Audiobooks by Noel Coward

The Archers: The Ambridge Players: Six BBC full-cast drama productions including Blithe Spirit, Cale

Classic plays and ghost stories, as performed by the residents of Ambridge and friends - plus bonus drama Dead Girls Tell No Tales Borsetshire's queen of amateur theatricals, Lynda Snell, never misses the chance to put on a Christmas show. Her productions are always a big hit with Ambridge audiences - and now, Archers fans can enjoy these top-notch performances alongside them (as well as eavesdropping on the shenanigans backstage). In Blithe Spirit, the Ambridge Am-Dram Society and guest star Julian Rhind-Tutt recreate Noël Coward's ghostly masterpiece, and Lynda finds herself in sympathy with eccentric medium Madame Arcati as she attempts to conjure some festive high spirits. Calendar Girls sees the group taking on Tim Firth's comedy of jam and Jerusalem, along with honorary resident Siân Phillips (who starred in the original West End show). Will the intrepid cast really bare all? And in the 2-parter The Canterbury Tales, the company present barnstorming adaptations of Chaucer's classic stories of courtly love, deadly rivalry and boisterous sex - with a little bit of magic thrown in. In Ambridge Ghost Stories, it's a cold December night, in the darkened attic of Lower Loxley. Then Jim Llloyd (John Rowe) takes to the stage to recount three spine-chilling supernatural tales from the turn of the last century - 'The Room in the Tower' by E. F. Benson, 'Lost Hearts' by M. R. James and 'The Monkey's Paw' by W. W. Jacobs. Prepare to be enthralled - and terrified... Also included are two special seasonal pageants, The Ambridge Mystery Plays- The Nativity and The Passion and a stunning original drama by Joanna Toye. Starring Eleanor Tomlinson and Ysette Churchman and Miles Jupp Dead Girls Tell No Tales explores the real story behind the death of Grace Archer: a watershed moment in the history of broadcasting and one of the defining cultural events of the 1950s. Production credits Blithe Spirit Written by Noël Coward Adapted and directed by Sean O'Connor First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 December 2014 Calendar Girls The accompanying pianist was Simon Taranczuk Written by Tim Firth and based on the motion picture Calendar Girls written by Tim Firth and Juliette Towhidi. Adapted and directed by Sean O'Connor First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 27 December 2015 The Canterbury Tales, Parts 1 & 2 Tellers of the Tales The Knights Tale The Miller's Tale The Wife of Bath's Tale The Sailor's Tale The Pardoner's Tale The Friar's Tale The Franklin's Tale The Bailiff's Tale Written by Geoffrey Chaucer Dramatised by Nick Warburton. Directed by Kim Greengrass. Produced by Alison Hindell First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 December 2018-5 January 2019 The Ambridge Mystery Plays The Nativity The Passion First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26th December 2021 & 2nd January 2022 Ambridge Ghost Stories Abridged by Jeremy Osborne 'The Room in the Tower' written by E F Benson Produced and directed by Charlotte Davey 'Lost Hearts' written by M. R. James Produced and directed by Mel Ward 'The Monkey's Paw' written by W. W. Jacobs Produced and directed by Charlotte Davey First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 December 2019-1 January 2020 Dead Girls Tell No Tales Cast: Jon Culshaw, Pam Ferris, Lex Shrapnel, Eleanor Tomlinson, Georgie Fuller, Geoffrey Streatfeild, Sally Bretton, Simon Russell Beale, John Hopkins, Claudie Blakley, David Reed, Miles Jupp, Zeb Soanes, Paddy O'Connell, Ysanne Churchman - Herself, David Hounslow, Sam Dale, Chris Pavlo, Jessica Turner and Alex Tregear Written by Joanna Toye. Directed by Sean O'Connor First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19 September 2015 ©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

E.F.Benson, M.R.James, Noel Coward, Tim Firth, W.W.Jacobs, William Chaucer (Author), Eleanor Bron, Felicity Finch, Full Cast, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Miles Jupp, Pam Ferris, Sian Philips, Timothy Bentinck, Trevor Harrison (Narrator)

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The Noel Coward BBC Radio Drama Collection: Seven BBC Radio full-cast productions

