Wars of the Roses, The: An Illustrated Talk by J. Dover Wilson

Synopsis
Radio programme introducing three Shakespeare historical plays which the Third Programme presents as a continuous chronicle: Henry VI, Parts 2 and 3 and Richard III. The opening talk by series editor John Dover Wilson focuses on the first part of Henry VI, Part 1, which Dover identifies as being a product of collaborative work. The programme is illustrated with episodes from the play acted by Deryck Guyler (Talbot), Sonia Dresdel (Margaret of Anjou) and others.
Series
Wars of the Roses, The
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Radio
Recording date
16 Oct 1952
Transmission details
31 Oct 1952 at 21:40 (Channel: BBC Third Programme)
Duration
55 mins
Availability
Unknown

Credits

Producer
Peter Watts
Writer
William Shakespeare
Editor
John Dover Wilson
Contributor
John Dover Wilson
Cast
Stephen JackRichard Plantagenet, later Duke of York
Peter AssinderSir John Talbot, later Earl of Shrewsbury
Leonard SachsDuke of Suffolk (William de la Pole)
Antony Kearey 
Arthur Lawrence 
Eric AndersonSir William Lucy
Frank Tickle 
Garard Green 
Hugh FalkusDuke of Somerset
John Cazabon 
John Scott 
Patrick Troughton 
Sonia DresdelMargaret, daughter of King Reignier
Wilfrid BabbageGeneral
William Fox 

Additional Details

Production type
Documentary/Educational/News
Plays
Henry VI part 1; Henry VI part 2; Henry VI part 3; Richard III
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes
A BBC recording.
General
The ‘Wars of the Roses’ broadcasting sequence does not open with Henry VI, 1 because the play, according to Dover Wilson, is a "patchwork in which Shakespeare collaborated with inferior dramatists" ('Shakespeare’s Chronicles of the War of the Roses’, Radio Times, 24 October 1952, p. 7).
History
Part of a sequence of history plays broadcast under the title ‘The Wars of the Roses’ from 31/10/1952- 6/11/1952 on BBC Third Programme (see separate entries for each episode).
Textual information
A written transcript of the production is held at the Birmingham Central Library as part of their Shakespeare Collection.
Reviews
In ‘The Wars of the Roses’ (Radio Times, 31 October 1952, p.11), producer Peter Watts explains how the plays are linked and airs some of the problems they present when produced as a sequence.

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Wars of the Roses, The: An Illustrated Talk by J. Dover Wilson". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av70353 (Accessed 25 Nov 2024)