Hawk and the Handsaw, The

Synopsis

Radio play written by Michael Innes that attempts to sketch in dramatic form the question whether Hamlet, had he but known of all the psychoanalytical speculations that were written about him, would have acted any different. The action, set in the court of Denmark some 40 years after Hamlet’s death, is precipitated by a performance of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. With music composed by William Wordsworth. The BBC Theatre Orchestra is conducted by Walter Goehr.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Radio

Transmission details

21 Nov 1948 at 18:25 (Channel: BBC Third Programme)

Duration

90 mins

Credits

Producer

Rayner Heppenstall

Writer

J. I. M. Stewart; Michael Innes

Music

William Wordsworth (2)

Adaptor for Radio

J. I. M. Stewart; Michael Innes

Cast

Laidman Browne	First player ('Hamlet’) (Hamlet)
Baliol Holloway	King Fortinbras (Fortinbras)
Denise Bryer	A boy
Frederick Lloyd	Horatio (Horatio)
Hilda Schroder	A lady
John Laurie	A doctor
Stanley Groome	Second player ('Horatio’) (Horatio)
William Trent	Third player ('Fortinbras’) (Fortinbras)

Additional Details

Production type

Television and Radio Drama

Plays

Hamlet

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes

Michael Innes is the pseudonym for Scottish writer and academic J.I.M. Stewart.

Reviews

For more information about the play see Innes’ s detailed article on ‘The Hawk and the Handsaw’ in Radio Times, 19 November 1948, p. 7.

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)