Under Milk Wood (2003)

A classic BBC Radio full-cast production of Dylan Thomas' poetic play for voices starring Richard Burton as the narrator. To begin at the beginning: it is spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible-black....

Richard Burton's voice has been digitally remastered and seamlessly mixed with an all-Welsh cast to create a magical, fresh visit to the unique but universally recognisable world of Llareggub.   Richard Burton's inimitable narration as the Narrator in the BBC's 1963 recording of 'Under Milk Wood' was hugely acclaimed. In this 2003 production, the famous radio play has been given a fresh lease of life. Richard Burton's unforgettable performance joins a celebrated all-Welsh cast in a highly-acclaimed dramatisation of this classic 'play for voices'.   Touching, eerie and very funny, the play tells the story of a day in the life of the inhabitants of a small Welsh seaside town, their dreams and routines, their loves and regrets, their hopes and fears. With characters and phrases that have entered common parlance, the play opens with 'To begin at the beginning' and features such much-loved characters as No Good Boyo, Lilly Smalls, Polly Garter, Organ Morgan and Captain Cat.   Among the all-Welsh cast are Sian Phillips, Matthew Rhys and Glyn Houston, as well as a special guest appearance by John Humphrys. With an entrancing new musical score by John Hardy, this production is set to become the classic version of a spellbinding play.

Dylan Thomas At The BBC

Dylan Thomas is one of the 20th century's most celebrated poets. His rich rhetoric created poems of magical imagery, and nowhere is language more rich and fantastic than in his best-known work, 'Under Milk Wood'. He was also a popular radio entertainer and the BBC Archives contain a wealth of material featuring Dylan Thomas - not only readings of his own work, but also dramatic readings of other work such as 'Dr Faustus'. These, together with interviews with the poet, form a fascinating audio portrait of a brilliant man. Presented by Paul Ferris, biographer of Thomas and editor of his letters.Includes: ‘The Hand that Signed the Paper’ (18.10.38), ‘Return Journey to Swansea’ (15.6.47), poems (24.9.49, 26.10.52, 25.9.50) and prose: (3.11.52, 17.6.53, 5.10.53, 5.11.53).

Dylan Thomas

Richard Burton

Matthew Rhys

Roger Allam

Sian Philips

Matthew Gravelle

Freddie Jones

Patrick Mower

Philip Madoc

Full Cast

This title is sure to satisfy every admirer of Dylan Thomas&rsquo; works from the most ardent aficionados to casual poetry lovers ... Matthew Rhys ably cements together the collection, uniting phases of Thomas&rsquo; career with insights and commentary ... Dylan Thomas: The BBC Radio Collection is essential listening for the poet&rsquo;s fans, and will enthral listeners who want to seek out more from the imagination that gave us Under Milk Wood.

Under Milk Wood, A Child’s Christmas in Wales, Rebecca’s Daughters & more

Matthew Rhys introduces this collection of plays, poems and prose by the great Welsh writer, featuring Dylan Thomas reading his own work plus bonus biographical plays based on his life 
 
'A spellbinding homage' The Guardian 
 
'Sure to satisfy every admirer of Dylan Thomas&rsquo; works from the most ardent aficionados to casual poetry lovers... Thomas demonstrates his gift for seeing the beauty in the ordinary and affectionately ribbing the frailties of the human condition.' Entertainment Focus 
 
Dylan Thomas was the 20th Century's first rock star author, famed for his dazzling imaginative poetry and chaotic personal life. Best known for Under Milk Wood, he also wrote numerous poems, short stories and screenplays, and made regular BBC broadcasts. A legend in his own lifetime, he remained hugely popular after his death at the age of 39, influencing cultural icons from Bob Dylan to The Beatles. 
 
This definitive collection is presented by Welsh actor Matthew Rhys (The Americans, Perry Mason), who played Dylan Thomas in the 2008 film The Edge of Love. 
 
It begins with sunny, summery recollections in &lsquo;Holiday Memory&rsquo;, which sees Dylan Thomas recalling an evocative August Bank Holiday, followed by A Child's Christmas in Wales, dramatised with a full cast including Philip Madoc and Freddie Jones. Two Thomas masterpieces follow: &lsquo;Quite Early One Morning&rsquo;, in which Dylan Thomas reads the story that later became Under Milk Wood, and then Under Milk Wood itself, a masterpiece and a lyrical 'play for voices' focusing on one day in the life of a Welsh fishing village and starring Richard Burton as the Narrator. 
 
Next, Dylan Thomas&rsquo;s unfilmed screenplay The Beach of Falesá, adapted from a Robert Louis Stevenson short story. Narrated by Matthew Rhys and starring Matthew Gravelle and Nicky Henson, it tells the thrilling tale of the clash between good and evil on an unnamed Pacific Island. A less sinister seaside trip is recalled in &lsquo;The Outing&rsquo;, Thomas's story of a childhood excursion read by Matthew Rhys and interspersed with memories from Swansea residents and music from the 1920s and '30s. 
 
We hear from Thomas in his own words in &lsquo;A Return Journey to Swansea&rsquo;, followed by four readings of his short stories narrated by Siân Philips, Geraint Morgan, Iestyn Jones and William Thomas. Rebecca's Daughters, a romantic adventure set in 19th Century Wales, stars Patrick Mower. 
 
Dylan Thomas tells of a rollercoaster experience of a lecture tour across the US in &lsquo;A Visit to America&rsquo;, and in The Voice of Dylan Thomas, introduced by Douglas Cleverdon, we hear him reading a choice selection of his works. 
 
Our final programmes are three original plays based on moments in Dylan Thomas&rsquo;s life: Badgers in My Vest by John Fletcher, Investigating Mr Thomas by Rob Gittins and Chelsea Dreaming by D J Britton. We join Thomas in a Newquay pub during World War II, follow private detective Jimmy as he tries to dig the dirt on Thomas, and see the poet through the eyes of the Chelsea Hotel. 
 
Contents 
Holiday Memory 
A Child's Christmas in Wales 
Quite Early One Morning 
Under Milk Wood 
The Beach of Falesá 
The Outing 
A Return Journey to Swansea 
Patricia, Edith and Arnold 
A Visit to Grandpa&rsquo;s 
Extraordinary Little Cough 
The Followers 
Rebecca's Daughters 
A Visit to America 
The Voice of Dylan Thomas 
Badgers in My Vest 
Investigating Mr Thomas 
Chelsea Dreaming 
 
Text copyright &copy; the estate of Dylan Thomas, 1940 (Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog), 1944 ('Quite Early One Morning'), 1945 ('A Child's Christmas in Wales'), 1946 ('Holiday Memory'), 1948 ('Rebecca's Daughters'), 1953 ('The Outing'), 1954 (Under Milk Wood), 1963 (The Beach of Falesá) 
 
Badgers in My Vest copyright &copy; John Fletcher 2003 
Investigating Mr Thomas copyright &copy; Rob Gittens 2008 
Chelsea Dreaming copyright &copy; D J Britton 2003 
 
&copy;2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Dylan Thomas

Praise for The Dylan Thomas BBC Radio Collection

This title is sure to satisfy every admirer of Dylan Thomas’ works from the most ardent aficionados to casual poetry lovers ... Matthew Rhys ably cements together the collection, uniting phases of Thomas&rsquo ...

Books by Dylan Thomas

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