The Man Born To Be King

Dorothy L. Sayers' classic play cycle based on the life and times of Jesus Dorothy L. Sayers was best known for her mystery novels featuring aristocratic amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey. But she was also a poet, playwright and committed Christian, and in The Man Born to Be King she combined art and evangelism to powerful effect, making the story of Christ accessible, relevant and every bit as thrilling as her detective fiction. Written specially for the BBC Radio, the play cycle caused huge controversy for its depiction of Christ as a character, and its use of contemporary speech instead of Biblical language. However it proved extremely popular with listeners, who wrote in to thank Sayers for making Jesus real to them and reigniting their interest in his remarkable story. Based on the four Gospels, it includes one story of the Nativity, six plays about Jesus' life and ministry, and five Passion Plays telling of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, Jesus' arrest and trial before Pontius Pilate, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. Backed up with a sweeping musical score, these immersive dramas surprise and shock us anew and provide fresh, illuminating insight into 'the greatest story ever told'. The plays included are Kings in Judea, The King's Herald, A Certain Nobleman, The Heirs to the Kingdom, The Bread of Heaven, The Feast of Tabernacles, The Light and The Life, Royal Progress, The King's Supper, The Princes of This World, King of Sorrows and The King Comes to His Own. Cast and credits Written by Dorothy L Sayers Adapted by/Producer: Raymond Raikes The Evangelist (John Bar-Zebedee): Gabriel Woolf Jesus: John Westbrook Joseph/ Jacob Ben-Issachar: Norman Shelley Simon Bar-Jonah (Simon Peter): Stephen Jack Judas Iscariot: Alan Wheatley Matthew: Nigel Stock Herod The Great: Robert Eddison Nicodemus: John Wyse Ephraim: Denys Blakelock Shadrach: Malcolm Hayes Rabbit Solomon: John Gabriel Phoebe: Caroline Monkhouse Flavius: Trader Faulkner Calpurnia: Penelope Lee Mary Virgin: June Tobin Mary Magdalen: Mary Wimbush Martha: Marjorie Westbury Lazarus: Richard Hurndall Benjamin Ben-Hadad: Ralph Truman Joseph, kinsman to Jesus: Haydn Jones Simeon, kinsman to Jesus: Wilfrid Carter Baruch the Zealot: Francis de Wolff Baruch's Wife: Vivienne Chatterton Gestas: John Laurie Dysmas: Russell Napier Simon of Cyrene: Rodney Dias Proclus, a Roman Centurion: Trevor Martin Roman soldier: Bruce Beeby Roman soldier: Harvey Hall Joseph of Arimathea: Howieson Culff Calaphas, High Priest of Israel: Heron Carvic Salome, mother to James and John: Henzie Raeburn Mary Cleophas: Molly Rankin Balthazar, King of Ethiopia: Paul Danqdah Melchior/ A Zealot: Michael Kilgarriff Casper: James Dale Philip: Rolf Lefebvre Thomas Didymus/ Father: Philip Leaver Mother: Wynne Clark Miriam, child: Elizabeth Proud Isaac, child/a slave boy: Daniel Rose Hannah: Hester Paton-Brown James Bar-Zebedee: John Glen Andrew Bar-Jonah: John Boxer Hezekiah, secretary/ Roman Soldier: John Baker Annas, father-in-law to Caiaphas: Edward Atienza Pontius Pilate, Governor of Judaea: Alec Clunes Claudia Procula: Mary Law Captain Elihu: Keith Alexander Eunice, a Syro-Phoenician: Elizabeth Morgan Cleophas: Harry Hutchinson Portress at the High Priest's House: Miriam Margolyes Zillah, her daughter: Jo Manning-Wilson Issacher, servant: Hugh Dickson Susannah, mother to the Bride groom: Betty Baskcomb Rebecca, friend to Susannah: Gladys Spencer/ Janet Burnell Other cast: Ian Frost, Janette Richer, Nan Marriott-Watson, Janette Richer, Peter Marinker, Raf de la Torre, James Thomason, John Forrest, Michael Goldie First broadcast BBC Home Service 19th, 26th Jan, 2nd, 9th , 16th, 23rd Feb, 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 28th, 30th March 1975 ©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd