Major Barbara

Summary

Rediffusion production for ITV of George Bernard Shaw’s Major Barbara.

Theatre play

Major Barbara by [George] Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) [more information]

Play synopsis

Major Barbara Undershaft of The Salvation Army becomes disillusioned when her Christian denomination accepts money from an armaments manufacturer (her father) and a whisky distiller. She eventually decides that bringing a message of salvation to people who have plenty will be more fulfilling and genuine than converting the starving in return for bread. Although Barbara initially regards the Salvation Army’s acceptance of Undershaft’s money as hypocrisy, Shaw did not intend that it should be thought so by the audience. The play portrays the conflict between spiritual and worldly power, embodied in Barbara.

Production history

First performed in 1905; first published in 1907.

Date of transmission

Tuesday 18 October 1966

Time

9.10-10.40pm

Channel

ITV

Production company

Rediffusion (1964-68)

Credits

Director

John Frankau

Producer

Peter Willes

Playwright

[George] Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

Adapted for Television by

Ronald Gow

Cast

Eileen Atkins	Barbara
Geoffrey Bayldon	Peter Shirley
Jonathan Cecil	Cholly
Fabia Drake	Mrs Baines
Julia Foster	Jenny Hill
Ronald Fraser	Bill Walker
Michael Latimer	Stephen
Moira Lister	Lady Britomart
Daniel Massey	Adolphus
Carmel McSharry	Rummy Mitchen
Anna Palk	Sarah
Keith Pyott	Morrison
Ron Welling	Snobby Price
Alister Williamson	Bilton
Douglas Wilmer	Andrew Undershaft

Additional details

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

Christianity; Salvation Army

Print sources

Title

GBS on Independent Television, 1966-83 (Blog article)

Author/creator

John Wyver (Author)

Reference

http://screenplaystv.wordpress.com/2011/08/04/gbs-on-independent-television-1966-83, published 4 August 2011

Title

Major Barbara, 1966 (Archive file)

Archive

BFI Reuben Library [more information]

Address

BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road
South Bank
London
SE1 8XT
UK

Email

Use the contact form at http://www.bfi.org.uk/form/contact-bfi-library

Website

http://www.bfi.org.uk/education-research/bfi-reuben-library/visiting-bfi-reuben-library

Access

The BFI Library is open from 10.30am to 7.00pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Access to special collections material is by appointment.

Reference

Special Collections, Associated-Rediffusion Television papers

Notes

The slim file on this production contains: a cast list; programme as telecast / pre-recorded; contracts.

Title

Small Screen Restricts Major Barbara (Review)

Reference

The Times, 19 October 1966, p. 17

Title

TV Times, 13 October 1966 (Magazine)

Linking notes

image, p. 9; article, pp. 9-10; listing, with image, p. 41