SHAKESPEARE

Synopsis

Radio broadcast on an excerpt from Hamlet that focuses on the character of Polonius. Arranged for radio by Herbert Farjeon and produced by Mary Hope Allen. With Leslie Stokes as speaker.

Series

Radio Theatre: Shakespeare’s Characters

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Radio

Transmission details

9 Apr 1944 at 14:30 (Channel: BBC General Forces Programme)

Duration

30 mins

Availability

Unknown

Credits

Producer

Mary Hope Allen

Writer

William Shakespeare

Adaptor for Radio

Herbert Farjeon

Cast

Marius Goring	Hamlet
Milton Rosmer	Claudius
Lydia Sherwood	Gertrude
John Ruddock	Polonius
Sara Jackson	Ophelia
Hubert Gregg	Laertes
Leslie Stokes	Speaker
Preston Lockwood	Reynaldo

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 10 in the series.
Broadcast on the External Service on the following dates and regions:
11 April 1944 - N. American
11 April 1944 - African
12 April 1944 - Pacific

This was also the second episode in a revival of the series on the External Service:
20/8/1945 North American Service, 1:30 GMT (21:30 EWT)
21/8/1945 Eastern Service, 12.45 GMT
24/8/1945 Pacific Service, 5:30 GMT
20/8/1945 African Service, 20:00 GMT

Textual information

A written transcript of the production is held at the Birmingham Central Library as part of their Shakespeare Collection.

Reviews

Source: London Calling
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 World Service