The Wednesday Play

(Redirected from Wednesday Play)

The Wednesday Play is an anthology series of British television plays which ran on BBC1 for six seasons from October 1964 to May 1970. The plays were usually original works written for television, although dramatic adaptations of fiction (and occasionally stage plays) also featured. The series gained a reputation for presenting contemporary social dramas, and for bringing issues to the attention of a mass audience that would not otherwise have been discussed on screen.

The Wednesday Play
GenreDrama, Anthology, television plays, social realism, kitchen-sink drama
Created bySydney Newman
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Original release
NetworkBBC 1
Release28 October 1964 (1964-10-28) –
27 May 1970 (1970-05-27)
Related
Play for Today

Some of British television drama's most influential, and controversial, plays were shown in this slot, including Up the Junction and Cathy Come Home. The earliest television plays of Dennis Potter were featured in this slot.

History edit

Origins and early series edit

The series was suggested to the BBC's Head of Drama, Sydney Newman, by the corporation's director of television Kenneth Adam after his cancellation of the two previous series of single plays.[1] Newman had been persuaded to join the BBC following the success of the similar programme Armchair Theatre, which he had produced while Head of Drama at ABC Weekend TV from 1958 to 1962. Armchair Theatre had tackled many difficult and socially relevant subjects in the then-popular 'kitchen sink' style, and still managed to gain a mass audience on the ITV network, and Newman wanted a programme that would be able to tackle similar issues with a broad appeal. Newman also wanted to get away from the BBC's reputation of producing safe and unchallenging drama programmes, to produce something with more bite and vigour, what Newman called "agitational contemporaneity".[1]

The Wednesday Play succeeded in meeting this aim, and the BBC quickly developed the practice of stockpiling six or seven Wednesday Plays in case there were problems with individual works.[2] One production, The War Game (1965), was withdrawn from broadcast by a nervous BBC under pressure from the government, while John Hopkins' Fable (20 January 1965),[3] an inversion of South Africa's Apartheid system, was delayed for several weeks over fears that it would incite racial tensions.[3]

Intended as a vehicle for new writers, several careers began thanks to the series. Television programmes had a much shorter lead time in this era, and Dennis Potter's first four accepted television plays were shown during the course of 1965. The two Nigel Barton plays (8[4] and 15 December 1965)[5] first brought him to widespread public attention and the slightly earlier Alice (13 October 1965),[6] about Lewis Carroll's relationship with Alice Liddell, developed themes to which Potter would return.

In the first half of 1966 a series of 26 Wednesday Plays were produced by Peter Luke, the playwright, and story edited by David Benedictus. Highlights included The Snow Ball (20 April 1966),[7] adapted from the novel by Brigid Brophy, Toddler on the Run adapted by Shena Mackay from her novella and directed by James MacTaggart, (25 May 1966),[7] Cock Hen and Courting Pit (renamed A Tour of the Old Floorboards, 22 June 1966)[7] by David Halliwell and two plays by Frank O'Connor (which Hugh Leonard adapted)[8] virtually without dialogue[8] and which, renamed Silent Song, won The Prix Italia award[9] in 1967 for 'original dramatic programmes' jointly with a French programme.[10] The other O'Connor/Leonard work was The Retreat (11 May 1966).[7] These two plays starred Milo O'Shea and Jack MacGowran. Cathy Come Home by Nell Dunn and Jeremy Sandford was offered to the Luke/Benedictus team who passed it on to Tony Garnett.

Tony Garnett and Ken Loach edit

Garnett was quickly seen as someone capable of delivering plays which would gain much publicity for the BBC and its Drama department.[11] He had the enthusiastic support of Newman, his immediate superior, who lobbied for increased funding to allow for more location shooting on film rather than shooting productions in the multi-camera electronic television studio, a practice which was felt to impair realism, the preferred mode.[11]

Director Ken Loach made ten plays in all for The Wednesday Play series.[12] Two of them are among the best remembered of the entire run: an adaptation of Nell Dunn's Up the Junction (3 November 1965),[13] and the saga of a homeless young couple and their battle to prevent their children being taken into local authority care: Cathy Come Home (16 November 1966).[14] The latter began Loach's 13-year collaboration with Tony Garnett as his producer, although Garnett had been closely involved with Up the Junction as well.[15]

