Original version

BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

BBC Radio 3

Radio 3

Drama on 3

Drama

Series of drama performances, ranging from experimental works to the Classics

Drama on 3: Curated by Mark Ravenhill

Dion Boucicault

Mark Ravenhill

Barbara Barnes

Geoffrey Burton

Steven Hartley

Toby Jones

Earl Kim

Claire Lams

John MacMillan

Amaka Okafor

Paul Stonehouse

David Webber

Trevor White

Colin Sell

Sasha Yevtushenko

Jeremy Mortimer

Drama on 3: Curated by Mark Ravenhill: Episode 2: The Octoroon

The Octoroon

Episode 2

Episode 2: The Octoroon

Curated by Mark Ravenhill

BBC Radio 3 - Drama on 3, Curated by Mark Ravenhill, The OctoroonClose menu

Dion Boucicault's classic melodrama about Abolition and the role of theatre in politics.

Set on a Louisiana plantation in the 1850s, Dion Boucicault's classic melodrama exploring Abolition and the role of theatre in politics.

By Dion Boucicault
Adapted by Mark Ravenhill

The Octoroon, Dion Boucicault's 1859 melodrama, sparked debates about the abolition of slavery and the role of theatre in politics. This production was recorded in front of an audience at Theatre Royal Stratford East, the venue that saw an earlier production of the same play in 1885.

The story centres around the inhabitants of the Louisiana plantation of Terrebonne. Zoe, the "octoroon" of the title, is the daughter of its owner Judge Peyton by one of his slaves, but she has been raised as part of the family. When the Judge dies, the plantation falls into financial ruin and the Judge's handsome nephew George arrives as heir apparent. George and Zoe soon find themselves in love, but their future happiness is thrown into jeopardy by the plantation's evil overseer Jacob McLosky who has dastardly designs on both the property and Zoe. McLosky will stop at nothing - not even murder.

Dion Boucicault's play contains all the elements of great melodrama - doomed love, murder, corruption, and live musical accompaniment throughout.

Music composed and performed by Colin Sell

Director: Sasha Yevtushenko
Production Co-ordinator: Lesley Allan
Studio Managers: Colin Guthrie, Alison Craig, Steve Oak

First broadcast in May 2013.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Writer and director Mark Ravenhill curates a season of classic plays for Drama on 3

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Drama on 3

Curated by Mark Ravenhill

Episode 2: The Octoroon

Contributors

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC Radio 3

About BBC Radio 3