Tempest, The

Synopsis

Radio adaptation of Shakespeare The Tempest arranged by Herbert Farjeon and produced by Mary Hope Allen. With Leon Quartermaine as Prospero and Cherry Cottrell as Ariel, Norman Shelley as Caliban. The music is arranged by Anthony Bernard who also conducts the orchestra.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Radio

Recording date

8 Mar 1945

Transmission details

25 May 1945 at 20:00 (Channel: BBC Home Service)

Duration

160 (incl. interval)

Credits

Producer

Mary Hope Allen

Writer

William Shakespeare

Music

Anthony Bernard

Adaptor for Radio

Herbert Farjeon

Cast

Leon Quartermaine	Prospero
Joyce Redman	Miranda
Margaret Field-Hyde	Singing voice (Ariel)
Norman Shelley	Caliban
Hubert Gregg	Ferdinand
Arthur Bush	Sebastian
Carleton Hobbs	Alonso
Cathleen Nesbitt	Iris
Denys Blakelock	Trinculo
Frederick Lloyd	Stephano
G. B. Clarence	Gonzalo
Grenville Eves	Adrian
Hebe Simpson	Singing voice (Juno)
Janet Powell	Singing voice (Ceres)
Jean Anderson	Juno
Lydia Sherwood	Ceres
Max Adrian	Antonio
Peter Cozens	Boatswain
Robin Anderson	Francisco

Additional Details

Production type

Television and Radio Drama

Plays

Tempest, The

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes

A BBC recording

General

Herbert Farjeon died on 3/5/1945, before the production was broadcast. The Times obituary reads: "He was a passionate Shakepearian, and when Shakespeare had to be arranged for broadcasting his name was a guarantee that nothing outrageous would be done" (5 May 1945, p. 7)

History

Broadcast in 2 parts with a 30-minute interval for news at 9pm.

Figures

Transmitted during the second week of Victory celebrations

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.

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)