David Wade Radio Plays
David Wade is a well-known name in radio drama circles; he had plays broadcast from 1966 to 1995 on radio 4, and some of them are highly regarded. The best-known is probably the six-part serial on the life of Alexander the Great. He has also contributed to books and programmes about radio drama.
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NOTES ON SOME OF THE BROADCASTS
1993-07-18, CS - Alexander
A six-part serial on the life of Alexander the Great. 1: The King's Son.
This episode sees the birth of Alexander and friction between King Philip of Macedon and Queen Olympias.
Music .......... Wilfredo Acosta,
Director .......... Glyn Dearman,
Achilles .......... Barry Foster,
Patroklos .......... Simon Ward,
King Philip .......... Brian Cox,
Queen Olympias .......... Geraldine James,
Young Alexander .......... Sam Crane,
Antipatros .......... David March,
Demosthenes .......... Malcolm Sinclair,
Lysimachos .......... Keith Drinkel,
Young Hephaistim .......... Sary King,
Aristander .......... Barry J Gordon,
Artabazus .......... Philip Anthony,
Kleitos .......... John Evitts,
Leonidas .......... John Webb,
Pausanias .......... James Telfer,
Agathon .......... James Telfer,
Menapis .......... David Thorpe,
Aeschines .......... David Thorpe,
Helhnike .......... Patti Holloway,
Barsine .......... Oona Beeson,
Clotho .......... Rachel Atkins,
Lachesis .......... Jill Graham,
Atropos .......... Diana Payan.
1991-11-10, Sunday Playhouse - Power of Attorney
Comedy. If you have a rich aunt who is slightly dotty, think twice before attempting to defraud her of her money.
Director: Glyn Dearman.
Annabelle: Geraldine McEwan,
Geoffrey: Geoffrey Palmer,
Aunt Beatie: Joan Matheson,
Eddie: David King,
Corvo: John Moffatt,
Mrs Penny: Katherine Parr,
Bulstrode: James Greene,
Rita: Jane Whittenshaw.
1983-01-22, 22-15, Prisoners of the Japanese
Feature, not a drama. 'According to the Japanese code we deserved no mercy or respect because we had allowed ourselves to become prisoners. It was the most disgraceful thing that could have happened. We had committed the ultimate offence'. David Wade has been talking to former PoWs who survived the horrors of imprisonment in the Far East during the Second World War. Their stories describe the reality of the experience as they remember it 40 years later. For all of them It was an experience even more horrifying than that presented in such accounts as The Bridge on the River Kwal, A Town Like Alice and the BBC series Tenko. Producer: Alan Haydock.
1980-12-05, 15-02 AFT - The Facts of Life - or What Greenbaum Did at School
By and narrated by David Wade. Semi-autobiographical story of his school days during WW2, continued. The first play, Summer of '39, dealt with a mini-Hitler at a prep school. This play is set in the same school, two-and-a-half years later and now evacuated. Same producer as before.
Headmaster .......... Michael Spice,
Mr Potter .......... Sean Probert,
Mr Harvey .......... Leonard Fenton,
Wade e .......... R Lindsay,
Greenbaum .......... J S Knowles,
Barrington e .......... A Proud,
Johnson .......... D C Bradshawe,
Hocken .......... I Lidstone,
Venables .......... J England,
Manvel .......... P R Adams,
Anstey .......... S Sheridan,
Music master .......... Neil Rhoden.
1977-07-14, 15-05 AFT - Summer of 39
Written and narrated by David Wade, radio critic of The Times.
"This is the story of what happened to a child of nine years old and is recollected by the man who used to be that child 38 years afterwards".
Producer: Ian Cotterell,
Headmaster: Neville Jason,
Master: Andrew Seear,
Wade: E R Lindsay,
Exley: Js Knowles,
Rosmarin: P R Adams,
Buckler: J England,
Manvell: D P R Bryer,
Hewlett: E A Proud.
1976-04-02, 15-05 AFT The King Who Made a Magic Carpet
By David Wade. A play for radio , based on an old legend.
"I have just set eyes upon the most perfect creature in my city! More than that; in my whole kingdom. I shall not be satisfied until this lily, this celestial rose is brought to me."
Producer: Graham Gauld,
King Hasan: John Pullen,
Zora: Elizabeth Proud,
Ahmed: Douglas Blackwell,
Goldsmith: Lewis Stringer,
His Wife: Anne Jameson,
Iqbal: Peter Pratt,
Abdul: Fraser Kerr,
Merchant: John Gabriel.
1975-12-26, 15-05 AFT The Nightingale
By David Wade, based on the fairy tale, to mark 100 years since H.C.Andersen's death.
Producer: Graham Gauld,
The Emperor: John Pullen,
The Nightingale: Elizabeth Proud,
Royal Gardener: Carleton Hobbs,
Imperial Orator: Peter Woodthorpe,
High Minister: Garard Green,
Dowager Empress: Margot Boyd,
Mei Hua: Helen Worth,
Death: Jack May,
Physician: Michael Deacon,
Watchmaker: David Graham,
Song of the Nightingale: Percy Edwards.
