British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

Volpone

Summary
1959 BBC Television production of Volpone by Ben Jonson, with Donald Wolfit in the role he had played many times on the stage. The production also used his acting version as the basis of the script.
Theatre play
Volpone by Ben Jonson [more information]
Date of transmission
Tuesday 16 June 1959
Time
9.30-11.15pm
Series
Television World Theatre
Channel
BBC Television
Production company
BBC

Credits

Producer
Stephen Harrison
Playwright
Ben Jonson
Adaptor of Script
Donald Wolfit (the Radio Times states that the script was ‘adapted for television from Sir Donald Wolfit’s acting version’)
Designer
Reece Pemberton
Cast
Carl BernardVoltore, the Vulture
Bernard BrownBonario
Erik Chitty (1907-1977)Corbaccio, the Raven
Leonard Cracknellunnamed part
Aubrey Danvers-Walkerunnamed part
Michael Danvers-Walkerunnamed part
Dennis EdwardsPeregrine
Jane GriffithsCelia
Thomas HareNano
Christopher Hodgeunnamed part
Richard Holdenunnamed part
Philip HollesNotario
Esmond KnightCorvino, the Crow
David Ludmanunnamed part
Stanley Plattsunnamed part
Keith PyottFirst Magistrate
John Quarmbyunnamed part
Lee Richardsonunnamed part
Ray Robertsunnamed part
Neil Robinsonunnamed part
Terence SoallThird Magistrate
John SouthworthAndrogyno
Robert WebberSecond Magistrate
John WentworthSir Politick Would-Be
Donald WolfitVolpone, the Fox
Aubrey WoodsCastrone
John WynyardMosca, the Fly

Additional details

Play tags
17th-century setting; comedy; Italian drama; Jacobean drama

Audiovisual sources

Title
Volpone (BBC, 1959)
Archive
BBC Information and Archives [more information]
Address

White City
London
UK

Telephone

+44 (0)20 8008 2288

Website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/informationandarchives/

Access

BBC Information and Archives is not open to the public.

Print sources

Title
Donald Wolfit in BBC’s Production of Volpone (Newspaper review)
Reference
The Manchester Guardian, 17 June 1959, p. 3
Title
Fox and Geese (Newspaper review)
Author/creator
Maurice Richardson (Reviewer)
Reference
The Observer, 21 June 1959, p. 17
Title
Radio Times, 12 June 1959 (Magazine)
Linking notes
listing, p. 11; article with photograph, p. 4
Title
Sir Donald Wolfit as Volpone (Newspaper review)
Reference
The Times, 17 June 1959, p. 7

Record Stats

This record has been viewed 536 times.