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Pygmalion: A Brand New BBC Radio 4 Drama Plus the Story of the Play's Scandalous Opening Night
A star-studded BBC radio production of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion – plus bonus drama The ‘B’ Word, telling the story of the play’s scandalous opening night
Irascible phonetics professor Henry Higgins makes a bet with his friend Colonel Pickering that he can train Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle to talk ‘like a lady’ and pass as a duchess at the Ambassador’s Ball. As the day of reckoning approaches, can Eliza convince the assembled aristocrats that she’s one of them? And what will become of her afterwards?
This effervescent radio version of Shaw’s classic comedy features a stellar cast, including award-winning comedians Alistair McGowan as Henry Higgins, Morgana Robinson as Eliza Doolittle and Al Murray as Alfred Doolittle.
Also featured on this release is The ‘B’ Word, written by and starring Alistair McGowan as George Bernard Shaw. Centring on the shocking opening night of Pygmalion – the first time that the word ‘bloody' was used on the British stage – it also explores the passionate love-hate relationship between Shaw; his leading man, Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree (Richard McCabe) and his leading lady, Mrs Patrick Campbell (Charlotte Page), who played the 19-year-old Eliza Doolittle at the age of 49.
Cast and credits
Pygmalion
Henry Higgins……………………Alistair McGowan
Eliza Doolittle……………………Morgana Robinson
Alfred Doolittle……………………Al Murray
Colonel Pickering……………………Hugh Fraser
Mrs Higgins……………………Siân Phillips
Mrs Pearce/Maid……………………Charlotte Page
Mrs Eynsford-Hill……………………Georgie Glen
Clara Eynsford-Hill……………………Maeve Bluebell Wells
Freddy Eynsford-Hill.....……………………Tom Forrister
Nepommuck……………………David Sturzaker
Ambassador……………………John Dougall
Ambassador's wife……………………Sarah Ridgeway
Bystander……………………David Sterne
Written by George Bernard Shaw
Produced and directed by Emma Harding
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 28 May-4 June 2017
The ‘B’ Word
George Bernard Shaw……………………Alistair McGowan
George Alexander……………………David Sturzaker
Mrs Patrick Campbell.....……………………Charlotte Page
Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree……………………Richard McCabe
Charlotte Shaw……………………Georgie Glen
Merivale……………………Philip Fox
Gurney/Fishman……………………Simon Ludders
Bell……………………Charlie Clements
Maid……………………Sarah Ridgeway
Written by Alistair McGowan
Produced and directed by Emma Harding
Production Coordinator: Jenny Mendez
Studio Managers: Alison Craig, Caleb Knightley and Thomas Glasser
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 May 2017
Duration: 2 hours 45 mins approx.
Irascible phonetics professor Henry Higgins makes a bet with his friend Colonel Pickering that he can train Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle to talk ‘like a lady’ and pass as a duchess at the Ambassador’s Ball. As the day of reckoning approaches, can Eliza convince the assembled aristocrats that she’s one of them? And what will become of her afterwards?
This effervescent radio version of Shaw’s classic comedy features a stellar cast, including award-winning comedians Alistair McGowan as Henry Higgins, Morgana Robinson as Eliza Doolittle and Al Murray as Alfred Doolittle.
Also featured on this release is The ‘B’ Word, written by and starring Alistair McGowan as George Bernard Shaw. Centring on the shocking opening night of Pygmalion – the first time that the word ‘bloody' was used on the British stage – it also explores the passionate love-hate relationship between Shaw; his leading man, Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree (Richard McCabe) and his leading lady, Mrs Patrick Campbell (Charlotte Page), who played the 19-year-old Eliza Doolittle at the age of 49.
Cast and credits
Pygmalion
Henry Higgins……………………Alistair McGowan
Eliza Doolittle……………………Morgana Robinson
Alfred Doolittle……………………Al Murray
Colonel Pickering……………………Hugh Fraser
Mrs Higgins……………………Siân Phillips
Mrs Pearce/Maid……………………Charlotte Page
Mrs Eynsford-Hill……………………Georgie Glen
Clara Eynsford-Hill……………………Maeve Bluebell Wells
Freddy Eynsford-Hill.....……………………Tom Forrister
Nepommuck……………………David Sturzaker
Ambassador……………………John Dougall
Ambassador's wife……………………Sarah Ridgeway
Bystander……………………David Sterne
Written by George Bernard Shaw
Produced and directed by Emma Harding
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 28 May-4 June 2017
The ‘B’ Word
George Bernard Shaw……………………Alistair McGowan
George Alexander……………………David Sturzaker
Mrs Patrick Campbell.....……………………Charlotte Page
Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree……………………Richard McCabe
Charlotte Shaw……………………Georgie Glen
Merivale……………………Philip Fox
Gurney/Fishman……………………Simon Ludders
Bell……………………Charlie Clements
Maid……………………Sarah Ridgeway
Written by Alistair McGowan
Produced and directed by Emma Harding
Production Coordinator: Jenny Mendez
Studio Managers: Alison Craig, Caleb Knightley and Thomas Glasser
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 May 2017
Duration: 2 hours 45 mins approx.
Audible Audio
Published August 2, 2018
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About the author
Alistair McGowan
40 booksAlistair McGowan is probably best known to British audiences for The Big Impression which was, for four years, one of BBC1’s top-rating comedy programmes – winning numerous awards, including a BAFTA - and for his recent much-admired ITV1 sports-comedy 'You Cannot Be Serious' ('An excellent one-man show!' Clive James, Daily Telegrpah).
After graduating from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1989, Alistair began working as a stand-up comic and was soon a regular at London’s Comedy Store and appeared at The Edinburgh Festival and on the 1996 Royal Variety Show. 2009 saw him return to stand-up and embark on his first solo National tour – ‘The One and Many…’ and his ‘comeback’ was complete when he appeared on Live At the Appollo. In 2011, he also appeared on Jason Manford's Comedy Rocks, twice on A Question of Sport and on The Comedy Annual on ITV1. In 2012, he has been a guest on Room 101.
From 1992-1996, he provided the voices for many of the characters on Spitting Image.
After graduating from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1989, Alistair began working as a stand-up comic and was soon a regular at London’s Comedy Store and appeared at The Edinburgh Festival and on the 1996 Royal Variety Show. 2009 saw him return to stand-up and embark on his first solo National tour – ‘The One and Many…’ and his ‘comeback’ was complete when he appeared on Live At the Appollo. In 2011, he also appeared on Jason Manford's Comedy Rocks, twice on A Question of Sport and on The Comedy Annual on ITV1. In 2012, he has been a guest on Room 101.
From 1992-1996, he provided the voices for many of the characters on Spitting Image.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 3, 2021
4.5 stars. Loved this radio drama version of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion. Witty, funny and all the actors do a really good job at portraying their characters. However the reason that this is not the full 5 stars because of the silly extra little play that was so extraneous and so not needed and I would have just been happy with Pygmalion. Also this is my first reading/listening of this play but have watched My Fair Lady that is the musical version of this play with extra content so wasn't quite expecting the abrupt ending but it kind of worked quite well. Also Higgins and Pickering are prats!
Displaying 1 of 1 review