Barnet’s Folly

Summary

1955 live BBC production of Jan Stewer’s Devonshire comedy Barnet’s Folly, in which the playwright took the lead role.

Theatre play

Barnet’s Folly by Jan Stewer [more information]

Play synopsis

'The Barnet of the title never appears; it is his scheme that looms large. His idea was to collect all the farm produce from miles around and retail it, so he built ‘a place the size of a cathedral’ and some of the farmers co-operated and some didn’t. Mark Lannacott was one of those who did, with what result the play will reveal. The plot of this drama is strong enough in its own right to hold one’s interest; combined with sharp characterisation and authentic dialogue it becomes a lovable and very spirited comedy of rural manners’ (Radio Times, 18 February 1955, p. 26).

Production history

First staged in Exeter in 1933 and then at the Haymarket Theatre, London in 1935.

Date of transmission

Tuesday 22 February 1955

Time

8.30-10.00pm

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

Chloe Gibson

Playwright

Jan Stewer

Designer

Stewart Marshall

Cast

John Baker	Bill Gurney
Vincent Ball	Richard Barnet
Joyce Barbour	Mrs Burridge
Stephen Boyd	Sam Burridge
Gordon Daisley	Dick Lubbock
Margaret Dale
Richard Foat
Freda Gibson
Christie Humphrey	Mrs Westlake
Monica Moore	Mrs Cawdle
Etain O’Dell	Mary Frost
Maureen O’Reilly	Nellie Lannacott
Wensley Pithey	William Burridge
Philip Ray	Mark Lannacott
William Sherwood
Julie Somers	Hettie Burridge
Nancye Stewart	Mrs Lannacott
Jan Stewer	George Groswell
Sylvia Sutch	Ginnie
Beatrice Varley	Hannah Mudge
Ronald Wood	Mr Westlake

Additional details

Origination

Live from studio

Vision original

Monochrome

Notes

The producer Chloe Gibson also produced the first staging of the play in Exeter in 1933.

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

Devon, as theme or setting

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 18 February 1955 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing and photo caption, p. 26; plus brief article