The Tragedy Of Macbeth [Drama On 3]

A Hidden Treasure play, first broadcast in 1971. An innovative stereo version of The Tragedy of Macbeth, starring Joss Ackland, Googie Withers and Robert Hardy.

For many years this innovative production of The Tragedy of Macbeth was thought lost since its original live broadcast on Radio 3 in July 1971. Now it has been painstakingly reassembled by The British Library, The Radio Circle and Essential Radio. It stars Joss Ackland as Macbeth, Googie Withers as Lady Macbeth and Robert Hardy as Macduff, and has a full orchestral score by Stephen Dodgson, conducted by Rae Jenkins. The production was produced and directed by the celebrated and Prix Italia winning Raymond Raikes, and contains an extra scene, as Shakespeare and radio history scholar Dr Andrea Smith explains in her introduction.

With thanks to Dr Andrea Smith of the University of Suffolk, Keith Wickham and Dr Steve Arnold of The Radio Circle, Vedita Ramdoss, Stephen Cleary, Jonathan Summers and Karl Jenkins of the British Library, and Matthew Dodd of BBC Radio 3.

Macbeth - Joss Ackland

Lady Macbeth - Googie Withers

Macduff - Robert Hardy

Malcolm - John Rye

Banquo - Clifford Norgate

Fleance - Barnaby Williams

Siward, Earl of Northumberland - Douglas Blackwell

Lady Macduff - Eva Stuart

Angus - Gerald Cross

Lennox - Kerry Francis

Young Siward/Donalbain - Nigel Anthony

King Duncan - Richard Hurndall

Ross - Sean Arnold

Macduff's son - Toby Daniels

Seyton - Trevor Martin

First murderer - Edward Kelsey

Second murderer - Ronald Herdman

Third murderer - Betty Baskomb

First witch - Marjorie Westbury

Second witch - Lewis Stringer

Third witch - Gladys Spencer

Porter/Captain - Henry Stamper

Old man/Doctor of physic - John Ruddock

Producer/Director Raymond Raikes

This 2024 remaster of the 1971 original is by Neil Churchill, and produced by James Peak at Essential Radio Ltd for BBC Radio 3.

First broadcast in 1971, the first stereo production of Macbeth, starring Joss Ackland.

A Hidden Treasure play, first broadcast, live, in July 1971. An innovative stereo version of The Tragedy of Macbeth, starring Joss Ackland, Googie Withers and Robert Hardy.