So Many Children

Summary

1958 BBC Television production of So Many Children by Gerald Savory, from the BBC’s Midland television studios. Hird had played the same role in a recent touring stage production of the play.

Theatre play

Come Rain, Come Shine by Gerald Savory (1909-1996) [more information]

Play synopsis

A three-act play set in the north of England. Aggie is a kind landlady who takes in ex-prisoners and people on probation, and suffers the disapproval of her neighbours. She is also fatally ill. Will she be able to hand on responsibility for her charges before it is too late?

Production history

The Radio Times of 19 December 1958, p. 23, states that prior to the December 1958 BBC Television production, the play had ‘toured for a number of weeks in the North, with Thora Hird in the [same] role’.

Date of transmission

Saturday 27 December 1958

Time

9.05pm (90 mins)

Series

Saturday Playhouse

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

John Harrison

Playwright

Gerald Savory (1909-1996)

Designer

Charles Carroll

Cast

Annette Carell	Anna Kirsten
Beatrix Carter	Miss Sunbury
Richard Goolden	Slippy Wokingham
Richard Greenford	Willie
Thora Hird	Aggie Thompson
Denis Holmes	Matthew Gunton
Noel Howlett	Mr Arkwright
Betty Linton	Mrs Ramskill
Nora [or Norah] Nicholson	Cornelia Brigham
Denis Quilley	Paul Latimer
Michael Scott	Dr Myers

Additional details

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

north of England, as theme or setting; prison

Print sources

Title

A Great Piece of Acting (Magazine review)

Reference

The Listener, 1 January 1959, pp. 34-35

Linking notes

with image from the production

Title

Radio Times, 19 December 1958 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing, article and photograph on p. 23