Abelard and Heloise by Robert Millar
BBC Radio 4: Saturday Night Theatre
First Broadcast: Saturday 18th May 1974 @ 8:30 p.m.
The story of Abelard and Heloise, chronicled in Abelard's autobiographical writing and the lovers' letters, was often retold by troubadour painters. Abelard (1079-1142), one of the leading and most controversial thinkers of his day, was Heloise's tutor. When their passionate love for each other was discovered by Heloise's uncle, the Abbot Fulbert, the two married but secretly, to protect Abelard's standing. The Abbot, however, betrayed the secret, and in order to salvage his reputation, Abelard sent Heloise to the Convent of Saint Mary at Argenteuil. Believing Abelard was casting off his niece, the Abbot took revenge on him by having him castrated. The pair's subsequent correspondence attests that, through adversities and tragedy, their devotion to each other never faltered. Heloise eventually took vows and became a respected Abbess, while Abelard was prominent in a number of religious and political disputes, which culminated in his famous controversy with Bernard of Clairvaux.
When the play begins, the two lovers have taken holy orders. They can no longer express their true feelings for each other but they could never forget why they first fell in love 15 years before.
"Abelard and Heloise" was adapted for radio by Martin Jenkins from Robert Millar's 1970 stage play which was based on the 1933 novel, "Peter Abelard" by Helen Waddell.
With Richard Briers [Peter Abelard], Hannah Gordon [Heloise], Clive Morton [Gilles de Vannes, a Canon of Notre-Dame], Mary Morris [The Abbess of Argenteuil], David Timson [Robert de Montboissier], Carrie Frances [Guibert], Manning Wilson [Abbot Fulbert, Uncle to Heloise], Kathleen Helme [Sister Godric], Susan Brown [Belle Alys / Mariella, a novice], Hilda Schroeder
[Sister Laura], Sandra Clark [Gisella, a novice], Diana Olsson [Sister Constance / Denise, Abelard's sister], Nigel Graham [Bernard of Clairvaux / Philippe], Sion Probert [Alain], and William Sleigh [Gérard / Jehan, servant of Gilles de Vannes].
Directed by Martin Jenkins
Size: 72,377 kb kbps: 160 kHz: 44 Time: 1 hr. 1 min. 45 sec. (Stereo)
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