Midsummer Night’s Dream, A

Synopsis

Radio version of Shakespeare’s comedy adapted by Lance Sieveking and produced by Val Gielgud. With Ralph Richardson as Bottom. Mendelssohn’s music is played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with a section of Ipswich Co-operative Girls’ Choir. John Hollingsworth conducts.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Radio

Recording date

31 Mar 1953

Transmission details

4 Jun 1953 at 20:00 (Channel: BBC Third Programme)

Duration

160 mins

Availability

Unknown

Credits

Producer

Val Gielgud

Writer

William Shakespeare

Music

Felix Mendelssohn

Contributor

John Hollingsworth

Adaptor for Radio

Lance Sieveking

Cast

Deryck Guyler	Theseus
Margaret Wolfit	Hippolyta
Laurence Payne	Oberon
Monica Grey	Titania
Frank Duncan	Puck (Robin Goodfellow)
Arthur Keane	Egeus
Arthur Ridley	Philostrate
Brendon Barry	Demetrius
Denise Bryer	Helena
Eliot Makeham	Peter Quince
Felicity Barrington	Moth
Frank Atkinson	Snug
Hilda Schroder	Mustardseed
John Rae	Robin Starveling
Margaret Bull	Cobweb
Norman Claridge	Francis Flute
Norman Mitchell	Tom Snout
Pamela Alan	Hermia
Ralph Richardson	Nick Bottom
Richard Bebb	Lysander
Susan Kennaway	Peaseblossom

Additional Details

Production type

Television and Radio Drama

Plays

Midsummer Night’s Dream, A

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

General

Rehearsals: 26/3/1953-31/3/1953
According to the Radio Times programme information, this is the first BBC production to use the full Mendelssohn score.

Textual information

A script of this programme is held in the Shakespeare Collection of the Birmingham Central Library.

Reviews

Source: Radio Times, The Times

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)