Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

Synopsis
Radio broadcast on an excerpt from Hamlet that focuses on the characters of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Arranged for radio by Herbert Farjeon and produced by Mary Hope Allen. With Leslie Stokes and Alexander Sarner as speakers.
Series
Radio Theatre: Shakespeare’s Characters
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Radio
Transmission details
27 Aug 1944 at 13:30 (Channel: BBC General Forces Programme)
Duration
30 mins
Availability
Unknown

Credits

Producer
Mary Hope Allen
Writer
William Shakespeare
Adaptor for Radio
Herbert Farjeon
Cast
Robert SpeaightHamlet
Abraham SofaerClaudius
Jean AndersonGertrude
Charles MaunsellPolonius
Alexander SarnerSecond speaker
Frith BanburyGuildenstern
Leslie StokesFirst speaker
Philip CunninghamRosencrantz
Preston LockwoodHoratio

Additional Details

Production type
Other
Plays
Hamlet
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

General
According to the programme notes in London Calling, "Mr. Farjeon had always been interested in the big figures among the secondary characters in Shakespeare’s plays. In this series he expands upon their personalities, illustrating his theories by some of the scenes in which these characters appear" (No. 302: 1945, p. 20)
History
Episode 15 in the series.
Also broadcast on the External Service on the following dates and regions:
29 August 1944 - African
30 August 1944 - Pacific
31 August 1944 - N. American

A repeat of the series followed in 1945:
17/9/1945 North American Service, 1:30 GMT (21:30 EWT)
18/9/1945 Eastern Service, 12:45 GMT
21/9/1945 Pacific Service, 5:30 GMT
17/9/1945 African Service, 20:00 GMT
Textual information
A transcript of the production is held at the Birmingham Central Library as part of their Shakespeare Collection.
Reviews
Source: The Times, Radio Times
Annotated radio scripts of all the 18 episodes in the series are being held at the University of Bristol Theatre Collection.

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av70257 (Accessed 10 Nov 2024)