January 1924

Tuesday 1 January 1924 Cardiff 7.15

Shakespeare Night VII

pr Cyril Brett

‘Richard III’ - 9.30

Monday 7 January 1924 Manchester 9.45-11.15

(relay) ‘Meistersingers’ Act III relayed from Covent Garden

Manchester Guardian Saturday 12 January 1924 p 12

“Alkestis” on the wireless

As heard in Manchester

Rutland Boughton music to Gilbert Murray translation

The orchestra hardly came through in an interesting form or variety at all and was more like the monotony of an American organ than the various parts of an orchestra.

Saturday 12 January 1924 London 9.10-10

(relay) ‘Pagliacci’ Act I relayed from Covent Garden

Act II 10.15

S.B. to all stations

Tuesday 15 January 1924 London 7.30-9.15

London ‘An Evening of Plays produced by Mr. Nigel Playfair’ 7.30-9.15

Vachel Lindsay, ‘The Blacksmith’s Serenade’;

Jane Austen, ‘The Proposal Scene from Pride and Prejudice’;

Richard Hughes, ‘A Comedy of Danger’ (Author of ‘The Sisters’ Tragedy’)

A.P. Herbert, ‘The Annual Dinner’

Incidental music by the “2LO London” Light Orchestra (S.B. to Glasgow) (script)

Listing in ‘The Daily Mirror’

Plays arranged and produced by Nigel Playfair

(A.P. Herbert) ‘Ladies Night or the Annual Dinner of the National Society for Eating Less Meat’

Tuesday 15 January 1924 Cardiff 7.30-9.15

‘The Gladiators’ entertainers

(from Daily Mail)

Friday 25 January 1924 London 8.30-9.30

‘What We’re Coming To’ or ‘A Future Case Celebre’ A Mock Trial By Jury

Tried by Mr Justice Chermp and an Extra Special Jury on the 1st April 1954

February 1924

15 February 1924 London 7.30-9.15

‘Hamlet’ (Shakespeare)

Tuesday 19 February 1924 London 8.20-9.30

(1) ‘The Tragedy of Mr Punch’ (Reginald Arkell and Russell Thorndike)

Lewis Casson, Dame May Whitty as His Wife

prologue

(Little Theatre 15 December 1920 to 19 March 1921)

Blind Man - Lewis Casson

Punch - Russell Thorndike

First Girl - Elizabeth Arkell

Judy - Sybil Thorndike

produced by Lewis Casson

(2) ‘Columbine’ (Reginald Arkell)

March 1924

April 1924

1 April 1924

New amplifier at Savoy Hill in Studio (RT 25 April 1924 p 176)

1 April 1924 Casson 2LO London S.B. to other stations 7.30-9.30

An evening of plays produced by Lewis Casson

(1) ‘Box and Cox’ (John Maddison Morton) (first performed at the Lyceum 1 November 1847)

(2) ‘The Death of Tintageles’ (Maeterlinck)

(3) ‘The Man Who Sang In His Bath’ (Richard Hughes)

Tuesday 11 April 1924 London 7.30-9.30 London

An Evening of Plays produced by Milton Rosmer

(1) 'Five Birds in a Cage' (Gertrude Jennings) with Athena Seyler ®

(2) 'The Rising of the Moon' (Lady Gregory) (first performed at the Abbey, Dublin 9 March 1907 and at the Court 10 June 1921)

(3) 'Postal Orders' (Roland Pertwee)

May 1924

RT 9 May 1924 p 270

Tuesday 13 May 1924 7.30-9.30 London and S.B.

