SHAKESPEARE

Synopsis

The Henry VI trilogy abridged and produced by Raymond Raikes and broadcast in two parts. Part 2. Nigel Lambert is King Henry. Ian McKellen plays both Richard, Duke of York and his son, Richard, Duke of Gloucester. The original stage directions are read by Gabriel Woolf and the music is played by the English Chamber Orchestra conducted by Rae Jenkins.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Radio

Transmission details

14 Mar 1971 at 19:30 (Channel: BBC Radio 3)

Duration

125 (incl. interval)

Availability

No archive copy known (2/2008).

Credits

Producer

Raymond Raikes

Writer

William Shakespeare

Music

Stephen Dodgson

Contributor

Rae Jenkins

Cast

Nigel Lambert	King Henry VI
Barbara Jefford	Queen Margaret
Ian McKellen	Richard (Crookback), son of Duke of York
Clifford Norgate	Earl of Warwick
Antony Higginson	Messenger
Brian Hewlett	Smith the Weaver
Brian Hewlett	Humphrey (Keeper)
Denise Bryer	Lady Elizabeth Gray
Douglas Blackwell	King Louis
Douglas Blackwell	Dick the Butcher
Ian McKellen	Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York
John Forrest	Michael
John Forrest	George, Edward’s brother, later Duke of Clarence
Kerry Francis	Lord Clifford
Martin Friend	Post
Peter Tuddenham	Emmanuel, the Clerk of Chatham
Peter Tuddenham	Mayor of York
Richard Griffiths	Edward, Earl of March, later Edward IV
Sean Arnold	Lieutenant
Sean Arnold	Sinklo (Keeper)
Trevor Martin	Jack Cade

Additional Details

Production type

Television and Radio Drama

Plays

Henry VI part 2; Henry VI part 3

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes

An audio clip from the production (Part I, Act II iv), credited to Gordon Holmes, is available on Ian McKellen’s website www.mckellen (accessed 7/2008).

History

Broadcast with a 10-minute interval at 8.30 p. m. approximately.
Part 1 was broadcast on 7 March 1971 (see separate entry). The broadcast of Part 2 was repeated 6 June 1971.

Textual information

Some lines written for Somerset, Vernon and ‘another lawyer’ have been merged into the parts of Suffolk, Warwick and Richard Plantagenet.

Reviews

In his review for The Times David Wade writes: "... Mr. Raikes has successfuly laid bare the main paths of the action. In the process he has had to dispense with a fair number of Dukes... . They are hardly missed and besides this is the only way to cope with such a profusion on radio" (13 March 1971, p. 18).

Source: Radio Times, The Times

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)