Major Barbara

Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

BBC Radio 4 Extra

BBC Radio 4 FM

Eleanor Tomlinson

Jack Farthing

Rebecca Front

Matthew Marsh

Joel MacCormack

Scarlett Brookes

Kieran Hodgson

Brian Protheroe

Susan Jameson

Nicola Ferguson

Ewan Bailey

Sargon Yelda

Adie Allen

Sean Baker

Tracey Neale

George Bernard Shaw

George Bernard Shaw - Major Barbara: 1. The Mission

1. The Mission

George Bernard Shaw - Major Barbara

BBC Radio 4 - George Bernard Shaw - Major Barbara, 1. The Mission

Eleanor Tomlinson and Rebecca Front star in this George Bernard Shaw classic.

A tale of rich privilege and a battle of wills as Barbara vows to save East End souls in a shelter. Stars Eleanor Tomlinson.

Barbara's mission is to save East End souls in the West Ham Salvation shelter.  

A tale of rich privilege and a battle of wills.  All wrapped up in a romance, the return of a long lost father and a little matter of finding a foundling to carry on the Undershaft arms and gunpowder empire. 

Starring Eleanor Tomlinson and Rebecca Front. 

Written in 1905, George Bernard Shaw’s classic is funny, enjoyable and crafty in dividing opinion and it leaves you pondering whether anything has changed over the years.  

At its heart - a simple and intriguing conflict:  the struggle between arms manufacturer Andrew Undershaft and his Salvationist daughter Barbara.  Can a father win his daughter's heart and mind? 

All the best things about Shaw are here - the humour, the teasing paradoxical thinking and the sense of life being both absurd and deadly serious.  How should people be ruled and how should they be helped?  And who is really pulling the strings in the struggle for power - politicians or money?  

Barbara ...... Eleanor Tomlinson
Adolphus (Dolly) ...... Jack Farthing
Lady Britomart ...... Rebecca Front
Andrew Undershaft ...... Matthew Marsh
Stephen ...... Joel MacCormack
Sarah ...... Scarlett Brookes
Charles (Cholly) ...... Kieran Hodgson
Morrison ...... Brian Protheroe
Mrs Baines ...... Susan Jameson
Jenny Hill ...... Nicola Ferguson
Bill Walker ...... Ewan Bailey
Snobby Price ...... Sargon Yelda
Rummy Mitchens ...... Adie Allen
Peter Shirley ...... Sean Baker

Concertina played by Colin Guthrie and Cornet by Peter Ringrose, 

Director:  Tracey Neale

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2016.

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Drama

George Bernard Shaw's classic tale of privilege and a battle of wills

George Bernard Shaw's tale of privilege and a battle of wills. Can a rich arms manufacturer win the heart and mind of his Salvationist daughter?

Accessibility links

Programme Index

George Bernard Shaw - Major Barbara

1. The Mission

Contributors

Genres

Series

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4