British Universities Film & Video Council

moving image and sound, knowledge and access

Wars of the Roses, The: King Richard III

Alternative title
King Richard III
Synopsis
Radio version of the play adapted and produced by Peter Watts and broadcast as part of a sequence of Shakespeare’s histories. With Donald Wolfit as Richard and Joan Hart as Elizabeth. The fanfares are composed by John Hotchkis.
Series
Wars of the Roses, The
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Radio
Transmission details
6 Nov 1952 at 20:05 (Channel: BBC Third Programme)
Duration
175 (incl. interval)
Availability
Unknown

Credits

Producer
Peter Watts
Writer
William Shakespeare
Editor
John Dover Wilson
Music
John Hotchkis
Adaptor for Radio
Peter Watts
Cast
John GlenKing Edward IV
Elsa PalmerDuchess of York
Warren HearndenPrince Edward (Prince of Wales)
G. BluntRichard, the young Duke of York
Brian HayesGeorge, Duke of Clarence
Anthony JacobsSir William Catesby
Antony Kearey 
Arthur Lawrence 
David EndersLord Grey
Donald WolfitRichard, Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard
Duncan CarseSir Robert Brackenbury
Eric AndersonStanley, Earl of Derby
Frank TickleScrivener
Frank Tickle 
Franklyn Bellamy 
Graveley EdwardsCardinal
Howard RoseLord Mayor of London
Joan HartQueen Elizabeth
John Cazabon 
John GreenwoodGhost of Prince Edward
Michael BatesMurderer
Michael O’HalloranEarl of Oxford
Patrick TroughtonSir James Tyrrel
Peter CokeLord Hastings
Preston LockwoodMurderer
Raf de la TorreLord Rivers
Richard BebbEarl of Richmond
Richard HurndallRaphael Holinshed
Rosalind IdenLady Anne
Sonia DresdelQueen Margaret
Tony HalfpennySir Richard Ratcliffe
Valentine DyallGhost of King Henry VI
William FoxDuke of Buckingham
William PatrickMarquis of Dorset
Wyndham MilliganLord Lovell

Additional Details

Production type
Television and Radio Drama
Plays
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).
Rehearsals for the production took place from 2/11/1952-6/11/1952.
History
Last 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)

Record Stats

This record has been viewed 966 times.