The Noel Coward BBC Radio Drama Collection

Noël Coward was born in 1899, and was a professional actor by the age of ten. In 1920, he starred in his own play, I'll Leave it to You. His first major hit was The Vortex (1924) and his success continued throughout the Twenties and Thirties with plays including Hay Fever (1926), Private Lives (1930) and Design for Living (1932). During the Second World War, he wrote the patriotic screenplayIn Which We Serve (1942), for which he won an Oscar; as well as scripting the classic film Brief Encounter (1944) and entertaining the nation with the black comedy Blithe Spirit (1941). After the war, Coward added a new string to his bow as a cabaret singer, as well as continuing to write musicals and plays. In all, Coward wrote 40 plays, 300 songs and numerous poems, short stories and films. He was knighted in 1970, and died in Jamaica in 1973.

Seven BBC radio full-cast productions of Noël Coward’s classic plays – plus bonus material including a profile of Coward and extracts from his diaries Renowned for his wit, style and sophistication, Noël Coward was one of the greatest playwrights of the twentieth century. His plays, set in the glittering world of high society in which he lived, are much admired and have remained in the popular theatre repertoire to this day. This collection brings together the very best radio adaptations of Coward’s works, encompassing sparkling comedies of manners Private Livesand Hay Fever, farcical ghost story Blithe Spirit, and daring ménage à trois drama Design for Living. Here, too, is his controversial first hit The Vortex; the poignant Still Life (the inspiration for the film Brief Encounter); and the semi-autobiographical Present Laughter. Among the star-studded cast are Helena Bonham-Carter, Bill Nighy, Judi Dench, Celia Imrie, Roger Allam, Harriet Walter, Paul Rhys, Stephanie Cole and Paul Scofield. Also included is a BBC World Service profile of Noël Coward, comprising interviews, musical extracts and archive clips; and the BBC Radio 4 programme ‘From His Diaries’, featuring a selection of passages from Coward’s journal read by Simon Cadell. Private Lives Amanda…Helena Bonham-Carter Elyot…Bill Nighy Sibyl…Andrea Riseborough Victor…Paul Ritter Louise…AnnaRose Cattanach Directed by Sally Avens Hay Fever Judith Bliss…Judi Dench David Bliss…Michael Williams Richard Greatham…Geoffrey Palmer Marya Arundel…Celia Imrie Jackie Coryton…Patricia Brake Sandy Tyrell…Christopher Blake Simon Bliss…Patrick Pearson Sorel Bliss…Alison Reid Qara…Patricia Hayes Directed by Leslie Lawton Blithe Spirit Charles…Roger Allam Madame Arcati…Maggie Steed Elvira…Zoe Waites Ruth…Hermione Gulliford Dr Bradman…David Killick Mrs Bradman…Tilly Tremayne Edith…Natalie Cassidy Dramatised by Bert Coules Directed by Philip Franks Design for Living Gilda…Cheryl Campbell Otto…Alex Jennings Leo…Michael Kitchen Ernest Friedman…James Laurenson Mr Birbeck…Alan Barker Henry Carver…Bradley Lavell Miss Hodge/Helen…Joanna Myers Grace Torrence…Linda Marlowe Directed by Ned Chaillet Pianist: Jimmy Hardwick The Vortex Florence Lancaster…Harriet Walter Nicky…Paul Rhys Helen…Frances Jeater Pawnie…John Rye Clara Hibbert…Jenny Funnell Tom Veryan…Robert Portal David Lancaster…Peter Blythe Bunty Mainwaring…Federay Holmes Bruce Fairlight…Keith Drinkel Preston…Pamela Grace Directed by John Tydeman Pianist: Mike Sykes Still Life Laura Lesson…Amanda Root Dr Alec Harvey…John Duttine Myrtle Bagott…Stephanie Cole Albert Godby…Trevor Peacock Beryl Waters/Lady on Train…Sunny Ormonde Stanley…Brian Parr Dolly Messiter…Josephine Tewson Bill…Richard Curnow Johnny/Guard…Malcolm McKee Dramatised by Malcolm McKee Directed by Sue Wilson Music composed by Malcolm McKee Present Laughter Gary Essendine…Paul Scofield Liz Essendine…Joy Parker Monica Reed…Patricia Routledge Joanna Lyppiatt…Fenella Fielding Henry Lyppiatt…Alan Rowe Morris Dixon…Bernard Joyner Daphne Stillington…Miriam Margolyes Lady Saltburn…Betty Huntley-Wright Fred…Timothy Bateson Miss Erikson…Diana Olsson Roland Maule…David Timson Dramatised and produced by Ian Cotterell Duration: 14 hours approx.