Paper Crown, The

Synopsis: Episode 19 of a 26-part serialisation of the Elizabethan history play (encompassing the reign of Edward II to Henry VI), adapted for radio by Martin Jenkins. This episode, based on Shakespeare’s Henry VI, parts 2 and 3, stars Peggy Ashcroft and Peter Jeffrey. With Richard Burton as narrator. The music for the series is composed by Christopher Whelen and played by members of the English Chamber Orchestra.
Series: Vivat Rex
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Radio
Recording date: 16 Mar 1977
Transmission details: 19 Jun 1977 at 21:03 (Channel: BBC Radio 4)
Duration: 55 mins

History: VIVAT REX was presented by BBC Radio 4 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Each episode of the broadcast was repeated on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesdays at 15:05.
Stills: A large portrait of Burton in front of the microphone can be found in Radio Times, 12-18 February 1977, pp. 61-62.
Textual information: To enable listeners to follow the episodes more easily, a booklet accompanying the series was published, written by Robert Cushman.
Reviews: On Burton’s performance see David Wade, ‘Voices’, Radio Times, 19 February 1977, p. 10.
On a review of the first 6 episodes and Martin Jenkins’s view of the production see Wilfred De’ Ath’s ‘Kings complex’ in Radio Times, 26 March-1 April 1977, p. 66.

James Laurenson	King Henry VI
Peggy Ashcroft	Queen Margaret
Norman Rodway	Richard (Crookback), son of Duke of York
Charles Gray	Earl of Warwick
Brian Haines	Duke of Exeter
Crispian Thorne	Edmund, Earl of Rutland
David Buck	Duke of Somerset
Geoffrey Collins	George, Edward’s brother, later Duke of Clarence
Hector Ross	Old Lord Clifford
Ian Ogilvy	Edward, Earl of March, later Edward IV
Neville Jason	Earl of Northumberland
Peter Jeffrey	Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York
Peter Marinker	Young Clifford
Rod Beacham	Messenger

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