Book of the Week - The Pantomime Life of Joseph Grimaldi
Kenneth Cranham reads from Andrew McConnell Stott's account of the life of one of the world's most famous clowns, Joseph Grimaldi, who became a superstar of Georgian pantomime
Book of the Week - The Pantomime Life of Joseph Grimaldi - Episode 1
The two-year-old Joseph Grimaldi is propelled onto the stage at Sadler's Wells by his ruthless, ballet master father, the Signor.
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Book of the Week - The Pantomime Life of Joseph Grimaldi - Episode 2
The young Grimaldi begins to make his mark as a comic performer on the unruly stages of Georgian London. But just when he seems to have finally found happiness, tragedy strikes.
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Book of the Week - The Pantomime Life of Joseph Grimaldi - Episode 3
Grimaldi is at the height of his powers, and his extraordinary performance in the new pantomime, Mother Goose, makes him a fully-fledged star of the Georgian stage.
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Book of the Week - The Pantomime Life of Joseph Grimaldi - Episode 4
Grimaldi becomes known as the Hogarth of the Georgian stage, but, though still only in his 30s, the years of physical comedy begin to take their toll on the body of the great clown.
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Book of the Week - The Pantomime Life of Joseph Grimaldi - Episode 5
Grimaldi is determined to fill the family's pockets with a final farewell performance; so, on 28th June 1828, he staggers on to the stage of a packed Drury Lane Theatre.
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