On This Day, September 3: BBC Saturday Night Theatre Showcase
This report documents the historical provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, and pure narrative synopses for broadcasts transmitting on…
September 3 Update
This report documents the historical provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, and pure narrative synopses for broadcasts transmitting on September 3 across five decades of BBC flagship audio drama on Saturday Night Theatre (spanning the BBC Home Service and BBC Radio 4), featuring major literary adaptations and original radio plays by Compton Mackenzie, Constance Cox, Peter Terson, Michael Davies, Ken Blakeson, and John Arden (1960–1994):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Carnival by Compton Mackenzie with BBC Home Service" | BBC Home Service 1960-09-03 8:30 PM BST |
Sustaining British Radio Drama |
BBC Drama Repertory | Compton Mackenzie | ["Drama", "Anthology", "Saturday Night Theatre", "BBC Home Service", "Compton Mackenzie"] |
A gifted London ballet dancer marries a stern Cornish farmer, leading to isolation and tragic romantic jealousy on an isolated coastal cliff. |
| "Storm Lantern by Constance Cox with BBC Home Service" | BBC Home Service 1966-09-03 8:30 PM BST |
Sustaining British Radio Drama |
BBC Drama Repertory | Constance Cox (Author) | ["Drama", "Anthology", "Saturday Night Theatre", "BBC Home Service", "Constance Cox"] |
A nineteenth-century lighthouse keeper and his estranged daughter confront long-buried family secrets as a violent hurricane batters the coastline. |
| "An Ordinary Bloke by Peter Terson with BBC Radio 4" | BBC Radio 4 1977-09-03 8:30 PM BST |
Sustaining British Audio Drama |
BBC Drama Repertory | Peter Terson (Author) | ["Drama", "Anthology", "Saturday Night Theatre", "BBC Radio 4", "Peter Terson"] |
A mild-mannered Midlands factory worker struggles to maintain his sanity and self-respect after unexpectedly winning a massive football pools jackpot. |
| "The Volunteer by Michael Davies with BBC Radio 4" | BBC Radio 4 1983-09-03 8:30 PM BST |
Sustaining British Audio Drama |
BBC Drama Repertory | Michael Davies (Author) | ["Drama", "Anthology", "Saturday Night Theatre", "BBC Radio 4", "Michael Davies"] |
An idealistic community worker volunteering at a remote rehabilitation facility becomes entangled in a dangerous criminal escape plot. |
| "Just a Gypsy by Ken Blakeson with BBC Radio 4" | BBC Radio 4 1988-09-03 7:45 PM BST |
Sustaining British Audio Drama |
BBC Drama Repertory | Ken Blakeson (Author) | ["Drama", "Anthology", "Saturday Night Theatre", "BBC Radio 4", "Ken Blakeson"] |
A Romani horse trader battles bureaucratic eviction notices and racial prejudice from hostile rural town council officials. |
| "The Road to Lisdoonvarna with BBC Radio 4" | BBC Radio 4 1994-09-03 7:50 PM BST |
Sustaining British Audio Drama |
BBC Drama Repertory | John Arden & D'Arcy | ["Drama", "Anthology", "Saturday Night Theatre", "BBC Radio 4", "John Arden"] |
An eclectic group of travelers journeying through western Ireland towards the Lisdoonvarna matchmaking festival confront historical political ghosts. |