SHAKESPEARE

Synopsis

Special radio programme broadcast in honour of actress Ellen Terry’s 80th birthday. Introductory remarks are by James Agate. The programme is made up of performances of extracts from plays by Shakespeare in which Ellen Terry took part:
A Winter’s Tale, II i
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, II i
The Merchant of Venice, III i
Hamlet, IV i
The Merry Wives of Windsor II, i
The scenes are performed by a cast comprised mainly of family members (John Gielgud, Mabel Terry Lewis, Charles Terry, and others). Musical items include Edward German’s Coronation March from Henry VIII, played by the Wireless Orchestra, conducted by John Ansell. Oscar Wilde’s Sonnet to Ellen Terry as Portia is spoken by Henry Ainley. Birthday greetings are delivered by Johnston Forbes-Robertson, and a message from Ellen Terry is read by Edith Craig, her daughter.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Radio

Transmission details

27 Feb 1928 at 20:00 (Channel: BBC)

Duration

63 mins

Availability

No copy extant

Credits

Writer

William Shakespeare

Music

Arthur Sullivan; Edward German; Otto Nicolai

Contributor

James Agate

Cast

Mabel Terry-Lewis	Mistress Alice Ford
Mabel Terry-Lewis	Portia
Mary Casson	Puck (Robin Goodfellow)
Ben Webster
Charles Terry
Elizabeth Irving
Henry Ainley
John Gielgud
Lilian Davies
Mabel Terry-Lewis
Minnie Terry
Tom Heslewood
Virginia Parsons
Virginia Parsons	Mamillius

Additional Details

Production type

Other

Plays

Hamlet; Henry VIII; Merchant of Venice, The; Merry Wives of Windsor, The; Midsummer Night’s Dream, A; Much Ado About Nothing; Winter’s Tale, The

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Terry, Ellen (1848-1828)

Notes

Notes

Transmitted from London and Daventry 5XX and broadcast to all stations.

Reviews

'Dame Ellen Terry’s 80th Birthday: Special Broadcast Programme’, The Times, 27 February 1927, p.12.

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)