The King Must Die: A Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisation

An epic eleven-part adaptation of Mary Renault’s ‘Theseus’ novels

Widely considered as one of the finest historical novelists of the 20th century, Mary Renault brought the ancient world alive, turning age-old myths of gods and monsters into compelling human stories. In The King Must Die and its sequel, The Bull from the Sea, she retells the legend of Theseus, one of the greatest heroes of Ancient Greece.

This enthralling radio adaptation comprises both classic books, charting Theseus’ journey as he leaves the city of his birth and travels through mainland Greece in a quest to discover his true identity and destiny. Brought up in Trolzen, where his grandfather is king, he believes he was fathered by the god Poseidon. But on his 17th birthday, the secret of his parentage is revealed, and his adventures begin.

Crowned year-king of Eleusis, he escapes certain death and voyages to Athens to meet his father, King Aegeus, and claim his heritage. Instead, he becomes a slave and bull-dancer in Minoan Crete – and finds himself facing the malignant Minotaurus in the Labyrinth deep beneath the Palace of Knossos. Returning to Greece, Theseus becomes High King of Attica, but the Fates are not done with him yet. Ahead of him lie dangerous escapades, life-changing encounters, a treacherous betrayal and the fulfilment of a tragic prophecy...

Gary Bond stars as Theseus, with an ensemble cast including Carole Boyd, Frances Jeater, Petra Markham, David March, Clifford Rose, Maureen O’Brien and Sarah Badel.

Text copyright © Mary Renault 1958 (The King Must Die), 1962 (The Bull from the Sea)

Production credits

Written by Mary Renault

Dramatised by Michael Bakewell

Directed by David Spenser

Music by Christos Pittas

Cast

Theseus – Gary Bond

Pittheus – John Westbrook

Aithra/Old priestess – Carole Boyd

Theseus (as a boy) – Ian Bura

Peiros I/Man/Telemon – John Webb

Queen of Eleusis – Frances Jeater

Bias/Baron – Steve Hodson

Kannadls – Nigel Graham

Aegeus/Pholilos – Eric Allan

Priestess/Woman/Medea – Jean Trend

Simo – Stewart Wright

Amyntor – Alex Jennings

Pallans/Kentaur – Spencer Banks

Kerkyon – David Peart

Hypsenor/Page – Richard Bates

Xanthos – John Livesey

Pylas – Philip Sully

Priestess/Nephele – Fiona Walker

Antiklaea/Chryse/Girl – Pauline Siddle

Menesthes – Stuart Organ

Skopas/Sirios – David Banks

Lukos – David Gooderson

Ariadne – Petra Markham

Asterion – David March

Phormion – John Bull

Hippon/Messenger/Page – Richard Huw

Melantho – Jane Knowles

Aktor – William Eedle

Thebe/Macaria – Sarah Finch

Helike – Jill Lidstone

Rhene/Girl – Pip Mayo

Pylia/Naxian girl/Molpadia/Girl – Moir Leslie

The Corinthian/Pyilenor – Clive Panto

Thalestris – Elizabeth Lindsay

Minos – Clifford Rose

Iros/Page/Charioteer – Trevor Brohier

Phaedra – Maureen O’Brien

Pirithoos – James Kerry/Malcolm Stoddard

Hippolyta – Sarah Badel

Hippolytos – Susan Sheridan/Christopher Guard

Akamas – Piers Maxim

With Rosalind Adams, Peter Baldwin, Sean Barrett, James Bryce, Adrian Egan, Vanessa Forsyth, Kerry Francis, Madi Hedd, Richard Hum, Michael Jenner, Esmond Knight, Trevor Martin, David Peart, Margaret Robertson, Howard Samuels, Danny Schiller, Hilda Schroder, Michael Spice, David Timson, Stephen Thorne, Michael Tudor Barnes and Jane Wenham

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5 June-14 August 1983

© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

© 2025 BBC Digital Audio (Lydbog): 9781529188165

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Lydbog: 24. april 2025