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A BBC Radio play will explore the true story of how Dusty Springfield refused to play to segregated audiences during her 1964 tour of South Africa. “Dusty Won’t Play” airs on BBC Radio 4 at 2:15pm on Tuesday, February 12.

The South African tour happened at the height of Dusty’s fame and shortly after the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela.

“Dusty Won’t Play” was written by Annie Caulfield, who says:

“I always felt there was something cool and interesting about Dusty Springfield. I loved the fact that she developed her look from watching Jean Luc Godard films and was elegantly feisty in interviews. The story about her stand in South Africa, ahead of her time, seemed a way in to her enigmatic character. I was very lucky that people like backing singer Simon Bell and bass player Doug Reece, who knew Dusty, were so helpful. The detail that the black airport baggage handlers took their hats off to her when she left South Africa made me wonder about their story and re-examine the South Africa Dusty was challenging. Nelson Mandela had just been jailed for life; paranoia and repression in defence of apartheid were building momentum. Dusty was helped by a heroic and forgotten promoter Dennis Wainer who was part of a quiet resistance. The play celebrates Dusty and the people who make change happen, little by little.”

“Dusty Won’t Play” was directed by Marilyn Imrie and produced by Gordon Kennedy. Charlie Brooks takes the lead role. She is joined by Jack Klaff, Vincent Ebrahim, Jonny Freeman, Danny Lee Wynter and Rasmus Hardiker.