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Playing at Power

4 Extra Debut. Matthew Sweet investigates the relationship between Richard Burton and President Tito, which began with a film. From 2023.

Josip Broz Tito - former President of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia - contacted actor Richard Burton in 1971 with an invite to play him in the partisan film, Battle of Sutjeska.

Made in 1973, it tells the story of the greatest engagement of the Yugoslav Partisan War.

The potential for this relationship between actor and politician, both interested in each other’s roles in life, to become fast friends seemed a surety.

Yet, the realities of running a country and being a leading man meant the relationship was doomed from the start.

Through interviews, film archive and extracts from Burton’s diary, Matthew Sweet explores how celebrity and politics, art and power collided on a film set.

With contributions from:

* Professor Chris Williams
* Professor Gethin Matthews
* Slavko Stimaco
* Filmmaker, Mila Turalijic
* Journalist, Jurica Pavicic.

Richard Burton’s Diary extracts are read by Johnny Flynn

Archive from Filmski Centar Sarajevo, BBC Photo Archive, Richard Burton Archives at Swansea University.

Special thanks to Sally Burton.

Producer: Mollie Davidson
Executive Producer: Richard Power

A 7digital production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2023.

28 minutes

Last on

Thu 13 Nov 202500:00
BBC Radio 4 Extra

Broadcasts

  • Sun 23 Jul 202316:30
    BBC Radio 4 FM
  • Sun 30 Jul 202300:15
    BBC Radio 4
  • Wed 12 Nov 202510:00
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Wed 12 Nov 202516:00
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Thu 13 Nov 202500:00
    BBC Radio 4 Extra