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