Hecuba a working for radio by David Rudkin

Broadcast at the BBC on 6th March 1977 6.15-9 pm (Two hours 45 minutes)
For this production Beatrix won the Imperial Tabacco Award for the best radio performance by an actress 1976. First broadcast 14 Dec 1975

Copy to listen to at the British Library - notes made while listening.

Parts 1 and 2 (first two hours)
More than a radio drama, this is mostly a series of monologues, there are a few discussions, but mostly each character takes turns giving speeches.

Begins with a monologue that's an introduction with discussion of the main characters, and the main events of the Trojan wars. There's a lot of background talking, (sounds like walkie talkies or people on radio communications, the stage version had everyone in WWI uniforms) I can't tell if it's intentional or not. I'm guessing it must be, but it is a bit distracting. Hecuba, in a woman's prison haunted by the ghost of her dead son (who is doing the talking)

"Queen that was, she thinks I am only a dream. Here she is now awake and stumbling...

Now gazes out through a slaves eyes. "

(Crying and wailing in the background)

Wonderful wonderful moving and frightening monologue, just powerful
Her throat sacrificially slashed... All dark powers I call upon, here Hecuba beg....

Princess Polyxena required to be sacrificed to still Hercules ghost.

Hecuba - another fabulous monologue then a talk with her daughter about her sacrifice "some news for a mother to break to a daughter..."

Hecuba pleading for her daughter's life to Uylesses.

Ulysesses Reponse

Polyxena talks in reposne to her death

Hecuba insists she be put to death too,

"Poor mother, these are the new masters of the earth you have to accept that... Queen Hecuba dragged in the dust ... that my last sight of you. Mother for my sake, NO. ... Put her hand into mine, her head lean quitely against my shoulder... For the last time ever, and your daughter speak to you her last words ever... Mother from whose womb I came into the light..."

King Agammenon's herald to take Hecuba with him to the tomb.
Hecuba is a bit mad with grief, "how did it feel dismantaling her? or were you men of valour performing an act of war? Tell me..."

The herald tells the story of her sacrifice, which was very good,

Hecuba responds, "but at least we can say that. Isn't it a wonder...or do we acquire it..." Talks of burying daughter. To deck her like a bride.

The chorus are really great. Here's hecuba now... oh lady of sorrows and now more ....
Ghost already of her dead self...

Drive a new knife in my heart surprise me...

Women have been responsible for slaughter before... and by sunset not one husband left alive...
Queen Hecuba that was requires an audience... Hecuba has something for his children too..

Pleading before the statue of the goddess... a queen of stone...

Arriving "Think back to Troy and where the temple of the goddess used to be..."
(Bribing of the men)

Judgement of Polynestra by the chorus

(First two tapes listened to)

Part 3 (last 45 minutes)
starts with a great massive scream and wailing from Bea
You have seen your sons for the last time...

We are not without compassion...

Polynestra is rather broken. Agamemon sees what has been done to him. Asks for the account of how the violence came to be done so he could judge if it was warranted.

I killed him and his mother found out and tricked me into coming here...

There can be no defence.. I've never heard anything so craven.  ... that'll be the day. ... Kill polydorus to save your crops?... naked greed! Otherwise how is it you didn't kill the boy before?...

I found that not at all persuasive. It's a convient post-facto defense. Your motive can only be greed...

I had a son too, he is gone...

And now the black hag dances on teh living grave...
oh let her dance...
A cemetery bitch to howl at the moon...
To be remembered as woman, queen or bitch is still to be remembered..


Thoughts:
I like the idea that you could put classic Greek drama on radio for almost three hours and expect people to sit and listen to the whole thing in one go. So different to nowadays where everything is so serialised and short. Also there was so many less dialogues and only little special effects. It really was just radio drama with the language and the voice of the actors that made it powerful.  Some of the speeches were so strong that I almost got lost in the emotion and the language itself disappeared. It felt almost musical, probably because of they lyrical quality of the dialogue. Bea's monologues are so fabulous, such range and emotion and such delightful pronunciation. I sit and listen to them not quite believing I can actually be hearing the performance. It is wonderful that such a thing exists and that you can go and listen to it at the British Library.


Beatrix appeared on Stage as Hecuba at the Mermaid Theatre In Four by Euripedes, The Trojan Wars, Directed by Bernard Miles,  16 May 1967

Review and character sketch by Quentin Blake of Bea in Hecuba in Punch 31/5/67 "A voice that rends the air and the drawn haggard face is an Edward Much nightmare come to life. It is a Hecuba well on the way to becoming Hecate."