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Series · 1936–1936Ended

Theatre Parade

1 season·17 episodes·25 min avg.

Theatre Parade was a British television programme, one of the world's very first regular series, broadcast by the BBC Television Service from its inception during 1936 until 1938. The programme presented excerpts from popular London theatre productions of the time performed by the theatre cast from the BBC's studios at Alexandra Palace. Among the notable productions included in the strand were the first ever television presentations of Lewis Carroll's famous works Alice Through the Looking-Glass and Alice in Wonderland. The very first television adaptation of an Agatha Christie story was a production in this strand with two transmissions of Wasp's Nest on 18 June 1937. As with all television programmes of the time, the shows were performed live, and no visual record other than still photographs exists now.

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01
Marigold
MarigoldUp next
Nov 30, 1936

A Scottish comedy by L. Allen Harker and F. R. Pryor. Scenes from The Royalty Theatre Production.

02
Murder in the Cathedral
Murder in the Cathedral
Dec 7, 1936

This play was produced by E. Martin Browne - in this afternoon's production he is playing the part of the Fourth Tempter and Knight - at the Canterbury Festival in 1935. It was first performed in the Chapter House at Canterbury. The play deals with the last month of Becket's life. The dialogue is written almost entirely in rhyming verse and the chorus - more than anything else, the play is Greek in form - is in free verse.

03
Treasure Island
Treasure Island
Jan 4, 1937

Young Jim Hawkins is torn between his loyalty to his benefactors and his affection for lovable rogue Long John Silver in their struggle to recover a buried pirate treasure.

04
Anthony and Anna
Anthony and Anna
Jan 5, 1937
05
Alice Through the Looking Glass
Alice Through the Looking Glass
Jan 22, 1937
06
Whiteoaks
Whiteoaks
Jan 25, 1937

A young woman feels country life is robbing her of true happiness.

07
Heart's Content
Heart's Content
Mar 5, 1937
08
Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre
Mar 8, 1937

After a harsh childhood, orphan Jane Eyre is hired by Edward Rochester, the brooding lord of a mysterious manor house, to care for his young daughter.

09
The Rising of the Moon
The Rising of the Moon
Mar 15, 1937
10
Anna Christie
Anna Christie
May 7, 1937

A waterfront hooker and a rough-hewn Irish sailor fall in love.

11
Swing Along
Swing Along
May 14, 1937
12
Twelfth Night
Twelfth Night
May 14, 1937
13
Hassan: Part 1
Hassan: Part 1
Jun 8, 1937
14
Hassan: Part 2
Hassan: Part 2
Jun 14, 1937
15
The Wasp's Nest
The Wasp's Nest
Jun 18, 1937
16
Measure for Measure
Measure for Measure
Oct 25, 1937

When the Duke of Vienna takes a mysterious leave of absence and leaves the strict Angelo in charge, things couldn't be worse for Claudio, who is sentenced to death for premarital sex. His sister, Isabella (a nun-in-training), however, is a very persuasive pleader. She goes to Angelo, but instead of freeing her brother, she gets an offer from Angelo to save Claudio's life if Isabella sleeps with him. The only sympathetic friend Isabella has is a priest who, in actuality, is the Duke in disguise...and he has a plan.

17
Thank You Mr. Pepys
Thank You Mr. Pepys
Jan 6, 1938

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