King Lear on Boxing Day

Synopsis

Radio programme celebrating the four hundreth anniversary of the performance of King Lear, the new play offered to King James I and his guests at Whitehall Palace on Boxing Day 1606. Presenter Francine Stock tries to evoke the mood of the period and discusses Shakespeare’s reasons for writing the play with studio guests, including actors Fiona Shaw and Oliver Ford Davies; scholars Jonathan Bate, Michael Dobson, Richard Dutton, Brett Dolman and Tiffany Stern; director Richard Eyre, food historian Ivan Day and the early music ensemble Passamezzo. With recorded comments from actors who have interpreted the role including Donald Sinden, John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier and Paul Scofield.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Radio

Transmission details

26 Dec 2006 at 14:15 (Channel: BBC Radio 4)

Duration

90 mins

Credits

Producer

Beaty Rubens

Contributor

Brett Dolman; Fiona Shaw; Francine Stock; Ivan Day; Jonathan Bate; Michael Dobson; Oliver Ford Davies; Richard Dutton; Richard Eyre; Tiffany Stern

Additional Details

Production type

Documentary/Educational/News

Plays

King Lear

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); theatre history

Notes

History

Broadcast 400 years after the play was originally performed at Whitehall Palace, London. Part of a BBC radio anniversary tribute to the play.

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Archive

Name

British Library Sound Archive

Email

listening@bl.uk

Web

http://www.bl.uk/nsa External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7412 7676

Fax

020 7412 7441

Address

96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB