Episode 4
Welles is at the centre of a political storm over the planned staging of pro-labour opera The Cradle Will Rock, with its clear left-wing union sympathies. Will the show go on?
Orson Welles, the defining wunderkind of modern entertainment, gets his due in a new biography of his early years - including his first forays in theatre and radio before his groundbreaking move to Hollywood.
Episode 4:
Until Orson, no one wanted to produce Marc Bernstein's pro-labour opera The Cradle Will Rock, with its clear left-wing union sympathies. Enthralled with Bernstein, Orson with his partner John Houseman, commit to a Broadway run. But as the hot subject of unionisation rages across the nation, the Federal Theatre Project is made to take drastic action.
Written by Patrick McGilligan
Read by Jack Klaff
Abridged and produced by Karen Rose
A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4.
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Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Reader | Jack Klaff |
| Author | Patrick McGilligan |
| Abridger | Karen Rose |
| Producer | Karen Rose |
Broadcasts
- Thu 7 Jan 201609:45BBC Radio 4 FM
- Fri 8 Jan 201600:30BBC Radio 4
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