The Empty Chair

Summary: 1960 Southern Television production for ITV of The Empty Chair by Peter Ustinov. This was the first in a scheduled series of twelve plays to by performed by the Old Vic for ITV over a two-year period.
Theatre play: The Empty Chair by Peter Ustinov (1921-2004) [more information]
Play synopsis: 'An allegorical commentary on the French Revolution and revolution in general. Key characters are Danton and Robespierre, and the chair of the title becomes empty as one man of power after another falls victim to the guillotine. The irony and wit which characterise the talk of the play’s protagonists is made all the more barbed by the realization that a revolution cannot bear the cost of humor’. Source: Steven H. Gale (ed.), Encyclopedia of British Humorists: Geoffrey Chaucer to John Cleese, Volume 2 (Routledge, 1996), p. 1156.
Production history: First produced in Bristol in 1956 (source: http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsU/ustinov-peter.html#35253).
Date of transmission: Sunday 17 April 1960
Time: 2.30-4.00pm
Series: Old Vic Theatre of the Air Presents
Channel: ITV
Production company: Southern Television (1958-1981)
Theatre company: Old Vic Company, London

Director

Philip Dale

Producer

Michael Benthall

Playwright

Peter Ustinov (1921-2004)

Adapted for Television by

Philip Dale

Designer

John Dilly

Cast

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