A Party for Christmas

Summary

1954 live BBC studio production of N. C. Hunter’s family comedy, A Party for Christmas, broadcast on the evening of Christmas Day.

Theatre play

A Party for Christmas by N. C. [Norman Charles] Hunter (1908-1971) [more information]

Play synopsis

A seasonal family gathering. ‘The Firbanks and their guests are observed with the insight, sympathy and humour which evoke the smile of recognition and the remembrance of things past.' (Kenneth A. Hurren, ‘Family Gathering’, Radio Times, 24 December 1954, p. 17)

Production history

Performed at the Haymarket Theatre, London, in 1938-39.

Date of transmission

Saturday 25 December 1954

Time

9.30-11.00pm

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

Eric Fawcett

Playwright

N. C. [Norman Charles] Hunter (1908-1971)

Designer

Stephen Taylor

Cast

Dorothea Alexander	Maid
Peter Bartlett	Anthony Davidson
Hugh Dempster	Robert Firbanks
Richard Johnson	Michael Firbanks
Agnes Lauchlan	Elinor Firbanks
Carol Marsh	Caroline Firbanks
Nora [or Norah] Nicholson	Alice Matheson
Anthony Parker	Stephen Firbanks
Charles Victor	Fred Matheson
Wendy Williams	Pamela Sutton

Additional details

Origination

Live from studio

Vision original

Monochrome

Later transmissions

Presented again on Thursday 30 December 1954 at 9.45pm.

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

Christmas

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 24 December 1954 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing, p. 16; article by Kenneth A. Hurren, ‘Family Gathering’, p. 17