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British New Wave

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Celebrating the fiction that became iconic films of the Sixties

British New Wave celebrates the fiction that became iconic films of the Sixties and the figures who became icons themselves

BBC Radio 4 FM

James Purefoy

Emily Watson

John Thomson

Sheridan Smith

Philip Jackson

Julia Davis

Peter Temple

Sophie Wright

Gwyneth Powell

Wayne Forester

Ray French

Johnny Vegas

Sally Harrison

Andrew Lynch

David Storey

British New Wave: This Sporting Life

Drama

This Sporting Life

31/08/2013

BBC Radio 4 - British New Wave, This Sporting Life

Johnny Vegas directs a feature-length version of David Storey's 1960s northern drama.

David Storey's repressed northern drama juxtaposes the trapped wants and needs of protagonist Arthur Machin with the stark aggression of the rugby pitch. Directed by Johnny Vegas.

As part of Radio 4's celebration of British New Wave film and cinema, Johnny Vegas directs a feature-length radio reversioning of This Sporting Life - marking the 50th anniversary of the classic Lindsay Anderson film which starred the young Richard Harris.

This new version is adapted by Andrew Lynch, directly from David Storey's novel. A surprisingly beautiful, yet repressed, northern drama, it contrasts the deep wants and needs of protagonist Arthur Machin with the stark aggression of the rugby pitch.

The sounds are rich - the rugby scrum, the atmosphere of the match, the changing rooms, the dancehall, struggles in the bedroom, arguments by the kitchen hearth. 

James Purefoy plays Arthur Machin and Emily Watson is Mrs Hammond, accompanied on the touchline by an ensemble cast including John Thomson, Julia Davis, Sheridan Smith and Philip Jackson.

Commentary for the Rugby League game-play is provided by commentator Ray French, who witnessed some of the filming of the 1963 film with Richard Harris.

Dramatised from David Storey's original novel by Andrew Lynch

Producer: Sally Harrison
Director: Johnny Vegas

A Woolyback production for BBC Radio 4.

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