Other Radio Plays - 1980
WAVING TO A TRAIN....1980
25 Nov 80; by Martyn Read. Thirty Minute Theatre. Richard thinks back to a long afternoon in June 1953 when, with his older sister and their mother, he walked for miles to enjoy a carefully packed picnic.
With Michael Jayston [Richard], Diana Bishop [Mother], Elizabeth Lindsay [Susan], and Jill Lidstone [Richard, as a boy]. Directed by David Spenser.
Smoke Screen....1980
by John Lawson,
13 Dec 1980 (Saturday Night Theatre),
with Victor Carin and Gwynneth Guthrie.
When glib criminal Adrian Lucas discovers that the body at his uncle's cremation isn't the right one, he puts a job on hold and uses his contacts to find out the truth. The quest involves complications and peculiar characters that wouldn't be out of place in a Dashiell Hammett thriller.
A Morbid Taste For Bones....1980
By Ellis Peters 29.11.1980 Ray Smith/Steven Pacey/Lolly Cockerell.SNT (Saturday Night Theatre).
All We Need Is An Elephant....1980
By Chris Curry. 10 Nov 80. Tom invites his new girlfriend Cath back home to meet his somewhat unusual family at what turns out to be a very difficult time. Cast: Bob Mason as Tom, Angela Curran as Cath, Judith Barker as Mother, Charles Foster as Father, Geoffrey Banks as Uncle Burt, Paula Tilbrook as Auntie Alice. Directed by Tony Cliff for BBC Manchester.
Gunpowder, Treason & Plot....1980
by A.J.Walton,
with Michael Spice, Christopher Scott and John Moffatt;
produced by Margaret Etall.
1 Nov 80.
Guy Fawkes is set up by Robert Cecil to promote repression of the Catholics.
Guy Fawkes............................................Michael Spice
Thomas Wintour....................................Christopher Scott
Robert Cecil...........................................John Moffatt
King James I............................................Fraser Kerr
Sir William Waad..........................................John Bott
Christopher Wright...................................Alexander John
Francis Tresham..........................................Haydn Wood
Walter Ralegh...........................................Robert Lang
Northumberland.........................................Harvey Ashby
Thomas Percy/Executioner................................Gordon Reid
Robin Catesby..........................................Anthony Hyde
Suffolk..........................................Peter Robert Scott
Worcester...........................................Graham Faulkner
Sir Edward Coke.......................................Leslie Glazer
Gaoler.................................................Sion Probert
Meg..................................................Rowena Roberts
Landlord............................................Chris Jenkinson
Popham..................................................John Church
So What Do We Do About Henry?
By Charlotte Hastings 4.10.1980 Graham Faulkner/Jane Knowles/Timothy Bateson.SNT.
THE GREAT JOWETT....1980
By Graham Greene. R3, 23 Sep 80.
A new production. First written as a radio play for the BBC; broadcast 6 May39), with Alan Bennett as Benjamin Jowett (1817-93), Oxford Don, Professor of Greek, Master of Balliol College, Vice-Chancellor, eminent Victorian and notable eccentric.
September 1893. It's the end of the Long Vac as strange faces and accents are heard all over Oxford. As a tour guide leads a group through Balliol College, he begins to tell the story of the Master of the College....
With Alan Bennett [Benjamin Jowett], David Markham [Dean Arthur Stanley, the Narrator], Brian Carroll [Matthew Knight], Andrew Branch [Algernon Swinburne], Leonard Fenton [T. H. Green / Earl Leslie Griggs], Michael Goldie [Dr. Robert Scott / Vice-Chancellor], Godfrey Kenton [Mr. Foster, the Head Porter / Smith], Anthony Hyde [ Peel / Paine], Brian Haines [Ross / Matthew Arnold / an American], Christopher Scott [Plumer / Archbishop], Lolly Cockerell [Mrs. Sparks / Servant / Washerwoman], and Josie Kidd [Miss Knight / A Woman / The Washerwoman].
