South Sea Bubble

Summary: This BBC presentation of a 45-minute excerpt of Noël Coward’s comedy South Sea Bubble was performed before an invited audience from the Lyric Theatre, London.
Theatre play: South Sea Bubble by Noël Coward (1899-1973) [more information]
Play synopsis: A politically minded comedy about colonialism set in Samola (Coward’s fictional name for Jamaica), where the islanders are apparently happy under colonial rule and concerned about the international status of the empire.
Production history: 'Started life as Home and Colonial [1949] then Island Fling [1951] and finally South Sea Bubble [1956]. A light comedy that ran for 8 performances in Westport, USA and did not last long under its final name and first production in London. Written for Gertrude Lawrence who never played it’ (source: http://www.noelcoward.net/html/plays.html).
Date of transmission: Monday 17 September 1956
Time: 8.30pm (45 mins)
Channel: BBC Television
Production company: BBC

Director

William Chappell

Television Presentation by

John Ellison

Playwright

Noël Coward (1899-1973)

Sets / Settings

Peter Snow

Cast

Peter Barkworth	Captain Christopher Mortlock, ADC
Joyce Carey	Cuckoo Honey
Ian Hunter	Sir John Shotter
Ronald Lewis	Hall Alani
Arthur Macrae	John Blair Kennedy, Boffin
John Moore	Edward Honey
Elizabeth Sellars	Lady Alexandra Shotter

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British Universities Film & Video Council