Artemis 81
A BBC television play about an occult novelist's cosmic battle.
Artemis 81 is a British television play that aired on the BBC on 29 December 1981. It was written by David Rudkin, directed by Alastair Reid, and commissioned by BBC producer David Rose. The production marked one of the final television appearances of actor Anthony Steel.
The story follows Gideon Harlax (Hywel Bennett), a novelist who writes occult fiction. He becomes entangled in a cosmic conflict between Helith (Sting), the Angel of Light, and Asrael (Roland Curram), the Angel of Death.
The cast also includes Dinah Stabb as Gwen Meredith, Dan O'Herlihy as Albrecht Von Drachenfels, Margaret Whiting as Laura Guise, Ian Redford as Jed Thaxter, Mary Ellen Ray as Sonia, Cornelius Garrett as Pastor, Ingrid Pitt as a Hitchcock Blonde, Daniel Day-Lewis as a Library Student, and Sylvia Coleridge as a Library Scholar.
A DVD release arrived in 2007, though it was mistakenly titled *Artemis '81*—the number refers to a star, not a year. This release also removed 94 seconds of material because of licensing problems with stills from Alfred Hitchcock films used in a scene set in Jed Thaxter's office.
- Type
- Television play
- Writer
- David Rudkin
- Director
- Alastair Reid
- Broadcast date
- 29 December 1981
- Network
- BBC
- Notable cast member
- Anthony Steel (one of his last TV performances)
Lore & Background
Artemis 81 was commissioned by BBC producer David Rose and written by David Rudkin. The play was directed by Alastair Reid and aired on 29 December 1981. It features a cast including Hywel Bennett as Gideon Harlax, Sting as Helith, and Roland Curram as Asrael. Anthony Steel appears as Tristram Guise in one of his last television performances.
Reader's Guide
Artemis 81 is significant as a British television play from 1981 that explores themes of light and death through a Manichaean lens. Its cast includes notable figures such as Sting and Daniel Day-Lewis in an early role. The play was released on DVD in 2007, though the disc incorrectly labels it as Artemis '81, clarifying that the 81 refers to a star number, not a year. The DVD also removes 94 seconds of material due to licensing issues involving stills from Alfred Hitchcock films. The play remains a reference point for David Rudkin's work and is discussed in the study 'David Rudkin: Sacred Disobedience' by David Ian Rabey.
Did You Know?
- Artemis 81 was broadcast by the BBC on 29 December 1981.
- The DVD release incorrectly titles it Artemis '81; the 81 is a star number, not a date.
- 94 seconds of material were removed from the DVD due to licensing issues with Alfred Hitchcock film stills.
- Anthony Steel's role in Artemis 81 was one of his last TV performances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Artemis 81?
Artemis 81 is a one-off BBC television play that first aired on Christmas Day, 1981. Written by David Rudkin and directed by Alastair Reid, it blends occult fiction with a cosmic angelic conflict.
What is the plot of Artemis 81?
The story centres on Gideon Harlax, a novelist of occult fiction, who gets drawn into a war between two celestial beings: Helith, the Angel of Light, and Asrael, the Angel of Death. His creative work becomes the battleground for their supernatural struggle.
Who plays the two angels in Artemis 81?
Sting portrays Helith, the Angel of Light, while Roland Curram takes on the role of Asrael, the Angel of Death. Both drive the cosmic conflict that surrounds the protagonist throughout the play.
Why is Artemis 81 considered notable?
The production is remembered partly because it featured one of the last on-screen television performances by veteran actor Anthony Steel. It also stands out as a Christmas Day BBC broadcast that tackled heavy supernatural and theological themes.
Who else appears in the cast of Artemis 81?
Beyond the two angels, the supporting cast includes Hywel Bennett as the novelist Gideon Harlax, Dinah Stabb as Gwen Meredith, and Dan O'Herlihy as Albrecht Von Drachenfels. The play was commissioned by BBC producer David Rose.
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