R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots) (1938)
A still from R.U.R. (1938) featuring (L-R) Connaught Stanley, Derek Bond, Larry Silverstone, and (front) Evan John
The play by Karel Čapek.
| Production company/ies | Broadcast station(s) | Broadcast date(s) |
|---|---|---|
| BBC | BBC Television Service | February 11, 1938 (3.20pm) February 11, 1938 (9.20pm) |
Production credits
| Producer(s) | Director(s) | Writer(s) | Other notable credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan Bussell | Jan Bussell | Jan Bussell | Costume designer: Mary Allan |
Acting credits
|
Notes
The first ever piece of television science fiction and was an excerpt of the 1920 play R.U.R. by Czech writer Karel Čapek. The characters were not named in the 1938 Radio Times listings and so we do not know which parts the actors named above played. The final three actors were not mentioned in the listing but are named on IMDb.
This play is particularly notable for introducing the word "robot" to the world, derived from the Czech word "robota," meaning forced labour. The story is set in a future where robots, created by the scientist Rossum, are mass-produced to serve humans. However, these robots eventually revolt against their human creators, leading to a dramatic and dystopian conclusion. The play takes place circa the year 2000, explores themes of industrialization, dehumanization, and the ethical implications of artificial intelligence.
The play was performed several times on BBC radio between 1927 and 1933. Among the cast lists of those performances included the likes of James Whale, Raymond Massey, and Felix Aylmer. Further radio performances were broadcast in 1941 and 1946 (with Richard Hurndall).
