Britannia of Billingsgate

Summary

1953 BBC live studio production of the comedy Britannia of Billingsgate by Christine Jope-Slade and Sewell Stokes.

Theatre play

Britannia of Billingsgate by Christine Jope-Slade and Sewell Stokes [more information]

Play synopsis

A comedy in four acts concerning the Bolton family, who work in the fish trade, and their encounter with the Phoenix Film Company who are filming in Billingsgate Market.

Production history

Published by Samuel French in 1931, the same year it was staged at the Embassy Theatre, London. This was quite possibly the premiere, although this remains to be confirmed.

Date of transmission

Sunday 15 November 1953

Time

9.05-10.35pm

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

Dennis Vance

Playwright

Christine Jope-Slade

Playwright

Sewell Stokes

Sets / Settings

Stephen Taylor

Cast

Hilda Barry	Mrs Wrigglesworth
Carl Bernard	Jones
Leslie Dwyer	Bert Bolton
Ursula Howells	Elf Russell
John Howlett	Journalist
Launce Maraschal	Cliff Elder
Lana Morris	Pansy Bolton
Harry Ross	Brittz
Tony Sands	Fred Bolton
Vi Stevens	Maria Bolton
Billie Whitelaw	Gladys

Additional details

Origination

Live from studio

Vision original

Monochrome

Later transmissions

Presented again at 7.30pm on Thursday 19 November 1953.

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

comedy; film, as theme

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 13 November 1953 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing and brief article, p. 14