 49