DYLAN THOMAS - UNDER MILK WOOD (320kbs-m4a/218mb/1hr35mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 8th November 2025
Conceived by Welsh poet and writer Dylan Thomas as a piece for performance on radio.
Richard Burton leads a huge cast in the tale about the lives and dreams of a Welsh seaside village called Llareggub.
Tragically, Dylan never heard it broadcast.
He died aged 38, two months before, on 9th November 1953.
First Voice ........ Richard Burton
Second Voice ........ Richard Bebb
Captain Cat ........ Hugh Griffith
Rosie Probert ........ Rachel Thomas
Polly Garter ........ Diana Maddox
Mog Edwards ........ Dafydd Havard
Myfanwy Price ........ Sybil Williams
Mrs Ogmore-Pritchard ........ Dilys Davies
Mr Ogmore ........ David Close-Thomas
Mr Pritchard ........ Ben Williams
Butcher Beynon ........ Meredith Edwards
Gossamer ........ Gwenllian Owen
Rev. Eli Jenkins ........ Philip Burton
Lily Smalls ........ Gwyneth Petty
Mr Pugh ........ John Huw Jones
Mrs Pugh ........ Mary Jones
Mary Ann Sailors ........ Rachel Thomas
Sinbad Sailors ........ Aubrey Richards
Dai Bread ........ David Close-Thomas
Mrs Dai Bread One ........ Gwyneth Petty
Mrs Dai Bread Two ........ Rachel Roberts
Willy Nilly Postman ........ Ben Williams
Mrs Willy Nilly ........ Rachel Thomas
Cherry Owen ........ John Ormord Thomas
Mrs Cherry Owen ........ Lorna Davies
Nogood Boyo ........ Dillwyn Owen
Organ Morgan ........ John Glyn Jones
Mrs Organ Morgan ........ Olwen Brookes
Mary Rose Cottage ........ Rachel Roberts
Gwenny ........ Norma Jones
The three boys: Ian Griffith, John Watts, Philip Cyster
Other parts played by the cast.
Children's songs and singing game by the pupils of Laugharne School
Music composed by Dr Daniel Jones
Singer-accordionist: Barney Gilbraith
Producer: Douglas Cleverdon
First broadcast on the BBC Third Programme in January 1954.
***Broadcast to mark Richard Burton's entry to 4 Extra's 100 Club. Born on 10th November 1925, he died aged 58 on 5th August 1984 ***
I remember watching a filmed version of this (with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor) during a poetry class that I attended at college.
ReplyDeleteIMDB tells me that three other films of "Under Milk Wood" exist) -- one with Michael Sheen, another with Rhys Ifans, and an animated version of Richard Burton's performance.
I have that on dvd. Sadly, it doesn't do justice to the play, and fails to match his performance on radio by a long mile. I'm always on the lookout for a good rendition though so the animated version sounds intriguing; however, i imagine it would take a slightly more impressionist interpretation to do justice to the text.
Deletethis first version with richard burton is my fave. had it on tape for many years. @jonder - have u seen the video version i posted on youtube? >>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osOLGHlvzW8
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