Seven BBC radio full-cast productions of Noël Coward's classic plays - plus bonus material including a profile of Coward and extracts from his diaries Renowned for his wit, style and sophistication, Noël Coward was one of the greatest playwrights of the twentieth century. His plays, set in the glittering world of high society in which he lived, are much admired and have remained in the popular theatre repertoire to this day. This collection brings together the very best radio adaptations of Coward's works, encompassing sparkling comedies of manners Private Livesand Hay Fever, farcical ghost story Blithe Spirit, and daring ménage à trois drama Design for Living. Here, too, is his controversial first hit The Vortex; the poignant Still Life (the inspiration for the film Brief Encounter); and the semi-autobiographical Present Laughter. Among the star-studded cast are Helena Bonham-Carter, Bill Nighy, Judi Dench, Celia Imrie, Roger Allam, Harriet Walter, Paul Rhys, Stephanie Cole and Paul Scofield. Also included is a BBC World Service profile of Noël Coward, comprising interviews, musical extracts and archive clips; and the BBC Radio 4 programme 'From His Diaries', featuring a selection of passages from Coward's journal read by Simon Cadell. Track listing: 1-2: Private Lives 3-4: Hay Fever 5-6: Blithe Spirit 7-10: Design for Living 11-12: The Vortex 13: Still Life 14-16: Present Laughter 17: Meridian: Noël Coward profile 18-20: Noël Coward - From His Diaries Private Lives Amanda...Helena Bonham-Carter Elyot...Bill Nighy Sibyl...Andrea Riseborough Victor...Paul Ritter Louise...AnnaRose Cattanach Directed by Sally Avens Hay Fever Judith Bliss...Judi Dench David Bliss...Michael Williams Richard Greatham...Geoffrey Palmer Marya Arundel...Celia Imrie Jackie Coryton...Patricia Brake Sandy Tyrell...Christopher Blake Simon Bliss...Patrick Pearson Sorel Bliss...Alison Reid Qara...Patricia Hayes Directed by Leslie Lawton Blithe Spirit Charles...Roger Allam Madame Arcati...Maggie Steed Elvira...Zoe Waites Ruth...Hermione Gulliford Dr Bradman...David Killick Mrs Bradman...Tilly Tremayne Edith...Natalie Cassidy Directed by Philip Franks Design for Living Gilda...Cheryl Campbell Otto...Alex Jennings Leo...Michael Kitchen Ernest Friedman...James Laurenson Mr Birbeck...Alan Barker Henry Carver...Bradley Lavell Miss Hodge/Helen...Joanna Myers Grace Torrence...Linda Marlowe Directed by Ned Chaillet The Vortex Florence Lancaster...Harriet Walter Nicky...Paul Rhys Helen...Frances Jeater Pawnie...John Rye Clara Hibbert...Jenny Funnell Tom Veryan...Robert Portal David Lancaster...Peter Blythe Bunty Mainwaring...Federay Holmes Bruce Fairlight...Keith Drinkel Preston...Pamela Grace Directed by John Tydeman Still Life Laura Lesson...Amanda Root Dr Alec Harvey...John Duttine Myrtle Bagott...Stephanie Cole Albert Godby...Trevor Peacock Beryl Waters/Lady on Train...Sunny Ormonde Stanley...Brian Parr Dolly Messiter...Josephine Tewson Bill...Richard Curnow Johnny/Guard...Malcolm McKee Directed by Sue Wilson Present Laughter Gary Essendine...Paul Scofield Liz Essendine...Joy Parker Monica Reed...Patricia Routledge Joanna Lyppiatt...Fenella Fielding Henry Lyppiatt...Alan Rowe Morris Dixon...Bernard Joyner Daphne Stillington...Miriam Margolyes Lady Saltburn...Betty Huntley-Wright Fred...Timothy Bateson Miss Erikson...Diana Olsson Roland Maule...David Timson Produced by Ian Cotterell

Noel Coward (Author), , Alex Jennings, Bill Nighy, Celia Imrie, Full Cast, Harriet Walter, Harriet Walters, Helena Bonham-Carter, Judi Dench, Roger Allam (Narrator)

