On This Day, September 2: Six Decades of BBC Saturday Night Theatre
This report documents the historical provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, and pure narrative synopses for broadcasts transmitting on…
September 2 Update
This report documents the historical provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, and pure narrative synopses for broadcasts transmitting on September 2 across six decades of prestigious full-length radio drama productions on BBC's flagship Saturday Night Theatre series (1950, 1961, 1967, 1972, 1978, 1995), Michael Pertwee, Henry Cecil, Arthur Swinson, Fritz Hochwälder, Lillian de la Torre (Timothy West as Dr. Johnson), and Chinua Achebe (1950–1995):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Night Was Our Friend by Michael Pertwee" | BBC Home 1950-09-02 9:15 PM BST |
Sustaining British Drama |
BBC Repertory Co. | Michael Pertwee (Author) | ["Drama", "British", "Saturday Night Theatre", "BBC Home", "Psychological"] |
A troubled aviator presumed dead returns home to his wife after two years of traumatic isolation with severe memory loss and unmanageable rages. |
| "Daughters-in-Law by Henry Cecil with BBC Home Service" | BBC Home 1961-09-02 8:30 PM BST |
Sustaining British Comedy-Drama |
Richard Hurndall, Tobin | Henry Cecil (Author) | ["Drama", "British", "Saturday Night Theatre", "BBC Home", "Henry Cecil"] |
A prominent High Court judge attempts to navigate intricate domestic conflicts and legal disputes arising from his sons' marriages. |
| "Night of a Widower by Arthur Swinson with BBC Radio 4" | BBC Radio 4 1967-09-02 8:30 PM BST |
Sustaining British Drama |
BBC Radio Drama Co. | Arthur Swinson (Author) | ["Drama", "British", "Saturday Night Theatre", "BBC Radio 4", "Family"] |
A grieving widower struggles with loneliness and family tensions while managing his deceased wife's secluded country estate. |
| "The Strong Are Lonely by Fritz Hochwälder" | BBC Radio 4 1972-09-02 8:30 PM BST |
Sustaining Historical Drama |
Paul Daneman, Jarvis | Fritz Hochwälder & Le Gallienne | ["Drama", "British", "Saturday Night Theatre", "BBC Radio 4", "History"] |
Eighteenth-century Jesuit missionaries in Paraguay confront painful conflicts between religious devotion and imperial political mandates. |
| "Dr. Johnson Investigates with Timothy West and Julian Curry" | BBC Radio 4 1978-09-02 8:30 PM BST |
Sustaining Historical Mystery |
Timothy West (Johnson) | Julian Curry (Boswell) | ["Mystery", "British", "Saturday Night Theatre", "BBC Radio 4", "Dr Johnson"] |
Eighteenth-century lexicographer Dr. Samuel Johnson and James Boswell apply deductive reasoning to solve a perplexing London society jewel theft. |
| "Anthills of the Savannah by Chinua Achebe with BBC Radio 4" | BBC Radio 4 1995-09-02 7:50 PM BST |
Sustaining African Literary Drama |
BBC Repertory Cast | Chinua Achebe (Author) | ["Drama", "British", "Saturday Night Theatre", "BBC Radio 4", "Chinua Achebe"] |
Three childhood friends navigating political leadership and dissent confront totalitarian corruption within the fictional West African nation of Kangan. |