British Universities Film & Video Council

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Do Not Go Gentle

Synopsis
Radio programme featuring a selection of poetry and music on the subject of the challenges and consolations of old age. An extract from Cymbeline ('Fear no more’) are read by actors Barbara Jefford and Jason Neville. The programme also includes a 16-minute audio sample of Paul Scofield playing Lear,
recorded for Naxos Audio Books in 2001 when Scofield was in his 80th year.
Series
Words and Music
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Radio
Transmission details
24 May 2009 at 22:15 (Channel: BBC Radio 3)
Duration
75 (total)

Credits

Producer
Philippa Ritchie
Writer
William Shakespeare
Cast
Barbara Jefford 
Jason Neville 

Additional Details

Production type
Other
Plays
Cymbeline; King Lear
Subjects
Drama; Music
Keywords
ageing; old people; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes
For details of the music and verse featured in this programme, visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00kl0fq (accessed 3/2010).
General
Words and Music is a BBC Radio 3 evening series that offers a selection of classical music, interspersed with poetry and prose chosen to illustrate a theme. The literary excerpts are read by leading actors.
Reviews
Producer’s note from BBC programme website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00kl0fq):
"When I approached Barbara Jefford and Neville Jason to do the readings for my programme on the theme of old age I discovered that the last time they worked together was half a century ago when they played the twins Sebastian and Viola in Twelfth Night at the Old Vic and were only just starting out on their careers. At the start of Shakespeare’s play the twins are separated by a terrible storm and each thinks the other drowned. It takes the two and a half hours of Shakespeare’s drama to re-unite the pair and bring about the happy ending. It seemed a happy coincidence that this programme on age should reunite the pair in real life, fifty years on and both at the top of their game."

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Archive

Name

British Library Sound Archive

Email
listening@bl.uk
Web
http://www.bl.uk/nsa External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7412 7676
Fax
020 7412 7441
Address
96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB

Record Stats

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