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1. The Mission

A tale of rich privilege and a battle of wills as Barbara vows to save East End souls in a shelter. Stars Eleanor Tomlinson.

Barbara's mission is to save East End souls in the West Ham Salvation shelter.

A tale of rich privilege and a battle of wills. All wrapped up in a romance, the return of a long lost father and a little matter of finding a foundling to carry on the Undershaftarms and gunpowder empire.

Starring Eleanor Tomlinson and Rebecca Front.

Written in 1905, George Bernard Shaw’s classic is funny, enjoyable and crafty in dividing opinion and it leaves you pondering whether anything has changed over the years.

At its heart - a simple and intriguing conflict: the struggle between arms manufacturer Andrew Undershaft and his Salvationist daughter Barbara. Can a father win his daughter's heart and mind?

All the best things about Shaw are here - the humour, the teasing paradoxical thinking and the sense of life being both absurd and deadly serious. How should people be ruled and how should they be helped? And who is really pulling the strings in the struggle for power - politicians or money?

Barbara ...... Eleanor Tomlinson
Adolphus (Dolly) ...... Jack Farthing
Lady Britomart ...... Rebecca Front
Andrew Undershaft ...... Matthew Marsh
Stephen ...... Joel MacCormack
Sarah ...... Scarlett Brookes
Charles (Cholly) ...... Kieran Hodgson
Morrison ...... Brian Protheroe
Mrs Baines ...... Susan Jameson
Jenny Hill ...... Nicola Ferguson
Bill Walker ...... Ewan Bailey
Snobby Price ...... Sargon Yelda
Rummy Mitchens ...... Adie Allen
Peter Shirley ...... Sean Baker

Concertina played by Colin Guthrie and Cornet by Peter Ringrose,

Director: Tracey Neale

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2016.

1 hour

Last on

Fri 27 Dec 202405:00

Credits

RoleContributor
BarbaraEleanor Tomlinson
Adolphus (Dolly)Jack Farthing
Lady BritomartRebecca Front
Andrew UndershaftMatthew Marsh
StephenJoel MacCormack
SarahScarlett Brookes
Charles (Cholly)Kieran Hodgson
MorrisonBrian Protheroe
Mrs BainesSusan Jameson
Jenny HillNicola Ferguson
Bill WalkerEwan Bailey
Snobby PriceSargon Yelda
Rummy MitchensAdie Allen
Peter ShirleySean Baker
DirectorTracey Neale
ProducerTracey Neale
WriterGeorge Bernard Shaw

Broadcasts

  • Sun 5 Jun 201615:00
  • Sat 11 Jun 201621:00
  • Mon 19 Oct 202010:00
  • Mon 19 Oct 202015:00
  • Tue 20 Oct 202003:00
  • Thu 7 Jul 202210:00
  • Thu 7 Jul 202215:00
  • Fri 8 Jul 202203:00
  • Boxing Day 202415:00
  • Boxing Day 202421:00
  • Fri 27 Dec 202405:00

George Bernard Shaw’s Leading Ladies

George Bernard Shaw’s Leading Ladies

A look back at some of the actors who’ve taken on Shaw’s heroines