Other parts played by members of the cast; directed by Brian Wright.
Review by 's-j' of 'radiofans' - many thanks.
SPEAK NO EVIL....1980
Two Welsh brothers living with their mother ... one of them has an unhealthy secret which he'd rather share openly ... no casting details. 30m.
Under Pressure
By David Baume 13.9.1980 Neville Smith/Sean Arnold/John Rowe/Michael Deacon.SNT.
The Englishman Abroad
By Christopher Douglas 6.9.1980 Michael Cochrane/Robert Lang/Michael Kitchen/David Threlfall. SNT. Interesting play about Douglas Jardine and the "Bodyline" tour.
A Victim Of The Aurora
By Thomas Kenneally 30.8.1980 Sean Barrett/Peter Jeffrey/Godfrey Kenton.SNT.
The Events At Black Tor (2½ hours)
By Roy Clarke 23.8.1980. Sue Jenkins/David Goodland/James Laurenson. SNT. Occult mystery / thriller.
And A Little Love Besides
By Alan Plater 16.8.1980 Michael Jayson/Annette Robertson.SNT.
THE SILVER SKY....1980
By Tanith Lee, 9 Aug 1980, Saturday Night Theatre, 75m. Two time travellers from separate worlds are drawn to the same location-- a beach on a strange unknown planet with no way back home and stalked by predators. Contains some interesting reflections on the nature of time. An excellent play; a favourite of many sci-fi enthusiasts. Stars Paul Darrow, Elizabeth Bell, Simon Malloy, Anne Reid, Andy Rashleigh, John Jardine, David Fleeshman, John Talbot, Nina Holloway, Mary Cunningham. SMs Martin Oldfield and David Fleeshman, producer Kay Patrick. Music and effects: David Flemming-Williams.
South Sea Bubble
By Noel Coward 2.8.1980 Moira Lister/Michael Denison/Hugh Burden.SNT. Little-known comedy by the Master.
THE COMPANY OF WOLVES....1980
By Angela Carter, R3. Dramatisation of her own 'Red Riding Hood' short story. Producer Glyn Dearman. 50m; with Elizabeth Proud, Michael Williams, Katherine Parr, John Westbrook.
THE SNOWSTORM....1980
26 Jun 80. By Alexandre Pushkin; dramatised by Jane Beeson. The Snowstorm (or The Blizzard) is the 2nd of 5 short stories which constitute"The Tales of Ivan Petrovich Belkin" and was first published in 1830. This dramatisation was commisioned by the BBC as an Afternoon Play for BBC R4; an exciting tale of love and mischance. Directed by Cherry Cookson.
Cast:
Maria Gavrilovna: Janet Maw,
Mother Praskovia Petrovna : Mary Wimbush,
Father Gavril Gavrilovitch: Anthony Newlands,
Bourmin: David Savile,
Vladimir Nikolaievitc: Michael Maloney,
Dravin: Phillip Best,
Tereshka: John Bull,
Priest: Brian Haynes,
Tanya: Rosalind Adams,
Postmaster: Peter Baldwin,
Other cast: Gordon Read, David Timson, Danny Schiller, Josie Kidd, Yves Carp.
...Recording sent by Peter Osborn, Jun 2012; from British Forces Broadcasting Service in Germany, early 1980's - many thanks
THE BRACELET....1980
By Gilly Fraser.1 Jun 80. Two couples with similar names are connected through time by a bracelet, even though they are generations apart. The women can see and hear each other. I was reminded of Daphne du Maurier's 'The House on the Strand', and Nick Fisher's 'Losing Contact'. Cast: Maureen O'Brien, Carole Hayman, Martin Jarvis. Music composed by Elona Sekash (sp?). Producer Kay Patrick.
A Resistance To Pressure
By Steve Gallagher 26.4.1980 Gareth Armstrong/John Rowe/Brian Haines.SNT.
The Long, Lonely Voyage Of U-395
By James Follett 29.3.1980 David Buck/Rod Beacham.SNT.
