The Conquering Hero

Summary

1960 BBC production of The Conquering Hero by Allan Monkhouse.

Theatre play

The Conquering Hero by Allan Monkhouse (1858-1936) [more information]

Play synopsis

The main character, Christopher, a writer, cannot bring himself to sign up to fight in the war in 1914. His bellicose family regard him with disgust. He has respect for his pacifist brother Stephen, though he doesn’t share his ideals about joining the Red Cross. Eventually Christopher succumbs to family and societal pressure and he has a traumatic time in northern France which leaves him morally broken.

Production history

Written in 1923. First produced in London in 1924.

Date of transmission

Sunday 28 February 1960

Time

8.00-9.30pm

Series

Twentieth Century Theatre

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

John Gibson

Playwright

Allan Monkhouse (1858-1936)

Adapted for Television by

Barbara Burnham

Composer

Christopher Whelen

Conductor

Christopher Whelen

Designer

Norman James

Cast

Michael Bilton	An Old Footman
Martin Boddey	Sir John Romer
John Dearth	Dakin
Jill Dixon	Helen Thorburn
Barry Letts	Captain Francis Iredale
Brian McDermott	Megson
Ellen McIntosh	Margaret Iredale
Richard Pasco (1926-)	Christopher Rokeby
Ambrosine Phillpotts	Lady Romer
Paul Rogers	Colonel Rokeby
Nigel Stock	Stephen Rokeby
Kenneth J. Warren	A Prussian Officer

Additional details

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

First World War, as theme or setting; France, as theme or setting; wartime, as theme or setting

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 1 January 1960 (Magazine)

Linking notes

brief mention in article, p. 2

Title

Radio Times, 26 February 1960 (Magazine)

Linking notes

article with photograph, p. 3; illustrated listing, p. 9