Arthur (or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire) [Drama]

Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall Of The British Empire) is an album by The Kinks, originally released in October 1969. The songs feature autobiographical stories and characters from Ray Davies' early life and offer a fascinating snapshot of this period in British history - a period of upheaval that resonates strongly with the present.

The story is simple - a close-knit, working-class family is torn apart when Ray's brother-in-law, Arthur, decides to move his family half way around the world to Australia. The whole family is trying to come to terms with what it means to live in post-war Britain - the lost empire, the lack of respect, the broken institutions, a country in flux, a country split over whether or not to join the European Economic Community and a country struggling to come to terms with its own identity.

The drama has plenty of music - with songs written at that pivotal time in British culture re-versioned especially for BBC Radio 4, 50 years later. The songs have special resonance for Ray Davies, who was devastated when his older sister Rose emigrated to Australia in 1964 with her husband Arthur Anning. It inspired him to write the song Rosy Won't You Please Come Home, included on the 1966 album Face to Face.

Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) is a study in song of what it means to be British - then and now.

THE KINKS are recognised as one of the most important and influential British rock groups of all time. From their explosive beginnings as part of the British Beat movement to forays into concept albums, The Kinks have a legacy of classic songs, many of which form the building blocks of popular music as we know it today.

SIR RAY DAVIES is the iconic founder member and presiding genius of The Kinks. As his songwriting developed, he emerged as a witty, compassionate social commentator chronicling the aspirations and absurdities of English life. He is the Olivier award-winning writer of the musical plays Sunny Afternoon (4 Oliviers, Pinter Theatre, West End), Come Dancing (Stratford East) and 80 Days (La Jolla Playhouse). This is his first radio play.

PAUL SIRETT (co-writer) is a multi-award-winning writer of The Big Life (Apollo Theatre, West End and BBC World Service), Come Dancing (with Ray Davies, Theatre Stratford East) and Reasons to be Cheerful (Graeae Theatre Company).

VICTORIA

Performed by The Kinks

THE FUTURE

Performed by Arthur & The Emigrants

THE VILLAGE GREEN

Performed by Rosie Cavaliero

ARTHUR version 1

ARTHUR version 2

SOME MOTHER'S SON

Performed by Mark Newnham

YES SIR, NO SIR version 1

YES SIR, NO SIR version 2

Performed by Lee Ross

DRIVIN

Performed by The Kinks, Lee Ross and Rosie Cavaliero

MR CHURCHILL SAYS

BRAINWASHED

Performed by Ben Norris, Mark Newnham, Stephen Lloyd and Arthur Hughes

WATERLOO SUNSET

Performed by Lee Ross and The Kinks

PICTURES IN THE SAND

YOUNG AND INNOCENT DAYS

NOTHING TO SAY

POSTCARD FROM LONDON

Performed by Rosie Cavaliero and Ray Davies

YOU REALLY GOT ME

SHANGRI-LA

Guitar by Bill Shanley

CAST AND CREW:

Arthur - LEE ROSS

Rose - .ROSIE CAVALIERO

Ray - STEPHEN LLOYD

Dave - MARK NEWNHAM

Terry - BEN NORRIS

Bobby - ARTHUR HUGHES

Julie/Sally - .EMERALD O'HANRAHAN

Mr Henderson - DAVID HOLT

Mum - .KAREN SPICER

Dad/Jones - WAYNE NORMAN

Writers: Ray Davies and Paul Sirett

Sound Engineers: David Thomas and Matt Jaggar

Production Coordinator: Sarah Tombling

Musical Director: Harvey Brough

Director: Karen Rose

Producers: Karen Rose and Ray Davies

A study in song of what it means to be British by Ray Davies of The Kinks and Paul Sirett.

A study in song of what it means to be British by The Kinks' singer-songwriter Ray Davies and Paul Sirett.