Celebrating Stoppard: In the Native State

Tom Stoppard's In the Native State is part of Radio 4's Celebrating Stoppard collection.

It's 1930, and a young English poet with a scandalous reputation is sitting for a portrait while in India for her health. Sixty years later, the portrait resurfaces, and with it come difficult questions about Indian history and the story behind the painting itself.

Later reworked as Stoppard's stage play Indian Ink, this is the original 1991 production. Winner of a Giles Cooper Award, with a Sony Award for Best Performance for Felicity Kendal. And Dame Peggy Ashcroft, in her final performance.

Mrs Swan ….. Peggy Ashcroft
Flora Crewe ….. Felicity Kendal
Nirad Das ….. Sam Dastor
Anish Das ….. Lyndam Gregory
Rajah ….. Saeed Jaffrey
David Durance ….. Simon Treves
Mr Pike ….. William Hootkins
Coomaraswami ..... Renu Setna
The Resident ….. Brett Usher
Nazrul ….. Amerjit Deu
Francis Swan ….. Mark Straker
Nell ….. Emma Gregory
Englishwoman/Reader ….. Auriol Smith

Written by Tom Stoppard
Directed by John Tydeman

Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on 21st April 1991