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When Sting Played Steerpike in Gormenghast – Available Free Right Now

Published Sun, 02 Dec 2018 06:39:40 -0600

Last updated Tue, 04 Dec 2018 08:15:47 -0600

Toby Whithouse is writing and producing a new adaptation of Mervyn Peak's Gormenghast novels with Neil Gaiman and Akiva Goldsman for Freemantle.

Affeccianadoes will know it not the first TV adaptation of the novels, as the BBC broadcast an adaptation of the first two books in the year 2000.

But that was also not the first BBC adaptation. In 1984, BBC Radio 4 broadcast two 90-minute plays based on Titus Groan and Gormenghast, adapted by Brian Sibley starring Sting as Steerpike and Freddie Jones as the Artist.

And the BBC has recently re-aired them both on BBC Radio 4 Extra, and so both are available on the BBC iPlayer for free, globally. Titus Groan here

The arrival of baby Titus, the 77th Earl of Groan, causes consternation in the crumbling citadel of Gormenghast

The first of two plays based on the Gormenghast novels by Mervyn Peake – dramatised by Brian Sibley.

Starring Sting as Steerpike
Freddie Jones as The Artist
Bernard Hepton as Dr Prunesquallor
Judy Parfitt as Irma Prunesquallor
David Warner as Sepulchrave
Eleanor Bron as Gertrude
Sheila Hancock as Clarice and Cora
Jill Lidstone as Fuchsia
Cyril Shaps as Flay
Robert Eddison as Sourdust
Maurice Denham as Barquentine
Stratford Johns as Swelter
Hilda Schroder as Nannie Slagg
Melinda Walker as Keda
Graham Blockey as Rantel
and Peter Acre as Braigon

Director: Glyn Dearman

and Gormenghast here.

As young Titus approaches his destiny in Gormenghast, he faces the rise of the ruthlessly ambitious Steerpike.

The second of two plays based on the Gormenghast novels by Mervyn Peake – dramatised by Brian Sibley.

Stars Sting as Steerpike
Freddie Jones as The Artist
Bernard Hepton as Dr Prunesquallor
Judy Parfitt as Irma Prunesquallor
Eleanor Bron as Gertrude
Sheila Hancock as Clarice and Cora
Jill Lidstone as Fuchsia
Cyril Shaps as Flay
Maurice Denham as Barquentine
Michael Aldridge as Bellgrove
Hilda Schroder as Nannie Slagg
Vicky Ireland as Titus aged 7
Julian Firth as Titus aged 17

Schoolmasters:-

Mulefire …. Arnold Diamond
Cutflower … David Garth
Shrivell … Alan Thompson
Shred … David Sinclair
Opus Fluke … John Forbes Robertston
Perch-Prism … David Gooderson

Director: Glyn Dearman.