Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Pushing The Boundaries

Episode 4 of 8

Bill Kenwright examines musicals which deal with 'taboo subjects' including 'Oh, What A Lovely War!', 'La Cage Aux Folles', 'Cabaret', 'Sweeney Todd', 'Hair', and 'Avenue Q'.

Another chance to hear the landmark documentary series celebrating the most popular and successful form of theatrical entertainment in the world: The Musical.

Programme Four: Pushing The Boundaries
The development of musical theatre is an on-going road of discovery and experimentation. Musicals offer an opportunity to push at the boundaries - something they have repeatedly done: not simply in the way that shows are staged but in the subject matter their stories tackle.
This programme considers shows which deal with subjects considered as 'taboo'.
Our case studies are: 'Oh, What A Lovely War!', 'Hair', 'La Cage Aux Folles', 'Cabaret', 'Sweeney Todd' and 'Avenue Q', with interviewees including:
Lyricist, Don Black, Stephen Sondheim, actor Angela Lansbury, director Michael Grandage, writer Richard Stilgoe, actor Liz Robertson, and co-creator of the musical ‘Hair’, James Rado.
We also hear from actors Liza Minnelli, Elaine Paige, and Paul Nicholas, creator of the musical ‘La Cage Aux Folles’, Jerry Herman, producer Cameron Mackintosh, and actor Douglas Hodge.
There are additional contributions from director, Hal Prince, and actors Joel Grey and John Barrowman.
Presented by theatre producer Bill Kenwright.
Written by Brian Sibley and produced by Malcolm Prince.
First broadcast in 2010.

57 minutes

Last on

Mon 22 Feb 2021 03:00

Music Played

  • Les Misérables Cast

    Do You Hear The People Sing?

    • Original Cast - Les Miz Highlights.
    • N/A.
    • CAST-CD104.
  • 1993 London Orchestra

    Prologue

    • Rodgers And Hammerstein's Carousel - 1993 London Cast Recording.
    • First Night.
    • OCRCD-6042.
  • Members of the Cast

    Overture

    • Oh What A Lovely War - Original London Cast.
    • MCSR.
    • MCSR-3008.
  • ORIGINAL CAST

    Oh What A Lovely War - When This Lousy War is Over

    • Oh what A Lovely war - Original Stage Production.
    • Must Close Saturday records.
    • MCSR-3008.
  • ORIGINAL CAST

    Keep The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Fires Burning

    • Oh What A Lovely War - Original London Cast.
    • MCSR.
    • MCSR-3008.
  • ORIGINAL CAST

    Keep The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Fires Burning

    • Oh What A Lovely War - Original London Cast.
    • MCSR.
    • MCSR-3008.
  • J. Vincent Edwards

    Aquarius

    • Hair.
    • Decca.
    • 314519-9732.
  • Members of the Cast

    Be-In (Hare Krishna)

    • Hair.
    • Decca.
    • 314519-9732.
  • Members of the Cast

    Be-In (Hare Krishna)

    • Hair.
    • Decca.
    • 314519-9732.
  • Members of the Cast & PAUL NICHOLAS

    Manchester, England

    • Hair.
    • Decca.
    • 314519-9732.
  • Members of the Cast & PAUL NICHOLAS

    Eyes Look Your Last/Ain't Got No/The Flash Failures (Let The Sun Shine In)

    • Hair.
    • Decca.
    • 314519-9732.
  • THE ORIGINAL CAST

    Prelude

    • La Cage Aux Folles - Original Cast Recording.
    • RCA.
    • BD-84824.
  • Members of the Cast

    We Are What We Are

    • La Cage Aux Folles - Original Cast Recording.
    • RCA.
    • BD-84824.
  • Members of the Cast

    Song On The Sand (Reprise)

    • La Cage Aux Folles - Original Cast Recording.
    • RCA.
    • BD-84824.
  • Members of the Cast

    Song On The Sand (Reprise)

    • La Cage Aux Folles - Original Cast Recording.
    • RCA.
    • BD-84824.
  • Bert Convy

    Why Should I Wake Up?

    • Cabaret.
    • Columbia.
    • CK-3040.
  • Cast

    WILLKOMMEN

    • CABARET: ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST.
    • COLUMBIA.
    • SK-60533.
  • Cast

    WILLKOMMEN

    • CABARET: ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST.
    • COLUMBIA.
    • SK-60533.
  • Lotte Lenya

    So What?

    • Cabaret.
    • Columbia.
    • CK-3040.
  • Jill Haworth

    CABARET

    • CABARET ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST.
    • COLUMBIA.
    • CK-3040.
  • THE ORIGINAL CAST

    The Ballad Of Sweeney Todd

    • Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street.
    • RCA.
    • RCA-33792RC.
  • LANSBURY, ANGELA & LEN CARIOU

    BY THE SEA

    • SWEENEY TODD (BROADWAY CAST).
    • RCA RED SEAL.
    • 3379-2-RC.
  • LANSBURY, ANGELA & LEN CARIOU

    A LITTLE PRIEST

    • SWEENEY TODD BROADWAY CAST.
    • RCA.
    • 337-92.
  • Angela Lansbury

    THE WORST PIES IN LONDON

    • SWEENEY TODD BROADWAY CAST.
    • RCA.
    • 3379-2RC.
  • John Tartaglia & Rick Lyon

    If You Were Gay

    • Avenue Q.
    • Victor.
    • 82876-559232.
  • Rick Lyon & Stephanie D’Abruzzo

    The Internet Is For Porn

    • Avenue Q.
    • Victor.
    • 82876-559232.
  • Ann Harada, John Tartaglia, Jordan Gelber, Natalie Venetia Belcon & Stephanie D’Abruzzo

    Everyone's A Little Bit Racist

    • Avenue Q.
    • Victor.
    • 82876-559232.
  • Liam Mower

    Electricity

    • Billy Elliot - The Musical.
    • Polydor.
    • 987-5216.

Credit

Role Contributor
Producer Malcolm Prince

Broadcasts

  • Mon 27 Sep 2010 22:00
  • Tue 18 Nov 2014 23:00
  • Mon 22 Feb 2021 03:00