Will Shakespeare

Synopsis

Radio adaptation of the play which was originally written for the stage by British playwright Clemence Dane (1888-1965). The plot links Shakespeare and the ‘Dark Lady’ of the sonnets with the mysterious death of Shakespeare’s fellow dramatist, Christopher Marlowe.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Radio

Transmission details

13 Jan 1940 at 21:30 (Channel: BBC)

Duration

45 mins

Availability

No archive copy known.

Credits

Producer

Barbara Burnham

Writer

Clemence Dane

Cast

Gladys Young	Queen Elizabeth
Laidman Browne	Henslowe
Leslie Perrins	Kit Marlowe
Robert Donat	William Shakespeare
Rosalinde Fuller	Mary Fitton

Additional Details

Production type

Television and Radio Drama

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

biographies; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

General

Dane’s Will Shakespeare: An Invention in Four Acts, a play written in blank verse, was published in 1921.

History

Stage play premiered at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London, 17 November 1921. Initially, a scene from Act IV was broadcast on BBC London (5/9/1926). Several broadcasts on BBC radio followed (see separate entries). The play was subsequently produced for BBC Television on April 3,1938 (see separate entry).

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)