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1. Overtures and Beginners

Episode 1 of 3

Richard Herncastle leaves his dead-end job to join his uncle's music hall act. Stars Tom Baker and Freddie 'Parrot Face' Davies.

1913: Richard Herncastle leaves his dead-end job to join his Uncle Nick's act in the vulgar world of music halls to experience the glamour, jealousies and romances backstage...

Published in 1965, JB Priestley's classic stars Tom Baker as Nick Ollanton.

Dramatised in three parts by Bert Coules.

Nick Ollanton ...... Tom Baker
Harry Burrard ...... Freddie 'Parrot Face' Davies
Old Richard ...... Bryan Pringle
Young Richard ...... Richard Hollick
Tommy Beamish ...... Steven Frost
Julie Blane ...... Brigit Forsyth
Cissie Mapes ...... Deborah McAndrew
Nancy ...... Kathryn Hunt
Jenning ...... Russell Dixon
Johnson ...... John Lloyd Fillingham
Barney ...... Mike Edmunds

Music: Chris Monks

Producer: Kate Rowland

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 1994.

1 hour

Last on

Tue 19 May 202003:00
BBC Radio 4 Extra

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