Daphne du Maurier BBC Radio Collection
from archive.org
Daphne du Maurier was an English novelist, biographer and playwright.
Although she is classed as a romantic novelist, her stories have been described as "moody and resonant" with overtones of the paranormal. Her bestselling works were not at first taken seriously by critics, but have since earned an enduring reputation for narrative craft. Many have been successfully adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca, Frenchman's Creek, My Cousin Rachel, and Jamaica Inn, and the short stories The Birds and Don't Look Now.
Presented here are BBC Radio dramatisations of du Maurier's finest works, including:
The Years Between
In the early 1940s, Diana Wentworth's MP husband, Michael, is reported missing - presumed killed in action.
Once over the shock, she builds a new life - taking over Michael's seat in parliament, and falling in love with a much more suitable man.
But on the eve of their wedding, a phone call brings Diana shattering news....
Diana Wentworth .... Diana Quick
Michael Wentworth .... Roger Allam
Richard Llewelyn .... David Collings
Robin Wentworth .... Peter England
Sir Ernest Foster .... Frederick Treves
The Vicar .... Derek Waring
Dramatised for radio by Jill Hyem
Director: Cherry Cookson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 1987
Rebecca
Arriving at Manderley, the young Mrs de Winter finds the beautiful mansion and its occupants haunted by memories of Rebecca - the first wife of her new husband Maxim...
Maxim de Winter .... Christopher Cazenove
Mrs de Winter .... Janet Maw
Mrs Danvers .... Rosalie Crutchley
Jack Favell .... Nicholas Grace
Colonel Julyan .... Frederick Treves
Mrs Van Hopper .... Irene Sutcliffe
Frith .... John Gabriel
Beatrice .... Margaret Courtenay
Ben .... Danny Schiller
Clarice .... Elizabeth Mansfield
Horridge .... Brian Miller
Tabb .... John Bull
Dr Baker .... Geoffrey Whitehead
Dramatised by Brian Miller.
Director: Cherry Cookson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1989
The House on the Strand
Richard Young experiments with a hallucinogenic drug that transports him back to fourteenth-century Cornwall, just before the onset of the Black Death. His initial encounter is so overwhelming that he knows he must repeat it, even though he suffers horrible after-effects.
Ian Richardson as Richard Young
Richard Hurndall as Magnus Lane
Bonnie Hurren as Vita Young
David March as Roger
Elizabeth Morgan as Mrs Collins
Brian Haines as The Vicar
David Sinclair as The Caravan owner
Frank Duncan as Dr Powell
Judy Bennett as Teddy
Vernon Joiner as Bill
Julie Hallan as Diana
Manny Wilson as Father Prior
Adapted by Philip Leaver and Kay Patrick
First broadcast on 24 November 1973
The Birds
The classic horror story about the natural world turning on mankind.
Nat ..... Neil Dudgeon
Sue ..... Nicola Walker
Maggie ..... Jade Williams
Mr Trigg ..... Gerard Horan
Jonathan ..... Carl Grose
Newsreader ..... John Dougall
Mary ..... Rachel Bavidge
Music & Sound Design: David Pickvance
Dramatist: Melissa Murray
Director: Sally Avens
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in Apr 2010
Don't Look Now
John and Laura Bennett are on holiday in Venice, trying to get over the tragic death of their daughter. They seem to be succeeding, until a blind psychic starts relaying messages from beyond the grave....
Laura Bennett ...... Anna Chancellor
John Bennett ...... Michael Feast
Sister ...... Colette O'Neil
Elidah ...... Carolyn Pickles
Policeman ...... Sean Baker
Waiter ...... Ewan Bailey
Porter ...... Carl Prekopp
Dramatised by Ronald Frame
Director: Patrick Rayner
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2001
The Chamois
When Stephen decides to fly to Greece, it's for one reason only. He's determined to rid himself of a secret fear - a fear so painful that he'll try anything to conquer it...
Stephen .... Christopher Cazenove
Stephen's Wife .... Anna Cropper
The Storekeeper .... Alexis Gallnos
The Storyteller .... Gabriel Woolf
Zus .... Nikolas Janis
Dramatised by Michael Bartlett.
Producer: Derek Hoddinott
First broadcast on the BBC World Service in April 1974.
