King Lear

Synopsis
Shakespeare’s play (without the subplot but with an extra story teller) arranged as a sequence for broadcasting and produced by Peter Creswell. With Godfrey Tearle in the title role.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Radio
Transmission details
15 May 1938 at 17:50 (Channel: BBC National Programme)
Duration
120 mins
Availability
No copy extant

Credits

Producer
Peter Creswell
Writer
Peter Creswell
Cast
Godfrey TearleLear
Barbara PalmerCordelia
Carleton HobbsEarl of Gloucester
Marius GoringFool
Andrew LaurenceThe Story Teller
Baliol HollowayEarl of Kent
George WoodbridgeDuke of Cornwall
Jack AllenKing of France
Leonard ThompsonOswald
Marda VanneGoneril
Mary HintonRegan
Michael BazalgetteDuke of Burgundy
Norman WoolandDoctor
Robert HolmesDuke of Albany

Additional Details

Production type
Television and Radio Drama
Plays
King Lear
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes
A written transcript of the production is held at the Birmingham Central Library as part of their Shakespeare Collection.
Textual information
The sub-plot, and with it the characters of Edgar and Edmund, were cut in this production, a revolutionary measure that did not go down too well with the listeners. See Radio Times, 13 May 1938, p. 20.
Reviews
One listener complained about the "music-hall technique" of the production, pointing out that "tom-tommings, guffawings, and piano-tinkering were very uncalled for" in an adaptation of Shakespearean tragedy (Radio Times, 10 June 1938, p. 9).

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "King Lear". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av37697 (Accessed 11 Dec 2024)