The Noel Coward BBC Radio Drama Collection: Seven BBC Radio full-cast productions

Seven BBC radio full-cast productions of Noël Coward’s classic plays – plus bonus material including a profile of Coward and extracts from his diaries

 

Renowned for his wit, style and sophistication, Noël Coward was one of the greatest playwrights of the twentieth century. His plays, set in the glittering world of high society in which he lived, are much admired and have remained in the popular theatre repertoire to this day.

 

This collection brings together the very best radio adaptations of Coward’s works, encompassing sparkling comedies of manners Private Livesand Hay Fever, farcical ghost story Blithe Spirit, and daring ménage à trois drama Design for Living. Here, too, is his controversial first hit The Vortex; the poignant Still Life (the inspiration for the film Brief Encounter); and the semi-autobiographical Present Laughter.

 

Among the star-studded cast are Helena Bonham-Carter, Bill Nighy, Judi Dench, Celia Imrie, Roger Allam, Harriet Walter, Paul Rhys, Stephanie Cole and Paul Scofield.

 

Also included is a BBC World Service profile of Noël Coward, comprising interviews, musical extracts and archive clips; and the BBC Radio 4 programme ‘From His Diaries’, featuring a selection of passages from Coward’s journal read by Simon Cadell.

 

Private Lives

Amanda…Helena Bonham-Carter 

Elyot…Bill Nighy 

Sibyl…Andrea Riseborough 

Victor…Paul Ritter

Louise…AnnaRose Cattanach 

Directed by Sally Avens 

 

Hay Fever

Judith Bliss…Judi Dench 

David Bliss…Michael Williams 

Richard Greatham…Geoffrey Palmer 

Marya Arundel…Celia Imrie 

Jackie Coryton…Patricia Brake 

Sandy Tyrell…Christopher Blake 

Simon Bliss…Patrick Pearson 

Sorel Bliss…Alison Reid 

Qara…Patricia Hayes 

Directed by Leslie Lawton 

 

Blithe Spirit

Charles…Roger Allam 

Madame Arcati…Maggie Steed 

Elvira…Zoe Waites

Ruth…Hermione Gulliford

Dr Bradman…David Killick 

Mrs Bradman…Tilly Tremayne 

Edith…Natalie Cassidy 

Dramatised by Bert Coules 

Directed by Philip Franks 

 

Design for Living 

Gilda…Cheryl Campbell 

Otto…Alex Jennings

Leo…Michael Kitchen

Ernest Friedman…James Laurenson

Mr Birbeck…Alan Barker 

Henry Carver…Bradley Lavell 

Miss Hodge/Helen…Joanna Myers 

Grace Torrence…Linda Marlowe 

Directed by Ned Chaillet 

Pianist: Jimmy Hardwick 

 

The Vortex 

Florence Lancaster…Harriet Walter 

Nicky…Paul Rhys 

Helen…Frances Jeater

Pawnie…John Rye

Clara Hibbert…Jenny Funnell

Tom Veryan…Robert Portal 

David Lancaster…Peter Blythe

Bunty Mainwaring…Federay Holmes

Bruce Fairlight…Keith Drinkel

Preston…Pamela Grace 

Directed by John Tydeman 

Pianist: Mike Sykes 

 

Still Life 

Laura Lesson…Amanda Root

Dr Alec Harvey…John Duttine

Myrtle Bagott…Stephanie Cole

Albert Godby…Trevor Peacock

Beryl Waters/Lady on Train…Sunny Ormonde

Stanley…Brian Parr

Dolly Messiter…Josephine Tewson

Bill…Richard Curnow

Johnny/Guard…Malcolm McKee

Dramatised by Malcolm McKee 

Directed by Sue Wilson 

Music composed by Malcolm McKee 

 

Present Laughter 

Gary Essendine…Paul Scofield

Liz Essendine…Joy Parker

Monica Reed…Patricia Routledge

Joanna Lyppiatt…Fenella Fielding

Henry Lyppiatt…Alan Rowe

Morris Dixon…Bernard Joyner

Daphne Stillington…Miriam Margolyes

Lady Saltburn…Betty Huntley-Wright 

Fred…Timothy Bateson

Miss Erikson…Diana Olsson

Roland Maule…David Timson 

Dramatised and produced by Ian Cotterell 

 

Duration: 14 hours approx.