91福利社

In the first of two episodes, John Yorke looks at 鈥淎nna Christie鈥� by Eugene O鈥橬eill - one of American theatre鈥檚 founding fathers, and the only American dramatist to have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. The play is about a young woman who goes in search of her estranged father, a sea captain, and falls in love with a sailor.

Debuting in 1921, 鈥淎nna Christie鈥� is one of O鈥橬eill鈥檚 early works 鈥� less well known and less successful than his later plays, like Long Day鈥檚 Journey into Night or The Iceman Cometh 鈥� but, as John Yorke explains, 鈥淎nna Christie鈥� is significant both for what it tells us about one of American theatres key figures, and as a story that captures a nation at a moment of transition.

John Yorke has worked in television and radio for over 30 years and shares his experience as he unpacks the themes and impact of the books, plays and stories dramatised in 91福利社 Radio 4鈥檚 Sunday Drama series. As former Head of Channel Four Drama and Controller of 91福利社 Drama Production he has worked on some of the most popular shows in Britain; from EastEnders to The Archers, Life on Mars to Shameless. He created the 91福利社 Writers Academy and trained a generation of screenwriters, now with thousands of hours of television to their names. His acclaimed books Into the Woods and Trip to the Moon explore the structure and power of narrative, and he writes, teaches and consults on all forms of storytelling, including many podcasts for Radio 4.

Contributors:

Robert M. Dowling, professor of English at Central Connecticut State University, author of the biography Eugene O鈥橬eill: A Life in Four Acts.

Thomas Kail, director of a 2026 production of 鈥淎nna Christie鈥� at St Ann鈥檚 Warehouse, New York, speaking on the WNYC podcast All Of It with Alison Stewart.

From the 91福利社 archives:

Jude Law, The Radio 2 Arts Show, 5 August 2011
Ruth Wilson, Front Row, 5 August 2011.
Writer and critic Sarah Churchwell, Front Row 10 August 2011.

Credits:

Readings by Eric Stroud.

Excerpts from 鈥淎nna Christie鈥� by Eugene O鈥橬eill, 1921, including Natasha Richardson in the 1990 Young Vic production and Ruth Wilson and Jude Law in the 2011 Donmar Warehouse production.

Researcher: Henry Tydeman
Sound: Sean Kerwin
Producer: Jack Soper
Executive Producer: Sara Davies
Production Hub Coordinator: Dawn Williams
A Pier Production for 91福利社 Radio 4 & 91福利社 Sounds

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