Seven BBC radio full-cast productions of Noel Coward’s classic plays - plus bonus material including a profile of Coward and extracts from his diaries

Renowned for his wit, style and sophistication, Noel Coward was one of the greatest playwrights of the twentieth century. His plays, set in the glittering world of high society in which he lived, are much admired and have remained in the popular theatre repertoire to this day.

This collection brings together the very best radio adaptations of Coward’s works, encompassing sparkling comedies of manners Private Livesand Hay Fever, farcical ghost story Blithe Spirit, and daring menage a trois drama Design for Living. Here, too, is his controversial first hit The Vortex; the poignant Still Life (the inspiration for the film Brief Encounter); and the semi-autobiographical Present Laughter.

Among the star-studded cast are Helena Bonham-Carter, Bill Nighy, Judi Dench, Celia Imrie, Roger Allam, Harriet Walter, Paul Rhys, Stephanie Cole and Paul Scofield.

Also included is a BBC World Service profile of Noel Coward, comprising interviews, musical extracts and archive clips; and the BBC Radio 4 programme ‘From His Diaries’, featuring a selection of passages from Coward’s journal read by Simon Cadell.

Private Lives Amanda…Helena Bonham-Carter
Elyot…Bill Nighy
Sibyl…Andrea Riseborough
Victor…Paul Ritter Louise…AnnaRose Cattanach
Directed by Sally Avens

Hay Fever Judith Bliss…Judi Dench
David Bliss…Michael Williams
Richard Greatham…Geoffrey Palmer
Marya Arundel…Celia Imrie
Jackie Coryton…Patricia Brake
Sandy Tyrell…Christopher Blake
Simon Bliss…Patrick Pearson
Sorel Bliss…Alison Reid
Qara…Patricia Hayes
Directed by Leslie Lawton

Blithe Spirit Charles…Roger Allam
Madame Arcati…Maggie Steed
Elvira…Zoe Waites Ruth…Hermione Gulliford Dr Bradman…David Killick
Mrs Bradman…Tilly Tremayne
Edith…Natalie Cassidy
Dramatised by Bert Coules
Directed by Philip Franks

Design for Living
Gilda…Cheryl Campbell
Otto…Alex Jennings Leo…Michael Kitchen Ernest Friedman…James Laurenson Mr Birbeck…Alan Barker
Henry Carver…Bradley Lavell
Miss Hodge/Helen…Joanna Myers
Grace Torrence…Linda Marlowe
Directed by Ned Chaillet
Pianist: Jimmy Hardwick

The Vortex
Florence Lancaster…Harriet Walter
Nicky…Paul Rhys
Helen…Frances Jeater Pawnie…John Rye Clara Hibbert…Jenny Funnell Tom Veryan…Robert Portal
David Lancaster…Peter Blythe Bunty Mainwaring…Federay Holmes Bruce Fairlight…Keith Drinkel Preston…Pamela Grace
Directed by John Tydeman
Pianist: Mike Sykes

Still Life
Laura Lesson…Amanda Root Dr Alec Harvey…John Duttine Myrtle Bagott…Stephanie Cole Albert Godby…Trevor Peacock Beryl Waters/Lady on Train…Sunny Ormonde Stanley…Brian Parr Dolly Messiter…Josephine Tewson Bill…Richard Curnow Johnny/Guard…Malcolm McKee Dramatised by Malcolm McKee
Directed by Sue Wilson
Music composed by Malcolm McKee

Present Laughter
Gary Essendine…Paul Scofield Liz Essendine…Joy Parker Monica Reed…Patricia Routledge Joanna Lyppiatt…Fenella Fielding Henry Lyppiatt…Alan Rowe Morris Dixon…Bernard Joyner Daphne Stillington…Miriam Margolyes Lady Saltburn…Betty Huntley-Wright
Fred…Timothy Bateson Miss Erikson…Diana Olsson Roland Maule…David Timson
Dramatised and produced by Ian Cotterell

Duration: 14 hours approx.