Wars of the Roses, The: An Illustrated Talk by J. Dover Wilson

Synopsis

Radio programme introducing three Shakespeare historical plays which the Third Programme presents as a continuous chronicle: Henry VI, Parts 2 and 3 and Richard III. The opening talk by series editor John Dover Wilson focuses on the first part of Henry VI, Part 1, which Dover identifies as being a product of collaborative work. The programme is illustrated with episodes from the play acted by Deryck Guyler (Talbot), Sonia Dresdel (Margaret of Anjou) and others.

Series

Wars of the Roses, The

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Radio

Recording date

16 Oct 1952

Transmission details

31 Oct 1952 at 21:40 (Channel: BBC Third Programme)

Duration

55 mins

Availability

Unknown

Credits

Producer

Peter Watts

Writer

William Shakespeare

Editor

John Dover Wilson

Contributor

John Dover Wilson

Cast

Stephen Jack	Richard Plantagenet, later Duke of York
Peter Assinder	Sir John Talbot, later Earl of Shrewsbury
Leonard Sachs	Duke of Suffolk (William de la Pole)
Antony Kearey
Arthur Lawrence
Eric Anderson	Sir William Lucy
Frank Tickle
Garard Green
Hugh Falkus	Duke of Somerset
John Cazabon
John Scott
Patrick Troughton
Sonia Dresdel	Margaret, daughter of King Reignier
Wilfrid Babbage	General
William Fox

Additional Details

Production type

Documentary/Educational/News

Plays

Henry VI part 1; Henry VI part 2; Henry VI part 3; Richard III

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes

A BBC recording.

General

The ‘Wars of the Roses’ broadcasting sequence does not open with Henry VI, 1 because the play, according to Dover Wilson, is a "patchwork in which Shakespeare collaborated with inferior dramatists" ('Shakespeare’s Chronicles of the War of the Roses’, Radio Times, 24 October 1952, p. 7).

History

Part of a sequence of history plays broadcast under the title ‘The Wars of the Roses’ from 31/10/1952- 6/11/1952 on BBC Third Programme (see separate entries for each episode).

Textual information

A written transcript of the production is held at the Birmingham Central Library as part of their Shakespeare Collection.

Reviews

In ‘The Wars of the Roses’ (Radio Times, 31 October 1952, p.11), producer Peter Watts explains how the plays are linked and airs some of the problems they present when produced as a sequence.

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)