Life and Death of King Richard III, The: A Tragedy of Sin and Retribution

Alternative title: Richard III
Synopsis: Radio adaptation of Shakespeare’s play by John Powell. With Paul Daneman in the title role and Ian McKellen as Lord Hastings; Judi Dench plays Lady Anne. With music composed by Steve Race and played by the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Marcus Dods; and the BBC Chorus, conducted by James Gaddam. Special sound by the BBC Radiophonic workshop arranged by David Cain.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Radio
Recording date: 24 Jun 1967
Transmission details: 23 Nov 1967 at 19:30 (Channel: BBC Third Programme)
Duration: 152 mins

Producer

John Powell (2)

Writer

William Shakespeare

Music

Steve Race

Adaptor for Radio

John Powell (2)

Cast

Anthony Jackson	King Edward IV
Sylvia Coleridge	Duchess of York
Christopher Barrington	Prince Edward (Prince of Wales)
Derek Lamden	Richard, the young Duke of York
Martin Jarvis	George, Duke of Clarence
Anthony Viccars	Earl of Oxford
Barbara Mitchell	Queen Elizabeth
Beatrix Lehmann	Queen Margaret
Christopher Bidmead	Lord Rivers
Christopher Bidmead	Ghost of King Henry VI
Denys Hawthorne	Citizen
Denys Hawthorne	Sir Richard Ratcliffe
Gary Watson	Duke of Buckingham
Harold Kasket	Sir Robert Brackenbury
Ian McKellen	Lord Hastings
Ian Thompson	Murderer (1)
Ian Thompson	Citizen
James McManus	Murderer (2)
James McManus	Citizen
Judi Dench	Lady Anne
Keith Grenville	Stanley, Earl of Derby
Nigel Anthony	Ghost of Prince Edward
Paul Daneman	Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard
Peter Marinker	Sir William Catesby
Richard Briers	Earl of Richmond
Richard Hurndall	Bishop of Ely
Ronald Herdman	Duke of Norfolk
Ronald Herdman	Lord Mayor of London
Trader Faulkner	Citizen
Trader Faulkner	Sir James Tyrrel

Notes: Duration time includes a ten-minute interval at 21.25.
General: Eight days were spent on rehearsals and recording. Cf. Margaret Horsfield, Shakespeare on Radio (Birmingham: University of Birmingham, 1978), p. 89.
Reviews: For John Powell’s comments on the soundscape of this production see ‘The Life and Death of King Richard III’ in Radio Times, 16 November 1967, p. 59.

SHAKESPEARE