The Comedy of Errors

Summary: 1954 live studio production by BBC Television of a musical adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play The Comedy of Errors. This adaptation was also broadcast from the Arts Theatre by ITV in 1956.
Theatre play: The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare [more information]
Play synopsis: 'The Comedy of Errors tells the story of two sets of identical twins that were accidentally separated at birth. Antipholus of Syracuse and his servant, Dromio of Syracuse, arrive in Ephesus, which turns out to be the home of their twin brothers, Antipholus of Ephesus and his servant, Dromio of Ephesus. When the Syracusans encounter the friends and families of their twins, a series of wild mishaps based on mistaken identities lead to wrongful beatings, a near-seduction, the arrest of Antipholus of Ephesus, and false accusations of infidelity, theft, madness, and demonic possession’ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Comedy_of_Errors).
Production history: Dated to 1594 when it is known to have been performed in December of that year; first published in the First Folio in 1623.
Date of transmission: Sunday 16 May 1954
Time: 8.55-10.25pm
Channel: BBC Television
Production company: BBC

Producer

Lionel Harris

Playwright

William Shakespeare

Adapted for Television by

Lionel Harris

Adapted for Television by

Robert McNab

Music

Julian Slade

Musical Arrangements by

James Turner

Conductor

Eric Robinson

Sets / Settings

James Bould

Cast

David Bird	Angelo
Lally Bowers	The Abbess Aemilia
Richard Burrell	Merchant
James Cairncross	Dromio of Ephesus / Dromio of Syracuse
Gerald Cross	Solinus / Dr Pinch
Paul Garner	Town Crier
Barbara Grimes	Dancer
Paul Hansard	Antipholus of Syracuse
Patrick Horgan	Officer
Christie Humphrey	Courtesan
Esther Lawrence	Luce
Helen Misener	Hostess of the Porcupine
David Peel	Antipholus of Ephesus
Joan Plowright	Adriana
Patricia Routledge	Nun
Roy Skelton	Angelo’s Assistant
Richard Vernon	Aegeon
Jane Wenham	Luciana