1973-09-22, SNT - Three Blows in Anger
By David Wade. ' Listen to me, Gwyn, son of Griffith .......... you and my daughter will live in peace and prosperity for as long as you do not strike her three times without good cause. On the third blow she will leave you and return to me bringing with her all that I have given. That is my word ...'
Modlen .......... Susan Richards,
Mair .......... Elizabeth Proud,
Gwyn .......... John Pullen,
Rhiwallon .......... Alan Downer,
Rhiwallon (boy) .......... Olwen Griffiths,
Lord Rhys Gryg .......... John Samson,
Lady Rhys Gryg .......... Betty Huntley-Wright,
Jenny .......... Julie Hallam,
Morgan .......... Douglas Blackwell,
The Lake King .......... Douglas Storm,
Thomas .......... David Sinclair,
Father Gavin .......... David Timson,
Dafydd .......... David Gooderson,
Music composed by David Cain; Welsh harp playewd by Frances Kelly.
Producer .......... Norman Wright.
Repeated on Monday, 3.05 pm.
1972-01-28, 10-30 : For Schools:
10.30 Voix de France
L'assistante sociale compiled by Geoffrey Braithwaite (Sixth Form French)
10.50 A Corner for Music by Albert Chatterley, 3: Repeating Patterns
11.0 Quest - When things go wrong by Robert Rietty.
11.20 Listening and Writing
His Excellency: the dervish story by Idries Shah, adapted as a radio play by David Wade; producer Dickon Reed.
11.40 Prospect. Oneself. The psychologist in school and college: compiled by Leslie Smith.
12.0 Announcements
1971-08-21, SNT, The Goldspinners
Play based on the Rumpelstiltskin story, written by David Wade. It is set long ago in and around Hereford, supposed capital of the Kingdom of the Marches.
John, King of the Marches .......... David Buck,
Gwion, his Fool .......... Dudley Jones,
Blackadder, Lord Chancellor .......... James Thomason,
Thomas of Skenfrith, a miller .......... Douglas Blackwell,
Probert, the Chancellor's secretary .......... Anthony Hall,
Elaine, daughter of Thomas .......... Elizabeth Proud,
A Dwarf .......... Kerry Francis,
Lady Anne .......... Polly Murch,
The Nurse .......... Katherine Parr.
Other parts: Gordon Faith, George Raistrick.
Music by David Cain,
played by David Munrow (recorders & crumhorns),
James Tyler (lute),
Barry Quinn )percussion).
Producer .......... Norman Wright.
1971-07-28, AFT - The Guthrie Process
'' You see, Edwards, my organisation is retained by some, if not all of the country's industrial leaders to find what they in their simple-minded way are pleased to call " men of outstanding ability," men, that is, dedicated to the job in hand with no other thought than to live it, eat it, sleep it.'
Storyteller .......... Noel Howlett,
Peter Edwards .......... Nigel Anthony,
Helen Mackenzie .......... Eve Raine,
Sir Alistair Mackenzie .......... Duncan McIntyre,
Piers Trevelyan .......... Martin Friend,
Hamilton Guthrie .......... Willlam Fox,
Mrs Briggs .......... Eva Stuart,
Ron .......... Patrick Tull,
Sir William Boulding .......... Trevor Martin,
Miss Evans .......... Clare Horne,
Producer .......... David H. Godfrey.
1970-12-23, AFT, The Cooker
Light comedy. ' If you play your cards just a little cleverly, don't you think you could persuade dear Jim to part with the price of a new cooker after all? ... You do need a new cooker, don't you? '
Mary Hale .......... Prunella Scales,
Jim Hale .......... Dinsdale Landen,
Evelyn .......... Monica Grey,
Hugo......Peter Tuddenham,
Van driver .......... Richard Griffiths,
An electrician .......... Sean Arnold,
Fred, his mate .......... John Samson,
Waitress .......... Judith Boyd,
produced by David H.Godfrey.
ONLY CONNECT ....1968
A series of five morning plays about communication between people. Play 5: 20 Sep 68.
'Trying to Connect You' by David Wade. Difficulties with the telephone can be disconcerting; too many of them become a nightmare.
Mrs Hale: Maureen Beck,
Mrs O'Connor: Kathleen Helme,
Mrs Williamson: Diana Olsson,
Jim Hale: Alexander John,
Evelyn: Prunella Scales,
Bates: Kevin Flood,
Producer: Richard Imison.
1968-05-09, 8.56pm - The Interval: The House
By David Wade. False nostalgia can prevent a man tram coming to terms with the present; sometimes the object of the nostalgia can help to cure it.
Home Service - 1966-04-25, On Losing a Badge
By David Wade. In the central disciplinary rite of his prep school, David Wade caught a glimpse of something dark and dangerous.
Compiled by Nigel Deacon / Diversity website, with info supplied by Norman Milburn.