Dramatic Evening

‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ (Oscar Wilde)

performed by The Station Repertory Company

(performed at the Haymarket 21 November 1923 to 12 January 1924)

27 May 1924 S.B. to Bournemouth and Newcastle 7.30-9.30

Shakespeare Night

‘King Henry the Fifth’ (Shakespeare)

Supported by The Station Repertory Company, arranged and directed by A. Corbett-Smith

Henry V - Cyril Estcourt

Catherine and Chorus - Hardee Gunn

June 1924

Tuesday 3 June 1924 Glasgow 5SC 8.15-9.15

Story recital of ‘King Lear’ (Shakespeare) by Percival Steeds B.A.

scenes presented by “5SC’s” Dramatic Company

Scene 1: Regan’s Reception of her father

Scene 2: A Reconciliation

Thursday 5 June 1924 Birmingham 5LT 8-10

Play evening

The Station Company Players directed by Mr. William Macready will produce

‘The School for Scandal’ (Sheridan)

Cardiff 8-10

‘Abraham Lincoln’, a play (John Drinkwater)

performed by the Station Repertory Company

(performed at the Lyceum 6 June 1921 to 22 October 1921)

Friday 6 June 1924 London 8-

(light opera) ‘Highwayman’s Love’ a romantic light opera in two acts

Book by F.R. Bell Lyrics by Harold Ellis Music by W.H. Bullock

produced and conducted by L. Stanton Jeffries

Monday 9 June 1924

(relay) ‘Carmen’ relayed from His Majesty’s Brit Nat Opera

8-9.50 Acts 1 & 2

8-9.51 [RELAY] [OPERA]

Thursday 12 June 1924 Glasgow 9-9.25

A sketch ‘Cinders’ (L. Tinsley)

Friday 13 June 1924

London ‘Tannhauser’ (relay) Brit Nat Opera 7.15-

His Majesty’s

Tuesday 17 June 1924 8.0 ‘Aida’ (relay)

Thursday 19 June 1924 Bournemouth 7.35-9.30

Dramatic Night

‘Leah Kleschna’ (McLellard) (no script)

Paul Sylvaine - J.C.A. Norman

Kleschna (Austrian criminal) - George Stone

Paul Sylvaine – J.C.A. Norman

Schram – L.H. Motram

General Berton – J.C.R. Carter

Raoul Berton – J. Emerson

Valentine Favre – F. Griffin

Baptiste – E.H. Bell

Leah – Mrs. Kerby

Madame Berton – Miss Edgehumbe Hobbs

Claire – Miss Grace Addison

Sophis – Miss Violet Large

Act 1 Kleschna’s lodings

Act 2 Study in Paul Sylvaine’s home

Act 3 The same

Act 4 The same

Thursday 19 June 1924 Cardiff

Shakespeare Night

‘King Lear’ presented by the Station Repertory Company

Tuesday 24 June 1924 Glasgow 9.5-9.50

‘The Mother’ a play in two scenes (George Black)

pr Eliot C. Mason

Morris Gillespie – Eliot C. Mason

Calum Gillespie – Archibald Buchanan

Alistair Gillespie – R.R. Wharrie

John Cato – W. Graham Dow

Laird – W. Graham Dow

A West Highland Crofter’s Cottage

Tuesday 24 June 1924 Glasgow 10-10.15

‘The Crystal Set’ (John H. Bones)

Granny – Miss Meg Buchanan

Willie – J. Levack Ritchie

Gracie – Grace McClery

Tuesday 24 June 1924 Newcastle 8.30-9

Mr. William Macready and Miss Godfrey Turner

Shakespeare Excerpts from ‘Hamlet’, ‘The Merchant of Venice’, ‘Henry VIII’

9.0

‘Married Life’ an original farce in one act

Wednesday 25 June 1924 London 8-

An Evening of Plays Performed by the International One-Act Players

‘The Stepmother’ (Arnold Bennett)

‘The Escape’ (E.F. Parr)

‘The Maker of Dreams’ (Oliphant Down)

Wednesday 25 June 1924 Edinburgh 9.15-9.30

The Community Players in

‘People’s Experiment’ a comedy in one act (R.A. Roxburgh)

Thursday 26 June 1924 Manchester 8-8.30

Mr. Cahil Fogarty will read an Irish play entitled

‘The Rising of the Moon’ (Lady Gregory)

Friday 27 June 1924 Aberdeen and S.B. to Glasgow and Edinburgh 8.45-9.45

‘Cramond Brig and the Gudeman’ (William B. Murray)