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Noel Coward In His Own Words

In interviews ranging from 1960 to 1972, Noël Coward talks about being a legend; whether he is a cynical writer; his early days in acting and about his early reputation for upsetting fellow actors on stage. He also discusses acting with Laurence Olivier; his affection for the Navy; his film-making; his knighthood, and writing 'Private Lives' for his friend Gertrude Lawrence. Due to the age and nature of this archive material, the sound quality may vary. ©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Noel Coward (Author), Noel Coward (Narrator)

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This Happy Breed (Classic Radio Theatre)

This Happy Breed opens in 1919, when the Gibbons family have just moved to their smart new home in the suburbs of South London. Against a background of social change and national upheaval spanning twenty years, the family celebrate their own triumphs and deal with their personal traumas. Coward's moving and humourous production, showing what life was like for a typical suburban family between the wars, was a huge hit and was adapted into a famous 1944 film starring John Mills and Celia Johnson. Among the distinguished cast in this 1989 BBC Radio 4 production are John Moffatt, Rosemary Leach, Anna Cropper and Doris Hare.

Noel Coward (Author), Full Cast, John Moffatt, Rosemary Leach (Narrator)

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The Noel Coward Collection

Six phenomenally sophisticated Noël Coward comedies: Fallen Angels: Julia and Fred and Willy and Jane are happily married and the best of friends, until a postcard arrives with news of the imminent arrival of a certain handsome Frenchman.Gay, debonair, and utterly sophisticated. Performed by: Annette Bening, Harriet Harris, Judith Ivey, Joe Mantegna, John Rubinstein and Kristoffer Tabori. Hay Fever: A country house weekend goes haywire when the guests and their hosts play a game of romantic musical chairs. This witty masterpiece is filled with Coward’s biting commentary on his own profession. Performed by: Tate Donovan, Arabella Field, Joy Gregory, Jeffrey Jones, Lynne Marta, Serena Scott Thomas, Carolyn Seymour, Eric Stoltz and Simon Templeman. Private Lives: On the French Rivera, the lights of a yacht are reflected in the water and in the eyes of four hilariously mismatched lovers. Perhaps Coward’s greatest comedy, Private Lives shimmers with romance, desire and bittersweet truth. Performed by: Rosalind Ayres, Marnie Mosiman, Ian Ogilvy, Begonya Piazza and Kristoffer Tabori. Design For Living: Three terminally stylish friends attempt to uncoil their twisted love triangle in this sexy and scandalous gem. Written in 1932, the play was deemed extremely daring, and is controversial even by today’s standards. Performed by: Michelle Arthur, Claire Forlani, Thomas Hildreth, Tim Morrison, Sarah Rafferty, Douglas Weston and Hamish Linklater. Present Laughter: Stage star Garry Essendine struggles to plan his trip to Africa while his flat is invaded by a love struck ingénue, an adulterous producer, a married seductress, Garry’s estranged wife Liz and an aspiring playwright who is quite, quite mad. Performed by: Gregory Cooke, Arthur Hanket, Jon Matthews, Ian Oglivy, Siri O’Neal, Christina Pickles, Carolyn Seymour and Yeardley Smith. Blithe Spirit: A convivial evening party among friends is transformed when a séance conjures the ghost of Elvira, the host’s first wife, who delights in wreaking havoc among the living. An absolutely enchanting Coward comedy. Performed by: Rosalind Ayres, Alexandra Boyd, Judy Geeson, Shirley Knight, Lynne Marta, Christopher Neame and Ian Ogilvy. Exclusive bonus material: Two rarely-performed shorts by Noël Coward, “Design for Rehearsing” (performed by Michael Gladis, Matthew Wolf and Sarah Zimmerman) and “Age Cannot Wither” (performed by Juliet Mills, Susan Sullivan and JoBeth Williams), as well as two conversations on Coward with Barry Day (Noel Coward Foundation) and John Lahr (The New Yorker).

