Narrator Denis Quilley
Writing in 1848 Charles Dickens declared his support for a National Theatre, but added, 'I wish I could cherish a stronger faith than I have in the probability of its establishment on a national footing within 50 years.'
He was being optimistic. More than 100 years later a National Theatre still did not exist. But, from next Monday, at long last, the ' National ' will be in business. This programme tells the story of the National Theatre idea and of the famous men and women who, since the time of David Garrick , have helped to make it a reality.
With TRADER FAULKNER, MADI HEDD, MARTIN JARVIS , DENIS MCCARTHY. ALLAN MCCLELLAND , DAVID MARCH, and PETER WILLIAMS , and the voices, from the BBC Sound Archives, of LAURENCE OLIVIER , BERNARD SHAW and SYBIL THORNDIKE
Written and produced by ALAN HAYDOCK
(Denis Quilley is a National Theatre player)