Shaking Up Shakespeare

Synopsis

Broadcast as part of a mixed variety radio programme, this appears to have been an all-male variety sketch based on Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. Written by Con West, this item is presented by John Harding with Felix Aylmer as Shylock and the comic minstrel duo Scott and Whaley. The music is played by the BBC Theatre Orchestra with Fred Barmy as vocalist.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Radio

Transmission details

1 Dec 1932 at 20:00 (Channel: BBC National Programme)

Duration

60 mins

Availability

No copy extant

Credits

Writer

Con West

Contributor

John Harding

Cast

Felix Aylmer	Shylock
Harry Clifford Scott	Antonio
Eddie Peter Whaley	Bassanio
Ben Welden	Portia
Ben Welden	Duke of Venice

Additional Details

Production type

Sitcoms/Variety

Plays

Merchant of Venice, The

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); All-male casts; Black actors

Notes

General

Besides Paul Robeson, Eddie Peter Whaley was the only black actor to work for the BBC before the Second World War. Originally from Alabama, Whaley teamed up with blackface comedian Harry Clifford Scott as cross-talking double act ‘Cuthbert and Pussycat’. Invited to tour England in 1909 they stayed on to become nationally famous with their regular appearances in the popular BBC radio show KENTUCKY MINSTRELS. Inspired by their radio success, director John Baxter cast them as lead in his film of the same name. Accordingly, in 1934, they became the first black performers to star in a British film. For further information see Stephen Bourne, Black in the British Frame: The Black Experience in British Film and Television, London: Continuum, 2005, pp. 2-4.

Reviews

Source: BBC Programme Records 1929-1932, The Times

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)