A comic drama in two acts

James V of Scotland – R.E. Jeffrey

James Birkie – E. R. Linklater

Jock Howieson – A.M. Shinnie

Tam Maxwell – A.W. Grafton

Master Lindsay – Elma Reid

Capt. of the King’s Guard – W. Dundas

Grimes, Boston and Jabo (ruffians) – Lawrence Wood, R.G. McCallum, Ian McKay

Tibbie Howieson – Christine Crowe

Marie – Joyce Tremayne

Friday 27 June 1924 Birmingham 8-10

Play Night

The Station Company of Players

Dir William Macready

‘Under Two Flags’ (Ouida)

adapted from the novel

July 1924

July 1924

Dramatics Department started in London (Briggs)

Arrival of R.E. Jeffrey from Aberdeen

Tuesday 1 July 1924 London 10.10-10.50

‘Il Seraglio’ Act III relay British National Opera Company

[RELAY] His Majesty’s

S.B. all stations

Tuesday 1 July 1924 Newcastle

Dramatic Night

Newcastle Players Repertory Theatre Company

(1) 7.45-8.20

‘Makeshifts’ (Gertrude Robins)

A Lower Middle Class Comedy

Caroline Parker – Kathleen May

Dolly Parker (sister) – May Johnston

Mr. Thompson (lodger) – Clifford Jones

Albert Smythe (stock jobber’s clerk) – Fred H. Patterson

Scene: sitting-room of the Parkers’ house

(2) 8.45-9.15

‘Realities’ (Gertrude Robins)

A middle class comedy being a sequel to ‘Makeshifts’

Mr. Henry Thompson (nee Caroline Parker) – Kathleen May

Mrs. Albert Smythe (nee Rose Phillips) – Mary Pettie

Henry Thompson – Clifford Jones

Albert Smythe – Fred H. Patterson

Scene: parlour of the Thompsons’ house in the suburbs

Time: two years after ‘Makeshifts’

Wednesday 2 July 1924 London and S.B. all stations 8.30-9.40

‘The Perfect Fool’ an opera in one act (Holst)

relay BNOC

Thursday 3 July1924 London and S.B. all stations 10.15-11

‘Midsummer Madness’ Act III

Book by Clifford Bax

Music by C. Armstrong Gibs

Relay Lyric Hammersmith

Marie Tempest

Thursday 3 July 1924 Bournemouth 8.30-10

Bournemouth Dramatic and Orchestral Club presents the one-act comedy

‘Wurzel Flummery’ (A.A. Milne)

[cast]

Mr. Charles McEvoy presents his one-act play ‘Gentlemen of the Road’. The author himself will read this play and portray all the characters.

Friday 4 July 1924 Cardiff 7.30-10

‘Abraham Lincoln’ (John Drinkwater)

produced and directed by E.R. Appleton

Performed by the Station Repertory Company

Supported by Gwent Players

Friday 4 July 1924 Liverpool 7.30-10

An Evening of Plays

Mr William Macready and Miss Edna Godfrey Turner in

‘David Garrick’ (William Macready)

‘Married Life’ (Donald Edwardes)

a farce in one act

Scenes from 'The Merchant of Venice'

Tuesday 8 July 1924 Manchester

‘Princess Sonia’ musical farce

RT 27 June 1924 p 3

Official News and Views

The names of the players are not given but their identities will be covered by each one taking the name of one of the planets. This May provide some interest to the listeners who have heard the voices of the players in previous dramatic productions from this station and they are invited to send in postcards giving the correct cast of the play.

