Dorothy L. Sayers' classic play cycle based on the life and times of Jesus

Dorothy L. Sayers was best known for her mystery novels featuring aristocratic amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey. But she was also a poet, playwright and committed Christian, and in The Man Born to Be King she combined art and evangelism to powerful effect, making the story of Christ accessible, relevant and every bit as thrilling as her detective fiction.

Written specially for the BBC Radio, the play cycle caused huge controversy for its depiction of Christ as a character, and its use of contemporary speech instead of Biblical language. However it proved extremely popular with listeners, who wrote in to thank Sayers for making Jesus real to them and reigniting their interest in his remarkable story.

Based on the four Gospels, it includes one story of the Nativity, six plays about Jesus' life and ministry, and five Passion Plays telling of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, Jesus' arrest and trial before Pontius Pilate, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. Backed up with a sweeping musical score, these immersive dramas surprise and shock us anew and provide fresh, illuminating insight into 'the greatest story ever told'.

The plays included are Kings in Judea, The King's Herald, A Certain Nobleman, The Heirs to the Kingdom, The Bread of Heaven, The Feast of Tabernacles, The Light and The Life, Royal Progress, The King's Supper, The Princes of This World, King of Sorrows and The King Comes to His Own.

Cast and credits

Written by Dorothy L Sayers

Adapted by/Producer: Raymond Raikes

The Evangelist (John Bar-Zebedee): Gabriel Woolf

Jesus: John Westbrook

Joseph/ Jacob Ben-Issachar: Norman Shelley

Simon Bar-Jonah (Simon Peter): Stephen Jack

Judas Iscariot: Alan Wheatley

Matthew: Nigel Stock

Herod The Great: Robert Eddison

Nicodemus: John Wyse

Ephraim: Denys Blakelock

Shadrach: Malcolm Hayes

Rabbit Solomon: John Gabriel

Phoebe: Caroline Monkhouse

Flavius: Trader Faulkner

Calpurnia: Penelope Lee

Mary Virgin: June Tobin

Mary Magdalen: Mary Wimbush

Martha: Marjorie Westbury

Lazarus: Richard Hurndall

Benjamin Ben-Hadad: Ralph Truman

Joseph, kinsman to Jesus: Haydn Jones

Simeon, kinsman to Jesus: Wilfrid Carter

Baruch the Zealot: Francis de Wolff

Baruch’s Wife: Vivienne Chatterton

Gestas: John Laurie

Dysmas: Russell Napier

Simon of Cyrene: Rodney Dias

Proclus, a Roman Centurion: Trevor Martin

Roman soldier: Bruce Beeby

Roman soldier: Harvey Hall

Joseph of Arimathea: Howieson Culff

Calaphas, High Priest of Israel: Heron Carvic

Salome, mother to James and John: Henzie Raeburn

Mary Cleophas: Molly Rankin

Balthazar, King of Ethiopia: Paul Danqdah

Melchior/ A Zealot: Michael Kilgarriff

Casper: James Dale

Claudia Procula, wife to Pilate: Mary Law

Pontius Pilate, Governor of Judaea: Alec Clunes

Philip: Rolf Lefebvre

Thomas Didymus/ Father: Philip Leaver

Mother: Wynne Clark

Miriam, child: Elizabeth Proud

Isaac, child/a slave boy: Daniel Rose

Hannah: Hester Paton-Brown

James Bar-Zebedee: John Glen

Andrew Bar-Jonah: John Boxer

Hezekiah, secretary/ Roman Soldier: John Baker

Annas, father-in-law to Caiaphas: Edward Atienza

Pontius Pilate, Governor of Judaea: Alec Clunes

Claudia Procula: Mary Law

Captain Elihu: Keith Alexander

Eunice, a Syro-Phoenician: Elizabeth Morgan

Cleophas: Harry Hutchinson

Portress at the High Priest’s House: Miriam Margolyes

Zillah, her daughter: Jo Manning-Wilson

Issacher, servant: Hugh Dickson

Susannah, mother to the Bride groom: Betty Baskcomb

Rebecca, friend to Susannah: Gladys Spencer/ Janet Burnell

Other cast: Ian Frost, Janette Richer, Nan Marriott-Watson, Janette Richer, Peter Marinker, Raf de la Torre, James Thomason, John Forrest, Michael Goldie

First broadcast BBC Home Service 19th, 26th Jan, 2nd, 9th , 16th, 23rd Feb, 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 28th, 30th March 1975