Spark in Judea

Summary

1953 BBC live studio production of Spark in Judea, R. F. Delderfield’s drama about Pontius Pilate, produced on Easter Sunday.

Theatre play

Spark in Judea by R. F. [Ronald Frederick] Delderfield (1912-1972) [more information]

Play synopsis

The troubles of Pontius Pilate, a Roman administrator struggling to keep Roman rule on a troublesome province. Pilate needs to borrow money from the local priests, and all they ask in return is his help in dealing with a problematic Nazarene.

Production history

Delderfield’s first play was produced in London in 1936.

Date of transmission

Sunday 5 April 1953

Time

8.40-10.20pm

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

Leonard Brett

Playwright

R. F. [Ronald Frederick] Delderfield (1912-1972)

Sets / Settings

John Cooper

Cast

Peter Arne	Sentry
Robert Brown	Marius
Peter Bull	Theocritus
Bryan Coleman	Aurelian
Rachel Gurney	Claudia Procula
Lucienne Hill	Nesta
Olga Landiak	Mary Magdalene
Marne Maitland	Joseph of Arimathea
Orlando Martins	Phoebus
Brian Moorehead	Longinus
John Salew	Annas
Sebastian Shaw	Pontius Pilate
Ralph Truman	Caiaphas

Additional details

Origination

Live from studio

Vision original

Monochrome

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

ancient Rome and colonies; biblical stories; Christianity

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 3 April 1953 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing and brief article, p. 14