Look Back in Anger

Summary

David Tennant stars in this BBC Radio adaptation of John Osborne's provocative 1956 play about the original 'angry young man', Jimmy Porter.

John Osborne's 'kitchen sink' drama Look Back in Anger sparked a generation of 'angry young men' and led to the resurgence of realism in theatre. Reprising his stage role from 2005, David Tennant stars in this radio adaptation, which was produced to commemorate the play's 60th anniversary.

Look Back in Anger focuses on the relationship between an educated but disaffected working-class young man, Jimmy Porter, and his equally intelligent but dispassionate wife, Alison, who comes from an upper-middle class military family. Having pushed back against her family so they could be together, Jimmy is now disillusioned by the class divide between them and constantly belittles her.

Keeping the peace is their friendly Welsh lodger, Cliff. However, the arrival of Alison's friend Helena pushes the couple to breaking point. Can Alison and Jimmy ever reconcile? And should they even try?

Also starring Ian McKellen as Alison's father, the Colonel, alongside Nancy Carroll as Alison, Daniel Evans as Cliff and Claire Price as Helena, this magnificent production encapsulates the play's original bite and still disturbs and questions in equal measure.

Director: Richard Wilson
Producer: Clive Brill
A Brill production for BBC Radio 4
First broadcast in April 2016

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