Zorba the Greek & The Last Temptation: Two BBC Radio Full-Cast Dramatisations
"Nikos Kazantzakis’ two most popular novels, adapted for BBC Radio
Nikos Kazantzakis is widely regarded as the greatest Greek writer and philosopher of the 20th century. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature 14 times, and his works have been translated into over 50 languages. Included here are dramatisations of his two most famous and influential novels, both of which were adapted as hit films and became cultural phenomena.
Zorba the Greek – When writer Nikos meets the irrepressible Zorba, his life is transformed. A grizzled, gregarious Greek hero, Zorba embraces every experience and adventure that life has to offer. As he befriends the young, intellectual Nikos, he introduces him to the real meaning of a life well lived… A moving coming-of-age tale and a classic story of heart vs head, this atmospheric adaptation stars Robert Stephens, Michael Maloney and Mary Wimbush.
The Last Temptation – Starring John Hurt and Dame Judi Dench, this 1973 archive drama is based on Kazantzakis' controversial 1955 novel, banned by the Vatican but hailed by critics as a masterpiece. A powerful, passionate account of the days preceding Christ’s death, it explores his humanity, his divinity and the roles of Mary Magdalene and Judas Iscariot in fulfilling his destiny.
Zorba the Greek © Nikos Kazantzakis 1952, © Helen Kazantzakis 1958
The Last Temptation © 1961 Helen N Kazantzakis
Production credits
Written by Nikos Kazantzakis
Zorba the Greek
Zorba – Robert Stephens
Nikos – Michael Maloney
Hortense – Mary Wimbush
Mavrondoni – Terry Molloy
Mimiko – Dominic Taylor
Anagnosti/Zacharias – Roger Hume
Andonis – Peter Meakin
Mad Woman/Mourner – Hedli Niklaus
Villa Girl/Girl – Judy Bennett
Zacharias – Roger Hume
Father Demetrios – Paul Webster
Widow – Marian Kemmer
Dramatised by Nick McCarty
Produced by Phillip Martin
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 12-19 December 1993
The Last Temptation
Narrator – Gabriel Woolf
Rabbi Simeon – John Ruddock
Jesus – John Hurt
Mary – Diana Bishop
Centurion – Vernon Joyner
Judas – David Buck
Peter – Walter Hall
Mary Magdalene – Judi Dench
Barabbas – John Rowe
Guestmaster – Timothy Bateson
Saul – Peter Williams
Melchizadek – Rolf Lefebvre
Simon of Cyrene/Monk – William Sleigh
Abbot – Clive Swift
Andrew – Peter Craze
Zebedee/Man in the crowd – Brian Haines
The Baptist/Man in the crowd – Haydn Jones
The Tempter – Heron Carvic
Women in the crowd – Julie Hallam & Betty Huntley-Wright
Man in the crowd – David Timson
Translated and adapted by Andreas Stavrou and Hallam Tennyson
Music specially composed by Elizabeth Poston and conducted by Peter Marchbank
Additional singers: Veronica Lucas, Colin Appleton, Richard Bourne, Sandra Clark, Hilda Schroder, William Eedle, Fraser Kerr, David Sinclair
Produced by Richard Wortley
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 16-23 September 1973
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"
Nikos Kazanthzakis (Author), Clive Swift, David Buck, Full Cast, John Hurt, Judi Dench, Mary Wimbush, Michael Maloney, Robert Stephens (Narrator)
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