Prize – invited to visit the station for the evening production

[NAMES]

Tuesday 8 July 1924 Newcastle 7.30-9

Evening of Drama

‘Poor Mate’ (Hubert Henry Daves)

a comedy in three acts

Noel Gale, a painter – Gordon Lea

Sir Rufus Gale – Kendrew Milson

Capt. Maurice Harding – N.H. Firmin

Lelia – Miss M.G. Knyvelt

Josephine – Miss Norah Balls

Harrison – Miss Sal Sturgeon

Wednesday 9 July 1924 London 9.20-

Two one-act comedies

‘Two On A Bus’ (Herbert Swears)

Sam Twyford – Herbert Swears

Kitty – Amy Brandon-Thomas

‘Widows’ (Herbert Swears)

Mrs Smith – Agnes Thomas

Mrs Pink – Clare Greet

Mrs Yobb – Helena Millais

Friday 11 July 1924 Bournemouth 9.5

Bournemouth Dramatic and Orchestral Club presents

‘The Marriage Will Not Take Place’ (Sutro)

9.35

Mr Charles McEvoy presents his one-act play ‘Lucifer’

Thursday 17 July 1924 Cardiff 8-10

An Evening of Plays

Gwent Players

‘Postal Orders’ (Roland Pertwee)

‘Where My Loved One Lies’ (Ivor Herbert McLure)

Friday 18 July 1924 Glasgow 8-9.15

‘Emperor and Galilean’ (Ibsen)

pr Isabelle M. Pagan whose translation is being used

music by Mrs. Frank Barly

first performance in Britain

Thursday 24 July 1924 Glasgow 8.32-8.52

Two one-act comedies

‘Double or Quits’ (George Paston)

9-9.20

‘Sympathetic souls’ (Sydney Grundy)

presented by Mr. George Ross and jis “5SC” Repertory Company

Thursday 24 July 1924 Birmingham 8-10

The Birmingham Station Players in

'The Merchant of Venice' (Shakespeare)

Thursday 24 July 1924 Cardiff 8-10

Plays produced and directed by E.R. Appleton

‘A Penkland Wakes’ (Gwen John)

one-act play

‘Babel’ (John Redwood Anderson)

31 July 1924 Cardiff 8-10

The Gwent Players

Plays produced and directed by E.R. Appleton

‘The Boy Comes Home’ (A.A. Milne)

‘Y Pwyligor’ (D.J. Davies)

‘The Maker of Dreams’ (Oliphant Downs)

August 1924

8 August 1924

‘The World of Music’ wireless revue (Alexander Magill)

compere and commere

8 August 1924 Jeffries to London

11 August 1924 Dramatic Department

This department was initiated and commenced its activities in 11th August 1924.

Document 10 September 1925

September 1924

5 September 1924 Cardiff

*? ‘Disclosure’ (Ivor McClure and O. Wyndham)

pr

RT 5 September 1924 p 443

A play for the microphone

There are distinct signs of the evolution of a new technique for the broadcast play and Cardiff’s production of ‘Disclosure’ on September 5th is an interesting development. The play, written by Captain Ivor McClure D.S.O. and O. Wyndham, deals with international intrigue in an up-to-date setting and the machinations of a scientific schemer provide a thrill which is sustained till the call of ‘curtain’.

NOTE: Monday 23 March 1925 Cardiff 8.05-8.40

*? ‘A Nasty Night in Nubia’ radio melodrama (Ivor Herbert McClure)

“5WA” Players

Monday 8 September 1924 Cardiff S.B. to all Stations 8-9.20

Drama and Ballet

Three Short Plays

pr R.E. Jeffrey

(1) ‘The Boatswain’s Mate’ (W.W. Jacobs and H.C. Sargent)

Mrs. Waters (landlady) - Esme Beringer

George Benn (an ex-Boatswain) - Drelincourt Odlam

Fred Travers (a retired soldier) - George Cooke

scene: the bar at the ‘Beehive’

(2) ‘A Minuet’ a little play in verse (Louis N. Parker)

The Marquis - Fisher White

The Marchioness - Phyllis Panting

The Gaoler - George Cooke

(3) ‘The Philosopher of Butterbuggins’ (XXX)

