Pygmalion: A brand new BBC Radio 4 drama plus the story of the play's scandalous opening night

Bernard Shaw · Alistair McGowan

Aug 2018 · BBC Digital Audio · Narrated by Al Murray, Alistair McGowan, Morgana Robinson, Full Cast, and Siân Phillips

About this audiobook

A star-studded BBC radio production of Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion – plus bonus drama The ‘B’ Word, telling the story of the play’s scandalous opening night.

Irascible phonetics professor Henry Higgins makes a bet with his friend Colonel Pickering that he can train Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle to talk ‘like a lady’ and pass as a duchess at the Ambassador’s Ball. As the day of reckoning approaches, can Eliza convince the assembled aristocrats that she’s one of them? And what will become of her afterwards?

This effervescent radio version of Shaw’s classic comedy features a stellar cast, including award-winning comedians Alistair McGowan as Henry Higgins, Morgana Robinson as Eliza Doolittle and Al Murray as Alfred Doolittle.

Also featured on this release is The ‘B’ Word, written by and starring Alistair McGowan as Bernard Shaw. Centring on the shocking opening night of Pygmalion – the first time that the word ‘bloody' was used on the British stage – it also explores the passionate love-hate relationship between Shaw; his leading man, Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and his leading lady, Mrs Patrick Campbell, who played the 19-year-old Eliza Doolittle at the age of 49.

Cast and credits

Pygmalion
Henry Higgins........................Alistair McGowan
Eliza Doolittle........................Morgana Robinson
Alfred Doolittle........................Al Murray
Colonel Pickering........................Hugh Fraser
Mrs Higgins........................Siân Phillips
Mrs Pearce/Maid........................Charlotte Page
Mrs Eynsford-Hill........................Georgie Glen
Clara Eynsford-Hill........................Maeve Bluebell Wells
Freddy Eynsford-Hill.............................Tom Forrister
Nepommuck........................David Sturzaker
Ambassador........................John Dougall
Ambassador's wife........................Sarah Ridgeway
Bystander........................David Sterne
Written by Bernard Shaw
Produced and directed by Emma Harding


The ‘B’ Word
Bernard Shaw........................Alistair McGowan
George Alexander........................David Sturzaker
Mrs Patrick Campbell.............................Charlotte Page
Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree........................Richard McCabe
Charlotte Shaw........................Georgie Glen
Merivale........................Philip Fox
Gurney/Fishman........................Simon Ludders
Bell........................Charlie Clements
Maid........................Sarah Ridgeway
Written by Alistair McGowan
Produced and directed by Emma Harding

Ratings and reviews

The dramatization of Pygmalion was wonderful. I would have given this five stars, however the addition of The B Word, while a nice supplement, wasn't as good. It would have been better to simply get an interview-style or mini audio documentary of what occurred during the lead up and opening night of the play.

About the author

Bernard Shaw (Author)
Bernard Shaw was one of the greatest 20th Century dramatists. He wrote over 60 plays, including Arms and the Man (1894), Man and Superman (1903), Pygmalion (1912-13) and Saint Joan (1923). In addition, he also authored five novels and two collections of short stories. He is the only person to have been honoured with both a Nobel Prize for Literature (1925) and an Academy Award (1938, for Pygmalion). Shaw was offered a knighthood, but turned it down, as he refused most awards. He died in 1950, aged 94.