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Margaret Catchpole (radio play)

Margaret Catchpole is a 1945 Australian radio drama by Rex Rienits about Margaret Catchpole. It was one of several dramatisations of Australian historical figures by Rienits.

Plays on Australian subjects were relatively rare on Australian radio at the time and Margaret Catchpole was listed by Leslie Rees as among the most notable of the 1940s.

The play was repeated later in 1945 and was re-recorded in 1958. One listener called it one of the best plays of 1945.

Catchpole's life was also dramatised by the ABC in 1950 as an episode of Famous Women and she was the subject of a "talks" episode in 1953.

Premise

According to the ABC Weekly, it told "the story of a strong-minded, attractive English girl who was sent out to New South Wales early in the nineteenth century and who aroused public interest by rejecting the offer of marriage made by a well-set-up free settler of good character. Why Margaret Catchpole was transported and why she refused marriage are unfolded in this chronicle play which holds its suspense to the end."

Cast of 1945 version

  • Bebe Scott as Margaret

Cast of 1958 production

  • Alda Ferris as Margaret Catchpole
  • Richard Crees as John Barry
  • Alexander Hay as narrator
  • Audine Leith as first voice
  • Jillian Manson as second voice
  • Gordon McDougall as third voice
  • Robert Matthews as Governor King
  • Rex Heading as Will Laud
  • Mary Bourke as Susan Catchpole
  • Jack Taggart as John Luff
  • Jack Hume as Edward Barry
  • Cliff Neate as Smuggler
  • John Haynes as John Cook
  • John Bannon as Stable Boy
  • Rod Douglas as Judge

References