Joyce Grenfell Requests The Pleasure

Joyce Grenfell was known and loved all over the world for her monologues, songs and comic writing. Her career, which spanned more than thirty years, saw her work in many different areas, from wartime entertainment tours to performances on radio, stage and screen. All were graced with Joyce's usual charm, humour and talent. As well as appearing in countless revues and films she toured the world with her one-woman shows, going to the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.   As she tells the story of her long and varied career, Joyce sketches some wonderful comic descriptions of the many people encountered along the way. Her glamorous and madcap American mother, her Aunt Nancy Astor and her beloved husband Reggie are just a few of the larger-than-life characters who people this captivating reading.

Comedienne and raconteur Joyce Grenfell reads the story of her full and fascinating life.

Joyce Grenfell, OBE, was an actress and comedienne, well known for her comic writing, songs and monologues. She died in 1979.

Hats Off

Hats Off is the delightful reading by Maureen Lipman of a selection of poems by Joyce Grenfell. Known and loved for her inimitable songs and monologues, Joyce Grenfell's first earnings came from her poetry, which she wrote throughout her life. These poems are full of the wit and observation that are the hallmarks of the monologues that made her name. They are perceptive, witty, and amusing and a great reminder of a very talented lady. This collection also features an introduction by Janie Hampton, a close friend of Grenfell's and author of numerous books. 
©2006 BBC Audiobooks LTD (P)2006 BBC Audiobooks LTD

A BBC Collection with material performed by Maureen Lipman

Joyce Grenfell Remembered: The Pursuit of Joy

Joyce Grenfell in her own words and through the eyes of Maureen Lipman 
 
Joyce Grenfell was one of the last century&rsquo;s greatest entertainers, renowned worldwide for her monologues, songs, and comic writing. Her career spanned over 30 years, ranging from wartime tours to solo stage shows, films such as the St Trinian&rsquo;s series, appearances on BBC TV and numerous radio broadcasts. Contained here are five sparkling productions of her work, performed by acting legend Maureen Lipman &ndash; who is celebrated for portraying Joyce in the 1991 TV film Re-Joyce &ndash; alongside a delightful reading by Joyce Grenfell herself of her autobiography. 
 
Hats Off &ndash; Before she became a star, Joyce Grenfell was a poet, and she continued to write verse all her life. Hats Off features over 40 of her witty, perceptive poems, read by Maureen Lipman and with an introduction by Grenfell&rsquo;s close friend and biographer Janie Hampton. 
 
Choice Grenfell &ndash; In this poignantly funny retrospective, Maureen Lipman perfectly recreates the much-loved material of the late, great comedian. Featuring monologues, sketches, songs and letters, it showcases Joyce Grenfell at her finest and funniest. 
 
Dear Joyce&hellip;. Dear Ginnie &ndash; Joyce Grenfell and fellow poet Virginia Graham were best friends for 62 years, and wrote to each other frequently. Maureen Lipman and Janie Hampton read a selection of their affectionate correspondence from 1929 to 1979, providing fascinating insight into both their lives. 
 
Two Light Up the Third &ndash; A fictionalised dramatisation of how one of the inaugural programmes to be broadcast by the Third Programme, How to Listen, made it onto the airwaves, written by Russell Davies and starring Maureen Lipman as Joyce Grenfell. This is accompanied by the fascinating original airing of How to Listen with Joyce Grenfell and Stephen Potter. 
 
Joyce Grenfell Requests the Pleasure &ndash; Telling her life story with verve and brio, Joyce Grenfell recounts the highs and lows of her varied career, sketching wonderful comic descriptions of the many people she encountered along the way. Her glamorous, madcap American mother, her aunt Nancy Astor and her beloved husband Reggie are just some of the larger-than-life characters that people this captivating reading. 
 
Cast and Credits 
Hats Off 
Written by Joyce Grenfell 
Read by Maureen Lipman 
Introduced by Janie Hampton 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3-10 Jun 2001 
 
Choice Grenfell 
Written by Joyce Grenfell 
Performed by Maureen Lipman 
Music by Denis King, Maureen Lipman, Richard Addinsell, Joyce Grenfell and Virginia Graham 
Pianist: Denis King 
Directed by Alan Strachan 
Produced by Jonathan James-Moore 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 2-6 Mar 1998 
 
Dear Joyce&hellip; Dear Ginnie 
Read by Maureen Lipman and Janie Hampton 
Produced by Jonathan James-Moore 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 20-24 Dec 1999 
 
Two Light Up the Third 
written by Russell Davies 
Starring Maureen Lipman as Joyce Grenfell 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 29 Sep 1996 
 
How to Listen 
Starring Joyce Grenfell and Stephen Potter, featuring members of the &lsquo;How&rsquo; Repertory Company 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio Third Programme, 29 Sep 1946 
 
Joyce Grenfell Requests the Pleasure 
Written and read by Joyce Grenfell 
Abridged by Janet Quigley 
Produced by Pat McLoughlin 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 12 Apr-3 May 1977 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Joyce Grenfell

Maureen Lipman

A poignantly funny retrospective of the genteel wit of broadcaster, comedienne, poet and entertainer, Joyce Grenfell, superbly performed by Maureen Lipman and as heard on BBC Radio 3. Together with the creative team that produced the stage show, ReJoyce, Maureen perfectly recreates the much-loved material of the late, great Joyce Grenfell. Featuring monologues, sketches, songs and letters from the Grenfell archive, Choice Grenfell is a humorous and captivating collection from the writings of one of the century's most popular comediennes.

Joyce Grenfell

Choice Grenfell

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