The Recruiting Officer [Drama On 3]

George Farquhar's popular Restoration Comedy, broadcast in combination with Our Country's Good (this weekend's Radio 4 Saturday Play).

During a lull in the War of the Spanish Succession, Captain Plume comes to Shrewsbury, to seduce soldiers into the army, and - if possible - recruit Silvia into marriage.

Captain Plume - Paul Higgins

Silvia - Lisa Dillon

Sergeant Kite - Ralph Ineson

Mr Worthy - Adam James

Melinda - Kate Fleetwood

Captain Brazen - Elliot Levey

Rose - Alex Tregear

Bullock - Simon Bubb

Justice Balance - Jonathan Forbes

Lucy - Adjoa Andoh

Appletree - James Lailey

Pearman - Adam Billington

Bridewell - Rikki Lawton

Justice Scale - Paul Moriarty

Justice Scruple - Gerard McDermott

Directed by Jessica Dromgoole

The Recruiting Officer enjoyed enormous success and popular acclaim during the eighteenth century, when it was produced more often than any other play, outstripping its nearest rival, Hamlet, by a wide margin.

The play also holds the honour of being the first piece of theatre ever to be produced in Australia, with a cast of convicts and officers, an event described by Thomas Keneally in his book The Playmaker, and then dramatised by Timberlake Wertenbaker in her play, Our Country's Good.

A double bill of the two plays was staged in repertory to great acclaim at The Royal Court in 1988, with a common cast.

This new pair of radio productions reproduces the enterprise.

Farquhar's 1709 Restoration comedy, where wives are recruited while soldiers are wooed.

George Farquhar's popular Restoration Comedy. During a lull in the War of the Spanish Succession, Captain Plume comes to Shrewsbury, to seduce soldiers into the army, and - if possible - recruit Silvia into marriage.

First broadcast in December 2011

The Recruiting Officer enjoyed enormous success and popular acclaim during the eighteenth century, when it was produced more often than any other play, outstripping its nearest rival, Hamlet, by a wide margin. The play also holds the honour of being the first piece of theatre ever to be produced in Australia, with a cast of convicts and officers, an event described by Thomas Keneally in his book The Playmaker, and then dramatised by Timberlake Wertenbaker in her play, Our Country's Good. A double bill of the two plays was staged in repertory to great acclaim at The Royal Court in 1988, with a common cast.

The Recruiting Officer enjoyed enormous success and popular acclaim during the eighteenth century, when it was produced more often than any other play, outstripping its nearest rival, Hamlet, by a wide margin. Part of BBC Radio 3's 18th Century Season.

The play holds the honour of being the first piece of theatre ever to be produced in Australia, with a cast of convicts and officers, an event described by Thomas Keneally in his book The Playmaker, and then dramatised by Timberlake Wertenbaker in her play, Our Country's Good. A double bill of the two plays was staged in repertory to great acclaim at The Royalz Court in 1988, with a common cast.