The Wise Cat

Summary

1955 BBC production of The Wise Cat by Herman Heyermans in the Children’s Television slot.

Theatre play

The Wise Cat by Herman Heyermans [more information]

Play synopsis

A satirical fantasy of a cat who comes to court to rid the palace of rats, but uncovers court intrigue and unmasks its hypocrites.

Production history

Written in 1917 as a social satire for children of all ages. An established success in Holland, regularly revived.

Date of transmission

Sunday 14 August 1955

Time

5.00-6.00pm

Series

Children’s Television

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

Rex Tucker

Playwright

Herman Heyermans

Adapted for Television by

Gibson Cowan

Adapted for Television by

Selma Vaz Dias

Designer

John Cooper

Cast

Bruno Barnabe	Marcus / The Chef
Reginald Barratt	The Physician
Cecil Brock	Jean
Philip Dale	The Milkman
Brenda Dean	Antoinette
Carl Duering	Prince Arthur
Nellie Griffiths
Maria Hanson
Charles Hodgson	Jonathan
Richard Holden
Fletcher Lightfoot
Philip Locke	Pierre
Arthur Lowe	The Fishmonger
Launce Maraschal	The Butcher
Jack May	The Marshal
Brian Moorhead
Wolfe Morris	The Cat
Lesley Nunnerley	Princess Regina
Kendrick Owen
Jill Showell
Philip Stainton	The King
Selma Vaz Dias	The Lady-in-waiting
Geoffrey Wilmer	The Forester

Additional details

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

children’s drama; comedy; Dutch drama

Programme context tags

children’s television

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 12 August 1955 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing, p. 14; article by Selma Vaz Dias, ‘A Dutch Puss in Boots’, p. 21