Tennessee Williams
The American playwright discusses his career in the ±«Óãtv ±«Óãtv Service's pioneering three-way interview series. From 1959.
American playwright Tennessee Williams faces a three-way interview with:
John Freeman
John Bowen
Peter Duval Smith
Recorded during a visit to England in 1959, Tennessee had by then written all his major plays - but despite that was seriously questioning his future in the commercial theatre. He talks candidly of the misery of waiting for the reviews after opening night.
Launched in 1952 on the ±«Óãtv ±«Óãtv Service, Frankly Speaking was a novel, ground breaking series. Unrehearsed and unscripted, the traditional interviewee/interviewer pairing was initially jettisoned for three interviewers firing direct questions - straight to the point.
Early critics described it as 'unkempt', 'an inquisition' and described the guest as prey being cornered, quarry being pursued - with calls to axe the unscripted interview. But the format won out and eventually won over its detractors.
Unknown or very inexperienced broadcasters were employed as interviewers, notably John Freeman, John Betjeman, Malcolm Muggeridge, Harold Hobson, Penelope Mortimer, Elizabeth Beresford and Katherine Whitehorn.
Only about 40 of the original 100 programmes survive.
First broadcast on the ±«Óãtv ±«Óãtv Service in August 1959.
On radio
Broadcasts
- Tue 31 Mar 2015 18:30±«Óãtv Radio 4 Extra
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