Racine’s Tragedies: A BBC Radio Drama Collection

Four neo-classical tragedies from the renowned French dramatist, with star-studded casts including Timothy West, Prunella Scales and Geraldine McEwan

Jean-Baptiste Racine stands with Molière and Corneille as one of the three premier dramatists of 17th-century France. A foundational figure in both Western and world literature, he is chiefly known for his tragic masterpieces. Mingling Ancient Greek myth with French classical flair, the four works in this collection are among his finest.

Phaedra – First performed in 1677 and based on Euripides’ Hippolytus, this gripping drama tells the tale of the eponymous queen, married to Theseus, who is consumed by an obsessive passion for her stepson Hippolytus. When her illicit love is revealed, the consequences are catastrophic. Barbara Jefford, Christopher Guinee and Paul Daneman star alongside Prunella Scales and Timothy West in Racine’s tragic tale of desire, madness, guilt and remorse.

Andromache – Set in the aftermath of the Trojan War, this fatalistic tale revolves around unrequited love. Pyrrhus, Achilles’ son, is in love with Andromache, whom he has brought as a captive to his court in Epirus. But Pyrrhus is betrothed to Hermione, who adores him, while she is likewise idolised by Orestes, who has been sent by the Greeks to demand the killing of Andromache’s son, Astyanax. The devastating force of their emotional conflict leads to murder, suicide and madness… Starring Suzanne Bertish, Sarah Collier, Alec Heggie and David Rintoul.

Mithridates – Nymphaeum, 70 BC. When King Mithridates returns unexpectedly after being reported dead in battle, he finds his two sons, Pharnaces and Xiphares, vying for his throne and the heart of his betrothed Queen, Monima. Suspecting treachery, he devises a trap to test their loyalties – only to find his worst fears confirmed… Geraldine McEwan, Marius Goring, Clifford Norgate and Martin Jarvis star in this masterful portrait of forbidden passion, sibling rivalry and betrayal.

Berenice – Famously described by Racine himself as possessing a ‘majestic sadness’, this heartbreaking drama focuses on a love triangle between Titus, the Roman Emperor, Berenice, Queen of Palestine and Antiochus, King of Commagene. Titus longs to marry Berenice, but knows the people of Rome would never accept a foreign consort. Antiochus, meanwhile, hopes against hope that Berenice will one day return his devotion. Torn between duty and happiness, all three must decide whether to follow their hearts, or accept their fates. Starring Peter Egan, Rachel Gurney and John Rye.

Phaedra
Phaedra – Barbara Jefford
Hippolytus – Christopher Guinee
Theseus – Paul Daneman
Oenone – Sheila Allen
Aricia – Prunella Scales
Theramenes – Timothy West
Panope – Madi Hedd
Ismène – Alexa Romanis

Andromache
Andromache – Suzanne Bertish
Hermione – Sarah Collier
Orestes – Alec Heggie
Pyrrhus – David Rintoul
Pylades – Paul Young
Cleone – Beth Robens
Cephisa – Diana Olsson
Phoenix – James Cairncross

Mithridates
Mithridates, King of Pontus – Marius Goring
Monima. affianced to Mithridates and already proclaimed Queen – Geraldine McEwan
Arbates Governor of Nymphaeum fort – William Fox
Phaedima– Joan Haythorne
Arcas– John Forrest
Sons of Mithridates
Pharnaces – Clifford Norgate
Xiphares – Martin Jarvis

Berenice
Antiochus, King of Commagene – John Rye
Arsaces - Michael Kilgarriff
Berenice, Queen of Palestine – Rachel Gurney
Phoenissa, confidante of Berenice – Margaret Wolfit
Titus, Emperor of Rome – Peter Egan
Paulinus, confidant of Titus – William Eedle
Rutilus, a Roman – Nigel Lambert

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