Finding a way

Soon after the BBC was born came the ambition to broadcast Shakespeare plays on 'the wireless'. Theatres refused to allow recording of stage versions so the BBC had to go it alone. The BBC's first Director-General, Lord Reith, thought radio well suited to the task of producing Shakespeare: ‘The plays of Shakespeare fulfil to a great extent the requirements of wireless, for he had little in the way of setting and scenery, and relied chiefly on the vigour of his plot and the conviction of the speakers to convey his ideas. It is not at all unlikely that wireless will render a highly important service in popularising Shakespeare.’Our series looks at how well Reith's ambition was realised. We have brilliant clips from some of the country's best loved actors who have performed Shakespeare on the radio as productions grew more sophisticated, as acting styles changed and as radio's production values allowed the listener to experience Shakespeare's world in the most imaginative way.Presented by Samuel West and Dr Andrea Smith Produced by Susan Marling A Just Radio Production