The Man Born To Be King

Synopsis

Dorothy L. Sayers' classic play cycle based on the life and times of Jesus Dorothy L. Sayers was best known for her mystery novels featuring aristocratic amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey. But she was also a poet, playwright and committed Christian, and in The Man Born to Be King she combined art and evangelism to powerful effect, making the story of Christ accessible, relevant and every bit as thrilling as her detective fiction. Written specially for the BBC Radio, the play cycle caused huge controversy for its depiction of Christ as a character, and its use of contemporary speech instead of Biblical language. However it proved extremely popular with listeners, who wrote in to thank Sayers for making Jesus real to them and reigniting their interest in his remarkable story. Based on the four Gospels, it includes one story of the Nativity, six plays about Jesus' life and ministry, and five Passion Plays telling of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, Jesus' arrest and trial before Pontius Pilate, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. Backed up with a sweeping musical score, these immersive dramas surprise and shock us anew and provide fresh, illuminating insight into 'the greatest story ever told'. The plays included are Kings in Judea, The King's Herald, A Certain Nobleman, The Heirs to the Kingdom, The Bread of Heaven, The Feast of Tabernacles, The Light and The Life, Royal Progress, The King's Supper, The Princes of This World, King of Sorrows and The King Comes to His Own. Cast and credits Written by Dorothy L Sayers Adapted by/Producer: Raymond Raikes The Evangelist (John Bar-Zebedee): Gabriel WoolfJesus: John WestbrookJoseph/ Jacob Ben-Issachar: Norman Shelley Simon Bar-Jonah (Simon Peter): Stephen JackJudas Iscariot: Alan WheatleyMatthew: Nigel StockHerod The Great: Robert Eddison Nicodemus: John WyseEphraim: Denys Blakelock Shadrach: Malcolm HayesRabbit Solomon: John Gabriel Phoebe: Caroline MonkhouseFlavius: Trader FaulknerCalpurnia: Penelope LeeMary Virgin: June TobinMary Magdalen: Mary WimbushMartha: Marjorie Westbury Lazarus: Richard HurndallBenjamin Ben-Hadad: Ralph TrumanJoseph, kinsman to Jesus: Haydn Jones Simeon, kinsman to Jesus: Wilfrid CarterBaruch the Zealot: Francis de WolffBaruch's Wife: Vivienne ChattertonGestas: John LaurieDysmas: Russell NapierSimon of Cyrene: Rodney DiasProclus, a Roman Centurion: Trevor MartinRoman soldier: Bruce BeebyRoman soldier: Harvey HallJoseph of Arimathea: Howieson CulffCalaphas, High Priest of Israel: Heron CarvicSalome, mother to James and John: Henzie RaeburnMary Cleophas: Molly RankinBalthazar, King of Ethiopia: Paul DanqdahMelchior/ A Zealot: Michael KilgarriffCasper: James DalePhilip: Rolf LefebvreThomas Didymus/ Father: Philip LeaverMother: Wynne ClarkMiriam, child: Elizabeth Proud Isaac, child/a slave boy: Daniel Rose Hannah: Hester Paton-BrownJames Bar-Zebedee: John GlenAndrew Bar-Jonah: John BoxerHezekiah, secretary/ Roman Soldier: John BakerAnnas, father-in-law to Caiaphas: Edward AtienzaPontius Pilate, Governor of Judaea: Alec ClunesClaudia Procula: Mary LawCaptain Elihu: Keith AlexanderEunice, a Syro-Phoenician: Elizabeth MorganCleophas: Harry HutchinsonPortress at the High Priest's House: Miriam Margolyes Zillah, her daughter: Jo Manning-Wilson Issacher, servant: Hugh Dickson Susannah, mother to the Bride groom: Betty BaskcombRebecca, friend to Susannah: Gladys Spencer/ Janet BurnellOther cast: Ian Frost, Janette Richer, Nan Marriott-Watson, Janette Richer, Peter Marinker, Raf de la Torre, James Thomason, John Forrest, Michael Goldie First broadcast BBC Home Service 19th, 26th Jan, 2nd, 9th , 16th, 23rd Feb, 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 28th, 30th March 1975 ©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd