British Council: Recorded Sound Department and Literature Department: Scripts of...

BW 136

1955-1976

An incomplete collection of file copies of original scripts (mostly typed, but some manuscript or with manuscript amendments) used to record talks and sound recordings on various subjects for broadcast outside the United Kingdom, to illustrate British culture and the English language.

The scripts were created by the Recorded Sound Department until the early 1970s, and then by the Recorded Sound Section of the Literature Department. The recordings were originally made on vinyl 78 inch records, but later on magnetic tape or cassette. They were not for sale, but for public broadcast outside the UK. They could be obtained on loan by applying to the Recorded Sound Section of the British Council.

The subjects are varied, although the vast majority of scripts deal with the artistic side of British life, poetry and drama being leading subjects. The first 500 scripts include talks on law; libraries; critical discussions on authors; the Civil Service; nuclear power; computers; welfare; trade unions; architecture; theatre; cinema; geography; political and administrative systems; the police; contemporary poets discussing their work; literary criticism; English grammar; beef stock breeding; education; sport; music, contemporary and classical; ballet; etc.

In accordance with the council's functions, the recordings were intended to be educational in content, promoting wider appreciation and insight into British culture and the English language. Speakers were many and varied, including authors and poets (e.g. E M Forster), engineers, scientists, critics, public servants, industrialists and trade unionists.

BW 136/2, 4-12, 14-18, 20-78 and 80-82 are fronted by a contents list containing information on the series numbers of the scripts in the file; their titles; whether the scripts are wanting (i.e. missing); the authors; and occasionally date. Most scripts are undated, however, and their dates can only be estimated by their number in relation to the few dated ones.

The scripts are arranged in a numbered series, very many of which have not survived.

Not Public Record(s)

English

• British Council, Literature Department, Recorded Sound Section, 1973-1976
• British Council, Recorded Sound Department, 1955-1973

82 file(s)

Open

Topics

Performing arts

Art, architecture and design

International

Labour

Photography and film

Computing

Nuclear energy

Food and drink

Literature

Education

Sports