Thieves of Mercy

Synopsis

What took place aboard the privateer which captured Hamlet on his way to England? How was it that, on his return to Denmark the melancholy Prince had become a man of energy and resolution? Read’s radio feature attempts to fill these and other gaps in the play. The author’s statement of the problem and his postscript are read by Cecil Trouncer. With Cyril Cusack as Hamlet.

Series

Imaginary Conversations

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Radio

Transmission details

20 Apr 1947 at 22:30 (Channel: BBC Third Programme)

Duration

30 mins

Availability

No archive copy known.

Credits

Producer

Rayner Heppenstall

Writer

Herbert Read

Contributor

Cecil Trouncer

Cast

Cyril Cusack

Hamlet

Additional Details

Production type

Television and Radio Drama

Plays

Hamlet

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes

For more information behind the concept of the radio series, see the article ‘Dialogues of the Dead’ by producer Rayner Heppenstall, published in Radio Times, 4 February 1949.

There is a published version of the script in the collection Imaginary Conversations edited by Heppenstall (Secker & Warburg, 1948).

History

Part of a week of programmes devoted to Shakespeare’s birthday.

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)