King Henry VIII

Synopsis
Radio version of Shakespeare’ history play adapted and produced by R. D. Smith. With Bruce Belfrage in the title role and Catherine Lacey as Queen Katherine. Harold Pinter plays Lord Abergavenny. With music specifically composed by Elisabeth Lutyens and conducted by Edward Clark.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Radio
Transmission details
14 Jan 1951 at 18:25 (Channel: BBC Third Programme)
Duration
135 mins
Availability
No archive copy known

Credits

Producer
R. D. Smith
Writer
William Shakespeare
Music
Elizabeth Lutyens
Adaptor for Radio
R. D. Smith
Cast
Bruce BelfrageKing Henry VIII
Catherine LaceyQueen Katherine
Oliver BurtThomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury
Geoffrey WincottCardinal Wolsey
Diana MaddoxAnne Boleyn
Alastair DuncanGentleman (1)
Anthony JacobsEarl of Surrey
Anthony ViccarsLord Sandys
Basil Gray 
Betty LintonPatience
Carleton HobbsLord Chamberlain
Claude Bonser 
David Duncan 
David Lloyd JamesChorus
Denis McCarthyDuke of Suffolk
Derek BirchDuke of Buckingham
Felix FeltonCardinal Campeius
George BishopGriffith
Harold PinterLord Abergavenny
Joe Stern 
John Glyn JonesPorter
John Richmond 
John RuddockSurveyor
John SharpPorter’s Man
Joyce MillwardSinging Woman (Chorister)
Laidman BrowneDuke of Norfolk
Malcolm GraemeLord Chancellor
Mary Morrell 
Michael BazalgetteGentleman (2)
Michael Flanders 
Michael Godrey 
Nan Marriott-WatsonOld Lady
Peter BathurstGentleman (3)
Richard AinleyThomas Cromwell
Richard HurndallGardiner, later Bishop of Winchester
Richard WilliamsSir Thomas Lovell

Additional Details

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

Notes

Notes
The performance was interrupted by a ten-minute interval in which Purcell’s string fantasias were played from gramophone records. In his article (see below), R. D. Smith points out that because of this interruption, he supplied "a chorus who speaks in the accents of the prologue".
General
Rehearsals: 7/1/1951-14/1/1951
History
Broadcast again on 17/1/1951 and 9/2/1951.
Textual information
A written transcript of the first part of the production is held at the Birmingham Central Library as part of their Shakespeare Collection.
Reviews
Producer R. D. Smith writes about the play and the problems of adapting it for radio in his article on ‘Why Henry VIII Deserves a Hearing’ in: Radio Times, 12 February 1951, p. 9.

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "King Henry VIII". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av67285 (Accessed 05 Dec 2024)