Tower, The

Synopsis: Episode 21 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 3 Henry VI and Richard III, stars Norman Rodway, James Laurenson and Peggy Ashcroft. 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: 21 Mar 1977
Transmission details: 3 Jul 1977 at 21:03 (Channel: BBC Radio 4)
Duration: 55 mins
Availability: Unknown

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
Christopher Guard	Edward, Prince of Wales
Charles Gray	Earl of Warwick
Norman Rodway	Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later Richard III
Bruce Beeby	Sir Robert Brackenbury
Christopher Benjamin	Lord Hastings
Colin Douglas	Stanley, Earl of Derby
Derek Godfrey	Duke of Buckingham
Geoffrey Collins	George, Edward’s brother, later Duke of Clarence
Ian Ogilvy	Edward, Earl of March, later Edward IV
Jane Knowles
John Bennett	Murderer (2)
Kerry Francis	Sir William Catesby
Michael N. Harbour	Duke of Somerset
Michael Tudor Barnes	Earl of Oxford
Peter Craze	Lord Grey
Philip Locke	Murderer (2)
Susan Engel	Queen Elizabeth
Walter Hall	Earl Rivers

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