Tom Stoppard - Albert’s Bridge

(4 stars; 2 reviews)

Clufton Bay is spanned by a huge cantilevered railway bridge which needs painting endlessly. Albert has a degree in philosophy and with a job as bridge painter has a new perspective on life up high. Through CPSs and programmed efficiency, he replaces four painters and the bridge is all his. He also has to get married - but that's another story. He's bothered by a reluctant suicide and by 1400 additional painters causing the bridge and Albert's dream to collapse. High up, on Clufton Bay Railway Bridge, young Albert treads the girders, calmly painting the rust-red steel. But his distant perspective soon begins to alter his view of life on the ground. And then Fraser appears … Produced By: Charles Lefeaux Bob: Nigel Anthony Charlie: Alexander John Dad: Geoffrey Wincott Albert: John Hurt Chairman: Victor Lucas Dave: Ian Thompson George: Anthony Jackson Fitch: Ronald Herdman Mother: Betty Hardy Father: Alan Dudley Kate: Barbara Mitchell Fraser: Haydn Jones First broadcast: Thursday 13th July 1967, 19:30 on Network Three

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.