Macbeth [scenes]

Summary

BBC studio production of scenes from Michel St Denis’ Old Vic production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, by permission of Lilian Baylis. Although listed in the Radio Times for 3 December, the production was actually transmitted on 10 December, as confirmed by the BBC Television Programme Records volume.

Theatre play

Macbeth by William Shakespeare [more information]

Play synopsis

'Macbeth and Banquo, generals in the service of King Duncan of Scotland, are returning victorious from battle when they are hailed by three witches who predict that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and then King of Scotland, whereas Banquo’s descendants will be kings. The first part of the prophesy is soon fulfilled when Duncan rewards Macbeth’s loyal service. Encouraged by this, and playing on her husband’s ambition, Lady Macbeth persuades him to murder Duncan while he is a guest at their castle. Malcolm and Donalbain, Duncan’s sons, flee to England for safety. Macbeth, now king, has Banquo murdered in an attempt to secure his own position, but Banquo’s ghost appears to him at a banquet. Macbeth visits the witches again. They warn him to beware of Macduff, a noble who has also fled to England, but assure him that he cannot be harmed by any man born of woman. Macbeth orders the murder of Macduff’s wife and children. In England, Malcolm tests Macduff’s loyalty and they then raise an army to march against Macbeth. However Macbeth, armed with the witches’ prophecy, believes that he is invincible. As his enemies draw nearer, Macbeth learns that his wife has killed herself. He faces Macduff in combat but when he learns Macduff was born by Caesarian section, he realises that he must face death. With Macbeth dead, Malcolm is crowned King of Scotland’ (source: http://www.rsc.org.uk/explore/macbeth/synopsis.aspx).

Production history

First known performance occurred in the first years of the 17th century.

Date of transmission

Friday 10 December 1937

Time

3.25pm

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Theatre company

Old Vic Company, London

Credits

Producer

George More O’Ferrall (1907-1982)

Playwright

William Shakespeare

Cast

Judith Anderson	Lady Macbeth
Andrew Cruickshank	Banquo
Julian d’Albie
Genevieve Jessel
Basil Langton
Pierre Lefevre
Sylvia Louise
Laurence Olivier	Macbeth
James Ottaway
Michael Perrin
Hereward Russell
Frank Seeton
Cyril Wheeler

Additional details

Origination

Live from studio

Notes

'Mr Laurence Olivier and Miss Judith Anderson were also extremely effective, though they made no attempt to moderate their voices to television scale, and still spoke to the utmost recesses of an imaginary theatre, whereas their smallest whispers would have been heard by the unseen audience. The conventions of the theatre must be got rid of if television is to stand on its own.' (Anon. Broadcasting: Televised Drama’, 13 December 1937, p. 18

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

murder; royalty; Scotland, as theme or setting

Print sources

Title

BBC Television Programme Records: vol. 1, 1937-38 (Book)

Reference

London: British Broadcasting Corporation, 1938

Linking notes

listing on p. 102

Title

Broadcasting: Televised Drama (Newspaper review)

Reference

The Times, 13 December 1937, p. 18

Linking notes

detailed review

Title

Radio Times, 26 November 1937 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing on p. 18; n.b. production not actually transmitted on the advertized date of 3 December

Title

Scenes from Macbeth (BBC, 1937) (Blog article)

Author/creator

John Wyver (Author)

Reference

http://screenplaystv.wordpress.com/2014/03/29/scenes-from-macbeth-bbc-1937, published 29 March 2014

Title

Starlight Days: The Memoirs of Cecil Madden (Book)

Author/creator

Cecil Madden, Jennifer Lews (ed.) (Author, editor)

Reference

London: Trevor Square Productions, 2007

Linking notes

pp. 105-106