Hamlet of Stepney Green, The

Synopsis
Bernard Kops radio play distills elements freely adapted from Shakespeare’s tragedy into ‘A Sad Comedy with some Songs’ (subtitle). Kop’s one-act play is set in the 1950s lower-middle-class Jewish milieu of London’s East End and focuses on the journey and initiation of David Levy (Andrew Sachs), son to an invalid Jewish fishmonger (Cyril Shaps) who after his death returns to haunt his son as a ghost.
David’s songs are sung by Mike Leroy. The music is composed, arranged and played by Larry Adler.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Radio
Transmission details
5 Apr 1965 at 20:30 (Channel: BBC Home Service)
Duration
90 mins
Availability
Unknown

Credits

Producer
Charles Lefeaux
Writer
Bernard Kops
Music
Larry Adler
Cast
Andrew SachsDavid Levy (Hamlet)
Marjorie WestburyBessie Levy (Gertrude)
Patricia LeventonHava Segal (Ophelia)
Cyril ShapsSamy Levy (Ghost)
Frederick TrevesMr White
George LaytonMr Green
Harry TowbMr Alf Stone
John BarrardMr Black
Mary HarryMrs Stone
Meier TzelnikerSolty Segal
Mike Leroy 

Additional Details

Production type
Television and Radio Drama
Historical period
1950s
Plays
Hamlet
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Jews; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes
A BBC recording. The Times has no listing for this broadcast on this date.
History
Originally produced as a stage performance at Oxford Playhouse in 1957.
Reviews
Kops writes about his first radio production and his return to the past, to ‘the dying community that I knew and loved and left in ‘The Hamlet of Stepney Green’, Radio Times, 1 April 1965, p. 25.

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Hamlet of Stepney Green, The". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av71070 (Accessed 26 Dec 2024)