The Alibi
To change your life in middle age can be a traumatic experience. For James Fenton, his sudden decision leads him along a strange street into a strange house - and an experience from which he'll never recover.
James Fenton .... Tony Britton
Anna .... Sarah Badel
Edna .... Katherine Parr
The Inspector .... Geoffrey Beevers
The Storyteller .... Gabriel Woolf
Dramatised and produced by Derek Hoddinott.
First broadcast on the BBC World Service in May 1974.
Ganymede
The man arrived in Venice happy and contented with life. He left Venice shattered by an unusual experience destined to mark him for life.
The Man .... John Le Mesurier
The Boy .... Anthony Daniels
The Porter/Consul .... David Gooderson
The Fat Man .... John Sharp
Dramatised and produced by Derek Hoddinott.
First broadcast on the BBC World Service in August 1974.
The Apple Tree
Recently widowed George Carey has an irrational hatred for the old apple tree in his garden. He decides it must be dug up - but it's a decision he's going to regret for the rest of his life - what's left of it...
Mr Carey .... Charles Gray
Willis .... Douglas Blackwell
Midge .... Patricia Leventon
Mrs Lord .... Katherine Parr
Mrs Hall .... Daphne Rogers
Dramatised and produced by Derek Hoddinott.
First broadcast on the BBC World Service in August 1974.
Panic
They met at a party and became friends. Despite their age difference, they embarked on an affair - with a trip to Paris. And so began a night of fear which led to panic...
David ...Dinsdale Landen
Stephen ... Christopher Cazenove
Storekeeper ... Alexis Gallnos
Celia ... Maureen O'Brien
The Storyteller ... Gabriel Woolf
Shelia ... Jane Thomson
Zus ... Nikolas Janis
The Wife ... Anna Cropper
Dramatised and produced by Derek Hoddinott.
First broadcast on the BBC World Service in September 1974.
The Happy Valley
The story of a young woman who dreams of an eerie wilderness and a grand old house, and echoes her most famous book, Rebecca. In the story, the young woman starts a romantic relationship with a man and finds herself walking into the real landscape she has dreamed of...
Reader: Hattie Morahan
Abridger: Richard Hamilton
Producer: Lucy Collingwood
The Doll
A macabre and unsettling tale about a young man besotted by a young violinist, who in turn has a strange and haunting passion.
Reader: Ed Stoppard and Sean Baker
Abridger: Richard Hamilton
Producer: Elizabeth Allard
Tame Cat
A young woman returns from finishing school in Paris anticipating a happy reunion with her mother and an introduction to adult life in London society. Unfortunately, she is oblivious to how attractive she has become and the consequences that will have for her...
Reader: Morven Christie
Abridger: Richard Hamilton
Producer: Lucy Collingwood
East Wind
In East Wind the lives of a young couple are altered irrevocably when a group of beguiling strangers are shipwrecked off the shores of the Scilly Isles.
Reader: Anna Madeley
Abridger: Richard Hamilton
Producer: Elizabeth Allard
La Sainte Vierge
Marie's prayers for the safety of her fisherman husband are answered by a miracle.
Read by Lin Sagovsky.
Produced by Elizabeth Allard
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2018
The Old Man
The family shuns people. He rules the roost, speaks strangely, forever gazing out to sea. She never speaks. And one day the children vanish...
Read by Anna Massey.
Produced by Duncan Minshull
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1988
with thanks to prettyrandom
- Jamaica Inn (203.8Mb)
- The Years Between (81.9Mb)
- Rebecca (87.3Mb)
- Fire In the Glass (78.1Mb)
- Frenchman's Creek (140.3Mb)
- The House on the Strand (80Mb)
- Don't Look Now (56.7Mb)
- The Birds (51.7Mb)
- The Alibi (40.2Mb)
- The Chamois (24.8Mb)
- The Alibi (24.9Mb)
- Ganymede (24.3Mb)
- The Apple Tree (24.8Mb)
- Panic (26.5Mb)
- The Happy Valley (12.9Mb)
- The Doll (12.8Mb)
- Tame Cat (18.5Mb)
- East Wind (12.8Mb)
- La Sainte Vierge (unknown file size)
- The Old Man (unknown file size)
MP3 files hosted by archive.org.