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Shakespeare in war and peace

Actor Samuel West is joined by Dr Andrea Smith to chronicle almost 100 years of Shakespeare on the radio. Today, it's the Bard in wartime, when listeners wanted comedy not tragedy!

Actor Samuel West is joined by Dr Andrea Smith in a journey through 100 years (nearly) of Shakespeare on the radio. You might think that the years of the Second World War would have given listeners a thirst for history plays and great stirring speeches such as those in Henry V. But in fact it was pastoral comedy that was most popular - a reminder perhaps of the idealised, imagined Britain that people were fighting to protect. We hear too how production techniques gained sophistication and that theatricality slowly gave way to realism.

Presented by Samuel West and Dr Andrea Smith
Produced by Susan Marling
A Just Radio Production

Available now

14 minutes

Last on

Tue 25 Oct 2022 22:45

Broadcast

  • Tue 25 Oct 2022 22:45

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