Victim [Drama On 3]

by Sarah Wooley.

A drama about the making of 'Victim', the first British film to seriously address homosexuality.

The 1961 film, starring matinee idol Dirk Bogarde in the gamble of his career, is often credited with helping to change public attitudes to homosexuality. This fast-moving drama follows the extraordinary mixture of bravery and pragmatism involved in getting this ground-breaking enterprise off the ground, providing a fascinating glimpse of Britain at a tipping point of social change.

Clip from Peeping Tom (c) Michael Powell (Theatre)/Anglo-Amalgamated Film Distributors/Michael Powell

THE WRITER

Sarah Wooley has written many plays for the radio including FIFTEEN MINUTES about Andy Warhol, MOVING MUSIC about Philip Glass and Steve Reich, PLANNING PERMISSION about the Brutalist architect Erno Goldfinger and A NICE LITTLE HOLIDAY about playwright John Osborne. Her last play for Radio 4 was 1977, about the scoring of the film 'Watership Down' and the story of trans composer Angela Morley.

Her stage plays include the sell-out hit OLD MONEY (Hampstead Theatre, 2012) starring Maureen Lipman.

The story of Victim, the first British film to address homosexuality seriously.

The 1961 film ‘Victim', starring matinee idol Dirk Bogarde in the gamble of his career, is often credited with helping to change public attitudes to homosexuality. This fast-moving drama follows the extraordinary mixture of bravery and pragmatism involved in getting a groundbreaking enterprise off the ground, providing a fascinating glimpse of Britain at a tipping point of social change.

Written by Sarah Wooley.

Dirk Bogarde - Ed Stoppard

Tony Forwood - Simon Harrison

Basil Dearden - Jonathan Aris

Janet Green - Fenella Woolgar

Michael Relph - Ben Miles

John Trevelyan - Michael Moloney

Dorothy - Julie Teal

Sylvia Sims - Sarah Ridgeway

Alexander Walker - Charlie Clements

Leo Abse MP/Trailer Announcer - Simon Ludders

Sir Cyril Osborne MP/The Earl of Arran/Roy Jenkins MP - Philip Fox

With Emilio Doorgasing, David Surzaker and Tom Forrister

Music by Neil Brand.

Director: Abigail le Fleming

First broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in 2017.

The story of 'Victim', the first British film to seriously address homosexuality.

Drama about the making of ‘Victim', the first British film to seriously address homosexuality. With Ed Stoppard as Dirk Bogarde.

Episodes

SeriesFirst
Broadcast
RepeatedComments
DO3DO32017070920240622 (BBC7)
20240623 (BBC7)
20190106 (R3)