King Lear
- Synopsis
- Full-length radio adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy produced by Howard Rose. The script of the broadcast has been edited by M. R. Ridley. With Donald Wolfit, Sonia Dresdel, Robert Eddison and Harry Andrews. Duncan Carse narrates.
- Language
- English
- Country
- Great Britain
- Medium
- Radio
- Recording date
- 31 Dec 1948
- Transmission details
- 26 Apr 1949 at 19:10 (Channel: BBC Third Programme)
- Duration
- 145 mins
Credits
- Producer
- Howard Rose
- Writer
- William Shakespeare
- Adaptor for Radio
- Maurice Roy Ridley
- Cast
Additional Details
- Production type
- Television and Radio Drama
- Plays
- King Lear
- Subjects
- Drama
- Keywords
- Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)
Notes
- Notes
- The BBC recording was first broadcast April 26, 1949. The British Library Sound Archive holds copies of the original recording and a copy of a version as broadcast on BBC Radio 3, October 26, 1978.
- General
- Nine days (1/12/-9/12/1948) were spent on rehearsals and one for pre-recording (10/12/1948). Cf. Margaret Horsfield, Shakespeare on Radio (Birmingham: University of Birmingham, 1978), p.88.
- History
- Broadcast in two parts. Part 1: 19:10-21.10. Part 2: 21.35-23.00.
- Textual information
- A written transcript of the production is held at the Birmingham Central Library as part of their Shakespeare Collection.
- Reviews
- 'Modest Success’ by Lionel Hale, The Listener, Vol. 41, 5 May 1949, p. 775.
On Donald Wolfit as Lear: "Lacking the physical help of looks ..., he did not discover much authority in his voice alone. But, on this unsure foundation, Mr. Wolfit built excellently, with many superbities in the storm and much genuine pathos; and his speaking was a model of lucid power".
Production Company
- Name
BBC
- Notes
- The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Archive
- Name
British Library Sound Archive
- 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
How to cite this record
Shakespeare, "King Lear". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av66733 (Accessed 12 Nov 2024)