Elizabeth

Synopsis: Last episode 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 VIII, stars Robert Lang, Sian Phillips and John Gielgud. 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: 26 Apr 1977
Transmission details: 7 Aug 1977 at 21:03 (Channel: BBC Radio 4)
Duration: 55 mins
Availability: Unknown

General: According to Radio Times programme notes, the series ends to the cry of "Vivat, Vivat Regina!" (6-12 August 1977, p. 35).
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.

Robert Lang	King Henry VIII
Sian Phillips	Queen Katherine
John Gielgud	Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury
Stephen Murray	Cardinal Wolsey
Douglas Blackwell	Doctor Butts
Flora Robson	Old Lady
Henry Knowles	Duke of Suffolk
Jack May	Lord Chamberlain
Joan Matheson	Patience
Johnathan Scott	Gardiner, later Bishop of Winchester
Keith Drinkel	Earl of Surrey
Kenneth Shanley	Secretary
Kevin Flood	Duke of Norfolk
Lyndon Brook	Thomas Cromwell
Malcolm Gerard	Scribe
Neville Jason	Lord Caputius
Neville Jason	Thomas More
Pauline Letts	Old Lady
Peter Craze	Door Keeper
Peter Howell (2)	Lord Sandys
Richard Pearson	Griffith
Timothy Bateson	Sir Thomas Lovell

SHAKESPEARE