David - R.E. Jeffrey

Lizzie - Jean Sturrock

John - Alfred Gibson

scene: John Bell’s tenement house at Butterbuggins

interludes by the Wireless Trio

Tuesday 9 September 1924 Newcastle

The “5NO” Repertory Company presents

(1) 8.55-9.10

‘Love in a Railway Train’ duologue (Frank Stayton)

pr Jennie Stevens

An actor - Fred Patterson

An actress - Jennie Stevens

scene: any room, anywhere

(2) 9.25-9.40

‘A Maker of Men’ duologue (Alfred Sutro)

pr Jennie Stevens

Captain Cuthbert Farmington - Fred Patterson

Edith - Jennie Stevens

scene: a little sitting-room in a small house in a far away street in West Hampstead

October 1924

Monday 6 October 1924 9-9.30

Winner of competition

Prize Winning Play

* ‘Hunt the Tiger’ (H.A. Hering of London)

£50 prize plot of a very novel character peculiarly suited for wireless transmission

Monsieur Jules (an inventor) - Fisher White

Edmond Savine (a poet from Brittany) - Kenneth Kent

scene: Paris The drawing-room in the House of Mons December 1781

Mademoiselle de Vincennes (a lady of the court) - Irene Rooke

Monsieur Jules finds a would-be suicide on the streets of Paris, invites them to his flat and suggests his novel way of relieving them of the burden of life.

Tuesday 28 October 1924 Cardiff

‘The Cloud That Lighted’ (Maeterlinck)

November 1924

Tuesday 18 November 1924 Manchester 2ZY Mermaid Club

‘The Tallyman’ (Judge Parry)

Tuesday 18 November 1924 London 7.30-9.30

London Shakespeare Night

Excerpts from ‘The Taming of the Shrew’

Dramatic Director R.E. Jeffrey

Katherina - Joy Chatwynd

Hortensio / Tailor - Tarver Penna

Grumio - George Baxter

Petrucchio - R.E. Jeffrey

20 November 1924 8.30

G.B.Shaw reads ‘O’Flaherty V.C.’

‘G.B.S. Lectures the B.B.C.’ RT 14 November 1924 p 357 (photocopy)

He is going to read ‘O’Flaherty V.C.’ and explain the situations and the dialogue in exactly the same way as he would to a company of actors who were going to undertake the play in production.

RT 21 November 1924 p 385

William Macready Dramatic producer at the Birmingham station

26 November 1924 Manchester

‘A Butterfly on the Wheel’ (Edward G. Henmerde and Francis Neilson)

pr Victor Smythe

28 November 1924 Birmingham

Three short plays

(1) ‘Delicate Ground’ (Charles Dance)

(2) ‘The Irish Doctor’ (J.K. Wood)

(3) ‘Number Thirteen’ (George Robinson)

pr William Macready

Edna Godfrey-Turner

RT on a previous visit in ‘David Garrick’

December 1924

RT 19 December 1924 p 574

A Christmas Radio Review by P.P. Eckersley

1923 saw the erection of the main stations;

1924 will always be thought of as the relay station year;

1925 will see the establishment of the high-power policy

(better microphones) microphone equipment has been greatly improved both in design and operation

old studio had to be scrapped

(Cardiff, Manchester, Glasgow and soon Newcastle)

The methods of operation have largely improved in the last year and such things are the fade-in and the fade-out, the dissolving view where one sound picture merges into another, were, if not though of, at any rate impossible owing to insufficient apparatus during 1923.

[TECHNIQUE] [FADES]

Tuesday 23 December 1924 Aberdeen

(relay) ‘Humpty Dumpty’ from the Palace Theatre Aberdeen

Tuesday 30 December 1924 Belfast Folk Music and Folk Play 7.30-8.30

The Warnock Players

‘Mrs. Bates’ Saturday Night’ (A.M. Warnock)

Mrs. Bates - Anne Warnock

Mrs. Finlay - Jeannie Erskine

Maggie - Anne Johnson

Dan Tourish - Drummond Adair

scene: in Mrs. Bates’ shop

NUMBER OF PLAY NIGHTS = 46

NUMBER OF PIECES = 71

NUMBER OF FULL LENGTH PLAYS = 18

(above the level of one-act 20 mins /30 mins play)

NUMBER OF ONE-ACT PLAYS = 43