British Universities Film & Video Council

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New Theatre, The

Synopsis
Last episode in a three-part radio series exploring the story of the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon. In the final programme, presenter James Naughtie focuses on the role of the theatre architecture. He speaks with the key players about the problems with the Elisabeth Scott Shakespeare Memorial Theatre built in 1932, the innovative experiments at The Other Place and The Swan, and - built within the original walls - the brand new theatre with its thrust stage which opened with Michael Boyd’s production of Macbeth in April 2011.
BBC radio programme information: "Former Artistic Directors Trevor Nunn, Terry Hands and Adrian Noble tell Jim about their times with the company while Judi Dench recalls the terror and hilarity of performing with Ian McKellen in Nunn’s famously intense production of Macbeth at The Other Place in 1976. Architect Rab Bennetts and current Artistic Director Michael Boyd explain the challenge of creating the new space while the series culminates in an examination of why performing Shakespeare matters to the artistic well-being of the nation.
As Peter Brook says to Jim in a rare interview: ‘This is Shakespeare. Not "Shakespeare Memorial" but this is Shakespeare as the real, living example that there is something more’." (30 minutes)
Series
RSC at 50, The
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Radio
Transmission details
19 Apr 2011 at 11:30 (Channel: BBC Radio 4)

Credits

Producer
Beaty Rubens
Contributor
Adrian Noble; David Tennant; Gregory Doran; James Naughtie; Michael Boyd; Peter Brook; Peter Hall; Rab Bennetts; Terry Hands; Trevor Nunn
Cast
Patrick StewartMacbeth
Judi DenchLady Macbeth

Additional Details

Production type
Documentary/Educational/News
Plays
Macbeth
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Royal Shakespeare Company; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); stage design; theatre history; Royal Shakespeare Theatre; Shakespeare Memorial Theatre; Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon; Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon

Notes

General
From the BBC Radio 4 programme information: "In this three-part series, James Naughtie explores how the company first came into being in 1961; the creation of its unique ensemble system; its landmark productions; the opening production in April 2011 in its newly built state-of-the-art auditorium within the historic theatre on the banks of the Avon in Stratford.

This series has enjoyed an exclusive breadth of access to the key players of the last half century. It includes the voices of all five of the artistic directors - Peter Hall, Trevor Nunn, Terry Hands, Adrian Noble and Michael Boyd; luminaries such as Peter Brook, Cicely Berry, Judi Dench, Patrick Stewart and David Tennant; not to mention many members of the wider team of artists, technicians and crafts-people who support the actors on stage. James Naughtie explores not only the history of the company but also why the work it does matters to the British cultural scene."
History
Three-part radio series marking the occasion of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 50th birthday and reopening of its main theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Online Availability

Online URL
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b010dp0l
Online price
free
Online format
Streamed

Production Company

Name

BBC Radio 4

Web
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4 External site opens in new window

Archive

Name

BoB

Email
bob@learningonscreen.ac.uk
Web
https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ondemand External site opens in new window
Phone
020 3743 2345
Address
Learning on Screen - the British Universities and Colleges Film and Video Council
330 Holborn Gate
1st Floor, Suite 120
London
WC1V 7QH
Notes
Formerly a service from BUFVC, British Universities Film & Video Council
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
Name

Learning on Screen Off-Air Recording Back-up Service

Email
services@bufvc.ac.uk
Web
http://bufvc.ac.uk/tvandradio/offair External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7393 1514
Fax
020 7393 1555
Address
For Learning on Screen Members only
77 Wells Street
London
W1T 3QJ

Distributor

Name

BBC iPlayer

Record Stats

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