Episodes
| Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Edith Shares A Secret | 20221016 | Alone in their dressing room and away from the glare of the spotlight, this is the precious time when an actor has the chance to reflect on the most momentous events of their lives on the stage. In this series of single-voice narratives, five of our most celebrated stars of the late 19th and early 20th century theatre share memories of the performances that changed their lives forever. The stories are, by turn, touching, hilarious, emotionally-charged, heart-warming and poignant. Each of them, in their own way, is delightfully counterintuitive - familiar characters maybe, but each with an unfamiliar story to tell. In Edith Shares a Secret, the year is 1925 and we find ourselves in the company of the celebrated and much-loved actress Dame Edith Evans, who is in her dressing room at London's Old Vic Theatre, getting ready for a very important date. Writer: Roy Apps Reader: Sophie Thompson Director: Celia de Wolff Executive Producer: Peter Hoare A Pier production for BBC Radio 4 Sophie Thompson is Dame Edith Evans in Edith Shares a Secret by Roy Apps. First-person monologues from renowned actors of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. |
| Land of My Fathers | 20221023 | Alone in their dressing room and away from the glare of the spotlight, this is the precious time when an actor has the chance to reflect on the most momentous events of their lives on the stage. In this series of single-voice narratives, five of our most celebrated stars of the late 19th and early 20th century theatre share memories of the performances that changed their lives forever. The stories are, by turn, touching, hilarious, emotionally-charged, heart-warming and poignant. Each of them, in their own way, is delightfully counterintuitive - familiar characters maybe, but each with an unfamiliar story to tell. In Land of My Fathers, the year is 1930 and we find ourselves in a draughty chapel schoolroom in the Rhondda Valley, where the great American social activist, actor and singer Paul Robeson, is waiting to join the local male voice choir in a very special performance. Writer: Roy Apps Paterson Joseph is Paul Robeson in Land of My Fathers by Roy Apps. First-person monologues from renowned actors of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. |
| Mrs Watts Goes Missing | 20220925 | Alone in their dressing room and away from the glare of the spotlight, this is the precious time when an actor has the chance to reflect on the most momentous events of their lives on the stage. In this series of single-voice narratives, five of our most celebrated stars of the late 19th and early 20th century theatre share memories of the performances that changed their lives forever. The stories are, by turn, touching, hilarious, emotionally-charged, heart-warming and poignant. Each of them, in their own way, is delightfully counterintuitive - familiar characters maybe, but each with an unfamiliar story to tell. In Mrs Watts Goes Missing, the year is 1876 and we find ourselves at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London's West End in the company of Dame Ellen Terry. The leading Shakespearian actress of her age, Ellen Terry spent close on seven decades on the stage. Writer: Roy Apps Reader: Janie Dee Director: Celia de Wolff Executive Producer: Peter Hoare A Pier production for BBC Radio 4 Janie Dee is the pioneering actress Ellen Terry in Mrs Watts Goes Missing by Roy Apps. First-person monologues from renowned actors of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. |
| Sir Henry's Last Night | 20221002 | Alone in their dressing room and away from the glare of the spotlight, this is the precious time when an actor has the chance to reflect on the most momentous events of their lives on the stage. In this series of single-voice narratives, five of our most celebrated stars of the late 19th and early 20th century theatre share memories of the performances that changed their lives forever. The stories are, by turn, touching, hilarious, emotionally-charged, heart-warming and poignant. Each of them, in their own way, is delightfully counterintuitive - familiar characters maybe, but each with an unfamiliar story to tell. In Sir Henry's Last Night, the year is 1905 and we find ourselves at the Theatre Royal, Bradford, where Sir Henry Irving, undisputed master of late 19th century theatre and the first actor to be honoured with a knighthood, is in his dressing room, preparing for what will become his final stage appearance. Writer: Roy Apps Hugh Ross is the 19th century actor Henry Irving in Sir Henry\u2019s Last Night by Roy Apps. First-person monologues from renowned actors of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. |
| Vesta's Boys | 20221009 | Alone in their dressing room and away from the glare of the spotlight, this is the precious time when an actor has the chance to reflect on the most momentous events of their lives on the stage. In this series of single-voice narratives, five of our most celebrated stars of the late 19th and early 20th century theatre share memories of the performances that changed their lives forever. The stories are, by turn, touching, hilarious, emotionally-charged, heart-warming and poignant. Each of them, in their own way, is delightfully counterintuitive - familiar characters maybe, but each with an unfamiliar story to tell. In Vesta's Boys, the year is 1920 and we find ourselves at the Gaiety Theatre in Manchester, where the music hall star and male impersonator, Vesta Tilley, is relaxing in her dressing room, having just given another resounding performance as part of her year-long farewell tour. Writer: Roy Apps Sylvestra Le Touzel is the music hall star Vesta Tilley in Vesta\u2019s Boys by Roy Apps. First-person monologues from renowned actors of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. |