Peter Bowles on George Devine
Great Lives
BBC
4.2 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 10 September 2013
⏱️ 28 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Matthew Parris is joined by actor Peter Bowles who nominates George Devine, groundbreaking artistic director of the Royal Court Theatre. Devine battled against the theatrical establishment, repressive censorship, helped the careers of actors like Laurence Olivier and Peggy Ashcroft, and by discovering writers like John Osborne and other 'Angry Young Men' - he changed British theatre forever. Helping guide us through the post-war landscape of Devine's life, is Philip Roberts, Emeritus Professor of Drama and Theatre Studies at the University of Leeds.
Produced in Bristol by Melvin Rickarby
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2013.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Once you've wrapped up this podcast, how about trying a very British cult? |
| 0:06.0 | What happens if the person you trust with your future isn't what you think they are? |
| 0:10.0 | I did feel the whole time he was watching me Yeti. I saw a footprint and that really gave me gusmas. |
| 0:16.4 | Or people who knew me. Emme, I remember every secret, every lie. I'm the only one who knows the truth. |
| 0:23.0 | Discover more of our biggest podcast from 2003. |
| 0:27.0 | Listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:29.0 | Great Lives is a download from Radio 4. |
| 0:32.0 | We hope you enjoy what you're about to hear. |
| 0:34.8 | Today's Hero took on the establishment, a battle which took place in public, in front of an audience, |
| 0:41.9 | and changed British theatre forever. |
| 0:44.6 | My great life is a warrior who led the fight. |
| 0:47.9 | George Devine, actor, impresario and founding artistic director in the 1950s of the English Stage Company at the Royal Court |
| 0:56.3 | Theatre in London. |
| 0:58.0 | And my guest who's chosen George Devine is the actor Peter Bowles, star of innumerable television series and films, a stage performer |
| 1:06.5 | who made his London debut when George Devine was at the height of his powers. |
| 1:11.3 | Peter, why have you suggested him as a great life? |
| 1:14.0 | The Royal Court is still going, it's still putting on new plays, and I just presume that |
| 1:19.0 | everybody in my profession would know who George Devine was. |
| 1:22.0 | And I have been very shocked to discover |
| 1:25.2 | that most of the young actors I've spoken to have never heard of George Devene |
| 1:29.3 | no idea who he is. So for you this is a way of bringing back into some public |
| 1:34.4 | prominence someone who deserves admiration. Oh God he does. George he was like the |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.