Prospero, Ariel, Reith And Gill - Radio 4 Comedy Drama - British Comedy Guide (original) (raw)
Genre
Broadcast
Channel
Episodes
1
Stars
Tim McInnerny, Anton Lesser, Jon Glover, David Seddon, Stephen Darcy, Tina Gray and Alison Pettitt
Writer
Director
Producer
This comedy drama is a fictional account of artist Eric Gill's clash with the Corporation over his famous sculpture of Prospero and Ariel.
Gill became quite a celebrity as he carved the statue in situ on scaffolding in front of Broadcasting House. In his trademark smock and beret, he drew the attention of the tabloid papers and became known as the Married Monk. This play imagines conversations between the BBC Director General Sir John Reith and the artist as he passes him on his way into Broadcasting House each morning.
Framed with a period newsreel-style commentary, the comedy playfully deals with the perennial tension between the establishment and the artist. The strange and mysterious Gill contrasts with the authoritarian figure of Reith but, in the end, the sculpture focuses their thoughts about the role of art in the life of mankind.
Additional details
Production
Studio
Broadcast details
First broadcast
Wednesday 9th June 2010 at 2:15pm on BBC Radio 4
Episode length
45 minutes
All previous repeats
Friday 25th May 2012 at 2:15pm on Radio 4