The Reading
Starts at 10:45 am on Monday, 21 May 2012
Playing The King: A Hartley Manners Story, by Matthew O’Sullivan
Hartley Manners, 75, an actor of the old school is offered the chance to take on the lead role in King Leer. He can’t refuse the offer of course, but will his memory and physical health be up to the challenge? The five episodes were recorded at the end of 2011, not long before cancer confined Grant Tilly to his bed. He died on 11th April 2012.
‘Playing the King’ was the fifth series of gently comic Hartley Manners Stories that Grant had recorded – and he often received comments about similarities between his own life and those of his character.
In this series Hartley is invited to take on one of the most challenging Shakespearian roles of all, King Lear. As Hartley wrestles with Lear and his memory he is confronted with some other major personal challenges.
Matthew O’Sullivan (born Auckland 1942) has had an extensive career as an actor, director and writer in the UK, New Zealand and Australia. He has numerous film and television credits including Melba, Rafferty’s Rules, and Water Rats. His theatre experience is vast, including numerous roles in Shakespeare’s great tragedies.
Produced by Duncan Smith for Radio New Zealand National