Noel Coward (Author), Various Performers (Narrator)

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Classic Radio Theatre: Private Lives

Paul Scofield and Patricia Routledge star in No'l Coward's classic comedy of manners. Private Lives was written in 1930 and has been a mainstay of British theatre ever since. This sharply funny play of reversals focuses on Elyot and Amanda, a passionate but feuding couple who divorced five years before. Now, on the first night of their honeymoons with their new partners, they find that they are all staying in the same hotel on the French Riviera. Fireworks are inevitable... The roles of the two ex-spouses are brilliantly recreated by Paul Scofield and Patricia Routledge, while Coward's scintillating repartee epitomises all the glamour and sophistication of life between the wars for society's spoilt darlings. The Classic Radio Theatre range presents notable radio productions of much-loved plays by some of the most renowned playwrights, and starring some of our finest actors.

Noel Coward (Author), A Full Cast, Full Cast, Patricia Routledge, Paul Scofield (Narrator)

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Private Lives

The lights of a yacht on the French Riviera are reflected in the water and in the eyes of four hilariously mismatched lovers. Private Lives shimmers with wit, romance, desire and bittersweet truth. An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring Rosalind Ayres, Marnie Mosiman, Ian Ogilvy, Begonya Piazza and Kristoffer Tabori.

Noel Coward (Author), Various Performers (Narrator)

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The Noel Coward Audio Collection: Unabridged Selections

Throughout his life, Noel Coward the master songwriter, 'derived a considerable amount of private pleasure from writing verse.' Much of it is gathered in this first ever CD collection. From moving war-time encounters to satirical barbs at familiar Coward targets and personal reminiscences, this delightful collection is a perfect blend of vintage Noel Coward sure to be enjoyed by faithful fans and new listeners alike. The collection includes two short stories, Cheap Excursion and The Kindness of Mrs. Radcliffe, and various poems. And from the Caedmon Treasury Sir Noel Coward himself and Margaret Leighton perform Coward's adaptation of his Brief Encounter, scenes from Blithe Spirit and Present Laughter, the interlude from Bernard Shaw's The Apple Cart, concluding with the duo reading more from Coward's Collected Verse.

Noel Coward (Author), Simon Jones (Narrator)

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Design For Living

Three terminally stylish friends, who share rivalrous affections, attempt to uncoil their twisted love triangle in this sexy and scandalous gem. Written in 1932, the play was deemed extremely daring, and even by today’s standards is considered controversial. In its frank and funny take on sex, love and commitment, Design for Living proves to be one of Coward’s greatest successes. An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring Michelle Arthur, Claire Forlani, Thomas Hildreth, Tim Morrison, Sarah Rafferty, Douglas Weston and Hamish Linklater.

Noel Coward (Author), Various Performers (Narrator)

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Blithe Spirit

When novelist Charles Condomine invites a medium into his house in order to learn about the occult for his new book, the last thing he or his second wife dream is that the séance will bring back his first wife, Elvira, who wants Charles all to herself! Things are further complicated by the fact that only Charles can see her, which results in some hilarious exchanges and misunderstandings. Elvira's plots to get him to 'the other side' do not go to plan however, and instead of Charles dying in her contrived 'accident' his new wife does! Many consider this to be one of Coward's best and most unusual farces.

Noel Coward (Author), A Full Cast, Corin Redgrave, Joanna Lumley, Kika Markham, Thelma Ruby (Narrator)

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Hay Fever

A country house weekend goes haywire when the guests and their hosts play a game of romantic musical chairs. A most delightful madcap comedy. An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring Tate Donovan, Arabella Field, Joy Gregory, Jeffrey Jones, Lynne Marta, Serena Scott Thomas, Carolyn Seymour, Eric Stoltz and Simon Templeman.

Noel Coward (Author), Carolyn Seymour, Eric Stoltz, Jeffrey Jones (Narrator)

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Fallen Angels

Julia and Fred and Willy and Jane are happily married and the best of friends, until a postcard arrives with news of the imminent arrival of a certain handsome Frenchman. Gay, debonair, and utterly sophisticated. An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring Annette Bening, Harriet Harris, Judith Ivey, Joe Mantegna, John Rubinstein and Kristoffer Tabori.

Noel Coward (Author), Annette Bening, Joe Mantegna, Judith Ivey (Narrator)

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