THE SHADOW OF A GUNMAN....1980
This is a new production of Sean O'Casey's 1923 stage play to mark the centenary of his birth on 30th March 1980. Monday Play, 24 Mar 80.
The setting is a large rotting house in 1920 Dublin during the last phase of the Anglo-Irish war that led to the 1921 peace settlement between Britain and Ireland.
Seamus Shields, a tinker, has sublet his crumbling bedsit to poet Donal Davoren. Gossip among the pair's many noisy and varied neighbours, who also make their homes in the once-majestic rooms, labels Donal as a Republican gunman on the run. Pretty Minnie Powell is attracted to the romantic idea of a love affair with a wanted man, and Donal does nothing to dissuade her from the notion....
"The Shadow of a Gunman" is the first play in Sean O'Casey's Dublin trilogy, first performed at the Abbey Theatre in 1923. This were followed up with "Juno and the Paycock" [Peacock] in 1924 and "The Plough and the Stars" in 1926.
With Brian Murray [Donal Davoren], Alan Delvin [Seamus Shields], Vincent McCabe [Maguire], Alan Barry [Mr. Mulligan], Marcella O'Riordan [Minnie Powell], Niall Buggy [Tommy Owens], Anna Manahan [Mrs. Henderson], Sean Barrett [Mr. Gallagher], Pauline Delany [Mrs Grigson], Joe McPartland [Anolophus Grigson], and John Hollis [The Auxiliary].
The singer was Tony McAuley.
Directed by Robert Cooper for BBC Northern Ireland. (.....Jim)
SAIGON ROSE....1980
BBC Radio 3, (14.02.80 - First broadcast May 1979, by David Edgar. Directed in BBC Studios, Birmingham. by Michael Rolfe. Cast: Alison Steadman; Peter Pacey; Blain Fairman; Patti Love; Miriam Margolyes; Geoffrey Matthews; Stephen Yardley; Bill Paterson. Adapted from David Edgar's stage play, first produced at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh in 1976.
Four main characters are linked by "Saigon Rose", a form of super gonorrhoea which originated in Saigon during the US involvement in Vietnam. The play explores love, loss, betrayal and disillusionment both personal and political. (.....note from Alistair Wyper)
A DECENT BRITISH MURDER....1980
By Ken Whitmore 2.2.1980. With Graham Roberts / Kathleen Helme / John Hollis. SNT.
POSSIBILITIES....1980
BBC Radio 3, 24.01.80; first broadcast 1979. By Jonathan Raban. Directed by Richard Wortley.
Cast: John Castle; Amanda Murray; Michael Cochrane (who plays Oliver Sterling in the Archers); John Church.
Plot: John Castle plays a man who is viewing an apartment in Maida Vale, London. He imagines a possible future with a new partner.(.....note from Alistair Wyper)
THE SITTING TENANT....1980
By John Peacock 19.1.1980 With Patricia Hayes / Alfred Burke.
DATES NK
WAS IT HER?....1980
By David Halliwell. Two people pass each other in a crowded street. He realises - she looked like his lover from years ago. Was it her? He becomes obsessed with finding out.
There are three 'characters' in the play: his real self, his 'inner' self, and her. ABC rpt. c1998; original BBC broadcast 1980. 45m.
Nigel Deacon / Diversity website
Above plays known to exist in VRPCC collections
PICCADILLY RADIO
THE FIRST INTERCITY....1980
By Barry Hill; produced by Tony Hawkins.
Broadcast LBC 1980 (produced for Piccadilly Radio). A play about a speed trial for locomotives.
Cast: Paul Clayton, Nona Williams, Anthony Wingate, Simon Molloy, Geoffrey Wheeler, Robert Keegan, Will Tacey, John Jardine, Charles Foster, Andy Abrahams. Not in VRPCC collection, but is held by Bournemouth University LBC archive.
....information from Madeleine Midgeley - many thanks - ND
