The Long Sunset (play)

The Long Sunset is a 1955 play by English writer R. C. Sherriff. It is set in AD 410, at the end of the Roman occupation of Britain. The play was inspired by Sherriff's love of history, and in particular by the excavation of the Roman villa at Angmering in West Sussex, which he bankrolled and participated in during the late 1930s and early 1940s. The first two years of the excavations were supervised by Leslie Scott.[1][2]

The play premiered as a radio play on the BBC in April 1955, followed by its stage premier at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre later that year.[1][3][4]

Versions

Following the two 1955 productions, the play was filmed by the BBC in 1958.[5] An Australian television film adaptation was made in 1963.[6] The play also broadcast on Australian radio that same year (1963).[7] BBC Radio 4 broadcast a version in 1971.[8]

1955 BBC radio play

The play was first broadcast, its world premiere, on Saturday 23 April 1955, at 21:15 on the BBC Home Service Basic. It was produced by Ayton Whitaker. The description when the play was rebroadcast in August that year is "The scene is Julian's house near Richborough in A.D. 410."[3]

Cast

1955 theatre play

The play had its first stage performance at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, running from 30 August to 24 September 1955. The play was directed by Bernard Hepton and designed by Finlay James.[4]

Cast

  • Arthur, a soldier of fortune: Geoffrey Taylor
  • Gawaine, Arthur’s nephew: Oliver Neville
  • Julian: Kenneth Mackintosh
  • Lucian, wealthy neighbouring landowner: Ronald Hines
  • Lugar, a servant: Eric Jones
  • Marcus, a Roman officer: Michael Robbins
  • Otho, son of Julian and Serena: Alan Rowe
  • Paula, daughter of Julian and Serena: Doreen Aris
  • Portius, wealthy neighbouring landowner: Redmond Phillips
  • Serena, Julian’s wife: Nancie Jackson

1958 BBC television play

This television adaptation of the play was first broadcast on Sunday 17 August 1958 at 20:00 on BBC Television, in the Sunday Night Theatre slot. It was produced by Harold Clayton and designed by Fanny Taylor. The description is "The action takes place in Julian's house on the Kentish downs. Time: A.D. 410."[9]

Cast

1963 Australian (ABC) television play

This version was written by Noel Robinson and directed by Colin Dean. It was first broadcast on ABC on 27 November 1963.

Cast

  • Julian Severus: Henry Gilbert
  • Serena Severus: Lynne Murphy
  • Arthur, leader of a band of Britons: James Condon
  • Julian's son Otho: John Bell
  • Paula: Sandra Gleeson
  • Gawaine: Tim Cohen
  • Lugar: Guy le Claire
  • Portius: Ronald Morse
  • Lucian: Richard Parry
  • Marcus: John Faassen

1971 BBC radio play

This radio version of the play was first broadcast on Saturday 10 April 1971 at 20:30 on BBC Radio 4 FM, in the Saturday Night Theatre slot. It was produced by Martin Jenkins. The description is "The Roman Empire is crumbling; the occupation of Britain is at an end: the Legions are leaving: the surviving Romans are alone and unprotected. The play follows the fate of one such Roman family, from their attempts to fight off the invading Saxons, to their final conversion to Christianity. Place: somewhere in Southern England. Time: AD 410."[8]

Cast

References

  1. ^ a b Hardy, Rob (2018). "The Long Sunset: R. C. Sherriff and the Excavation of Angmering Roman Villa". Arion: A Journal of Humanities and the Classics. 26 (2): 1–14. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  2. ^ Gilkes, Oliver J. (1998). "Amateurs and professionals. The excavation of Angmering Roman Villa 1935-1947" (PDF). Sussex Archaeological Collections. 136: 67–80. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  3. ^ a b "Saturday-Night Theatre presents Brewster Mason, Avice Landone with Harcourt Williams and Joseph O'Conor in ' THE LONG SUNSET'". Radio Times. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  4. ^ a b "The Long Sunset". Theatricalia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  5. ^ The Long Sunset 1958 TV play at IMDb.
  6. ^ The Long Sunset 1963 TV movie at IMDb.
  7. ^ "Radio Plays". The Age. 6 June 1963. p. 18.
  8. ^ a b "Saturday-Night Theatre: The Long Sunset". Radio Times. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  9. ^ "Sunday-Night Theatre presents: The Long Sunset". Radio Times. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
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