Pygmalion: A brand new BBC Radio 4 drama plus the story of the play's s candalous opening night

A star-studded BBC radio production of Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion – plus bonus drama The ‘B’ Word, telling the story of the play’s scandalous opening night

 

Irascible phonetics professor Henry Higgins makes a bet with his friend Colonel Pickering that he can train Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle to talk ‘like a lady’ and pass as a duchess at the Ambassador’s Ball. As the day of reckoning approaches, can Eliza convince the assembled aristocrats that she’s one of them? And what will become of her afterwards?

 

This effervescent radio version of Shaw’s classic comedy features a stellar cast, including award-winning comedians Alistair McGowan as Henry Higgins, Morgana Robinson as Eliza Doolittle and Al Murray as Alfred Doolittle.

 

Also featured on this release is The ‘B’ Word, written by and starring Alistair McGowan as Bernard Shaw. Centring on the shocking opening night of Pygmalion – the first time that the word ‘bloody' was used on the British stage – it also explores the passionate love-hate relationship between Shaw; his leading man, Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree (Richard McCabe) and his leading lady, Mrs Patrick Campbell (Charlotte Page), who played the 19-year-old Eliza Doolittle at the age of 49.

 

Cast and credits

 

Pygmalion

Henry Higgins……………………Alistair McGowan

Eliza Doolittle……………………Morgana Robinson

Alfred Doolittle……………………Al Murray

Colonel Pickering……………………Hugh Fraser

Mrs Higgins……………………Siân Phillips

Mrs Pearce/Maid……………………Charlotte Page

Mrs Eynsford-Hill……………………Georgie Glen

Clara Eynsford-Hill……………………Maeve Bluebell Wells

Freddy Eynsford-Hill.....……………………Tom Forrister

Nepommuck……………………David Sturzaker

Ambassador……………………John Dougall

Ambassador's wife……………………Sarah Ridgeway

Bystander……………………David Sterne

Written by Bernard Shaw

Produced and directed by Emma Harding

 

The ‘B’ Word

Bernard Shaw……………………Alistair McGowan

George Alexander……………………David Sturzaker

Mrs Patrick Campbell.....……………………Charlotte Page

Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree……………………Richard McCabe

Charlotte Shaw……………………Georgie Glen

Merivale……………………Philip Fox

Gurney/Fishman……………………Simon Ludders

Bell……………………Charlie Clements

Maid……………………Sarah Ridgeway

Written by Alistair McGowan

Produced and directed by Emma Harding

Production Coordinator: Jenny Mendez

Studio Managers: Alison Craig, Caleb Knightley and Thomas Glasser

 

Duration: 2 hours 45 mins approx.