Learning on ScreenKing Henry VIII
- Synopsis
- Radio version of Shakespeare’ history play adapted and produced by R. D. Smith. With Bruce Belfrage in the title role and Catherine Lacey as Queen Katherine. Harold Pinter plays Lord Abergavenny. With music specifically composed by Elisabeth Lutyens and conducted by Edward Clark.
- Language
- English
- Country
- Great Britain
- Medium
- Radio
- Transmission details
- 14 Jan 1951 at 18:25 (Channel: BBC Third Programme)
- Duration
- 135 mins
- Availability
- No archive copy known
Credits
- Producer
- R. D. Smith
- Writer
- William Shakespeare
- Music
- Elizabeth Lutyens
- Adaptor for Radio
- R. D. Smith
- Cast
Additional Details
- Production type
- Television and Radio Drama
- Plays
- Henry VIII
- Subjects
- Drama
- Keywords
- Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)
Notes
- Notes
- The performance was interrupted by a ten-minute interval in which Purcell’s string fantasias were played from gramophone records. In his article (see below), R. D. Smith points out that because of this interruption, he supplied "a chorus who speaks in the accents of the prologue".
- General
- Rehearsals: 7/1/1951-14/1/1951
- History
- Broadcast again on 17/1/1951 and 9/2/1951.
- Textual information
- A written transcript of the first part of the production is held at the Birmingham Central Library as part of their Shakespeare Collection.
- Reviews
- Producer R. D. Smith writes about the play and the problems of adapting it for radio in his article on ‘Why Henry VIII Deserves a Hearing’ in: Radio Times, 12 February 1951, p. 9.
Production Company
- Name
BBC
- Notes
- The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Record Stats
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