Ghosts

Synopsis: Episode 23 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 Richard III and John Ford’s Perkin Warbeck, stars Norman Rodway, Derek Godfrey and Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies. 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
Transmission details: 19 Jul 1977 at 21:03 (Channel: BBC Radio 4)
Duration: 55 mins
Availability: Unknown

Director

Gerry Jones

Producer

Gerry Jones

Writer

John Ford; William Shakespeare

Music

Christopher Whelen

Contributor

Richard Burton

Adaptor for Radio

Martin Jenkins (2)

Cast

Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies	Duchess of York
Allan Cuthbertson	Earl of Oxford
Christopher Benjamin	Ghost of Hastings (Ghost)
Christopher Guard	Ghost of Prince Edward
Colin Douglas	Stanley, Earl of Derby
Derek Godfrey	Duke of Buckingham
Geoffrey Collins	Ghost of Clarence (Ghost)
Gerald Cross	Bishop Fox
James Laurenson	Ghost of King Henry VI
Jane Knowles	Ghost of Lady Anne (Ghost)
Kerry Francis	Sir William Catesby
Michael Goldie	Dawbeney
Michael Tudor Barnes	Sir Richard Ratcliffe
Norman Rodway	Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard
Peter Craze	Ghost of Grey (Ghost)
Peter Craze	Lord Grey
Peter Woodthorpe	Clifford
Rod Beacham	Duke of Norfolk
Susan Engel	Queen Elizabeth
Walter Hall	Ghost of Rivers (Ghost)
Walter Hall	Earl Rivers

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.

SHAKESPEARE