The King Must Die

Synopsis

An epic eleven-part adaptation of Mary Renault’s ‘Theseus’ novelsWidely considered as one of the finest historical novelists of the 20th century, Mary Renault brought the ancient world alive, turning age-old myths of gods and monsters into compelling human stories. In The King Must Die and its sequel, The Bull from the Sea, she retells the legend of Theseus, one of the greatest heroes of Ancient Greece.This enthralling radio adaptation comprises both classic books, charting Theseus’ journey as he leaves the city of his birth and travels through mainland Greece in a quest to discover his true identity and destiny. Brought up in Trolzen, where his grandfather is king, he believes he was fathered by the god Poseidon. But on his 17th birthday, the secret of his parentage is revealed, and his adventures begin.Crowned year-king of Eleusis, he escapes certain death and voyages to Athens to meet his father, King Aegeus, and claim his heritage. Instead, he becomes a slave and bull-dancer in Minoan Crete – and finds himself facing the malignant Minotaurus in the Labyrinth deep beneath the Palace of Knossos. Returning to Greece, Theseus becomes High King of Attica, but the Fates are not done with him yet. Ahead of him lie dangerous escapades, life-changing encounters, a treacherous betrayal and the fulfilment of a tragic prophecy...Gary Bond stars as Theseus, with an ensemble cast including Carole Boyd, Frances Jeater, Petra Markham, David March, Clifford Rose, Maureen O’Brien and Sarah Badel.Text copyright © Mary Renault 1958 (The King Must Die), 1962 (The Bull from the Sea)Production creditsWritten by Mary RenaultDramatised by Michael BakewellDirected by David SpenserMusic by Christos PittasCastTheseus – Gary BondPittheus – John WestbrookAithra/Old priestess – Carole BoydTheseus (as a boy) – Ian BuraPeiros I/Man/Telemon – John WebbQueen of Eleusis – Frances JeaterBias/Baron – Steve HodsonKannadls – Nigel GrahamAegeus/Pholilos – Eric AllanPriestess/Woman/Medea – Jean TrendSimo – Stewart WrightAmyntor – Alex JenningsPallans/Kentaur – Spencer BanksKerkyon – David PeartHypsenor/Page – Richard BatesXanthos – John LiveseyPylas – Philip SullyPriestess/Nephele – Fiona WalkerAntiklaea/Chryse/Girl – Pauline SiddleMenesthes – Stuart OrganSkopas/Sirios – David BanksLukos – David GoodersonAriadne – Petra MarkhamAsterion – David MarchPhormion – John BullHippon/Messenger/Page – Richard HuwMelantho – Jane KnowlesAktor – William EedleThebe/Macaria – Sarah FinchHelike – Jill LidstoneRhene/Girl – Pip MayoPylia/Naxian girl/Molpadia/Girl – Moir LeslieThe Corinthian/Pyilenor – Clive PantoThalestris – Elizabeth LindsayMinos – Clifford RoseIros/Page/Charioteer – Trevor BrohierPhaedra – Maureen O’BrienPirithoos – James Kerry/Malcolm StoddardHippolyta – Sarah BadelHippolytos – Susan Sheridan/Christopher GuardAkamas – Piers MaximWith Rosalind Adams, Peter Baldwin, Sean Barrett, James Bryce, Adrian Egan, Vanessa Forsyth, Kerry Francis, Madi Hedd, Richard Hum, Michael Jenner, Esmond Knight, Trevor Martin, David Peart, Margaret Robertson, Howard Samuels, Danny Schiller, Hilda Schroder, Michael Spice, David Timson, Stephen Thorne, Michael Tudor Barnes and Jane WenhamFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5 June-14 August 1983© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd