King Henry the Fourth
- Synopsis
- Final episode in an 8-part radio serialisation of Shakespeare’s two parts of King Henry IV. Arranged for broadcasting by Robert Gittings. With Ralph Richardson as Falstaff and Laurence Olivier as narrator. Produced by John Burrell with incidental music composed and conducted by Herbert Menges.
- Series
- King Henry the Fourth
- Language
- English
- Country
- Great Britain
- Medium
- Radio
- Transmission details
- 19 Jul 1945 at 21:30 (Channel: BBC Home Service)
- Duration
- 45 mins
- Availability
- Unknown
Credits
- Producer
- John Burrell
- Writer
- William Shakespeare
- Music
- Herbert Menges
- Adaptor for Radio
- Robert Gittings
- Cast
Additional Details
- Production type
- Television and Radio Drama
- Plays
- Henry IV Part 1; Henry IV Part 2
- Subjects
- Drama
- Keywords
- Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)
Notes
- General
- Laurence Olivier acts as Sir Pierce of Exton, the narrator, or chronicler, for the broadcast episodes. A character borrowed from Richard II, he is a "man in retirement ... - he is a sardonic and personal commentator on all the events of the reign" (Robert Gittings, ‘Shakespeare Serialised’, Radio Times, 4 May 1945).
- Textual information
- A written transcript of the production is held at the Birmingham Central Library as part of their Shakespeare Collection.
- Reviews
- Source: Radio Times. Robert Gittings introduces his adaptation in ‘Shakespeare Serialised’ . According to Gittings, Ralph Richardson as Falstaff "suggests a fatness, of body and spirit, beyond anything that stage-padding could achieve" (Radio Times, 4 May 1945).
Production Company
- Name
BBC
- Notes
- The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
How to cite this record
Shakespeare, "King Henry the Fourth". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av69153 (Accessed 20 Sep 2024)