This download is the only extract the BBC has of this edition of Desert Island discs. The presenter was Roy Plumley.

Now, Judy, you won a triple crown five years ago, three awards in one year, the theatrical world was your oyster,

but instead of caching in, you decided to take a great big chance.

Yes, actually, how Prince decided for me. I was asked to play salibos in the musical of Cabaret.

I must say, when I was asked, I thought it was a joke. I said to my agent, this has to be, this is somebody ringing up.

But it wasn't, it was hell, and I had a very, very happy time. I enjoyed every moment of it.

Yes, so this chance really paid off. How long did Cabaret run?

Nine months.

Do you like long runs?

I find them taxing, and I find them difficult to do. I find it difficult to sustain the same standard every night.

I do like the repertoire system where one is given, but then one is rather spoiled in it.

When one is given a chance of doing a play perhaps on a Monday night, and doing another on a Tuesday,

and maybe the same one on a Wednesday matinee, and something else on a Wednesday night, I enjoy that challenge.

I think it is more difficult to do the long run of the same play.

But after Cabaret, you went back to repertoire?

I did. I went back to Stratford again.

You did a production of Mentor's Tale in which you doubled Hermione and Tititor.

Had that been done before?

Yes, it had been done in, I think, 1886 by Mary Anderson of the ICM with Forbes Robertson.

And actually, during this, while we're talking about this, I was still a very strange thing that on the day I was married,

JC Truin sent Michael and myself a seepia photograph of Mary Anderson, saying,

you may or may not know this, but during the time that she was doubling Hermione and Perdita,

...