Plays like Up the Junction though were controversial among more conservative viewers. The 'Clean-Up TV' campaigner Mary Whitehouse accused the BBC of portraying "promiscuity as normal" in Up the Junction[16] and The Wednesday Play as featuring "Dirt, Doubt and Disbelief".[17] The writer on television Anthony Hayward quoted Garnett in 2006: "Mary Whitehouse was on the prowl, which was an added frisson, but it was actually very good free publicity and helped the ratings."[16] The "drama documentary" approach was criticised by television professionals who thought it was dishonest. In a Sunday Telegraph article published before its first repeat transmission Grace Wyndham Goldie complained that Cathy Come Home "deliberately blurs the distinction between fact and fiction ... [viewers] have a right to know whether what they are being offered is real or invented."[18] Loach has admitted that "[w]e were very anxious for our plays not to be considered dramas but as continuations of the news" which preceded The Wednesday Play's slot.[19]

Later series edit

The last three years of the strand were predominantly produced by Irene Shubik and Graeme MacDonald; by this time the BBC Drama head Sydney Newman had left the BBC. Highlights from this period include several plays by David Mercer such as In Two Minds (1 March 1967)[20] and Let's Murder Vivaldi (10 April 1968)[21] and Potter's Son of Man (16 April 1969),[22] a modern interpretation of the story of Jesus.

Suffering from declining audience figures, the run of The Wednesday Play ended in 1970 when the day of transmission changed, and the series morphed into Play for Today.

Reputation and availability edit

It is regarded as one of the most influential and successful programmes to be produced in Britain during the 1960s and is still frequently referenced and discussed. In a 2000 poll of industry professionals conducted by the British Film Institute to find the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes of the 20th century, two Wednesday Plays made the list: The War Game was placed twenty-seventh, and Cathy Come Home was voted the second greatest British television programme of the century.

Some examples of The Wednesday Play, such as The War Game (which was not screened by the BBC for 20 years) and Cathy Come Home (1966), a television play exploring the theme of housing and homelessness, were, according to filmmaker Roger Graef, "a giant wakeup call for the whole nation,"[23] and some of the Potter plays, surfaced on VHS and DVD; the Potter play, Alice was a bonus feature of a Region 1 DVD in 2010 of Jonathan Miller's surrealist version of Alice in Wonderland. The Ken Loach material has resurfaced in a Ken Loach at the BBC set, and the two plays directed by Alan Clarke in the Alan Clarke at the BBC set. However, as with much British television of this era, many episodes are lost, leaving 79 surviving in the archives (along with 3 with some surviving sequences) out of 182 transmitted.

Productions edit

This table is based on records in the BBC Genome archive of the Radio Times.[24] Titles billed as The Wednesday Play (or The Wednesday Play presenting: ...) in the Radio Times listings for their first or a subsequent transmission are included, plus an additional two for the reasons given in the notes. Repeats of the individual productions are excluded, as are some additional repeats from Theatre 625 shown in the Wednesday Play slot during 1968–69 but not billed as such in the Radio Times. All episodes were broadcast on BBC1, with the introduction of colour from November 1969.

The archival status has been ascertained for almost all productions based on the BFI National Archive[25] and TV Brain[26] online databases. Most of the extant versions are in the form of 16mm or 35mm black & white telerecordings (prints or negatives), or in a few cases original film versions where that was the original medium used for production. Some of the later plays exist in videotape formats.

Original Air Date Title Author(s) Producer Director Performers Notes Archive status
28 October 1964 A Crack in the Ice A story by Nikolai Leskov.

Dramatised by Ronald Eyre.

Peter Luke Ronald Eyre Bill Fraser
James Maxwell
Derek Newark
Michael Hordern
Jack May
Conrad Monk
John Bay
Peter Madden
Richard Hurndall
Eric Richard
Repeated under Encore on BBC2 4 June 1965. Yes (35mm tr)
4 November 1964 In Camera by Jean-Paul Sartre.

Adapted for television and directed by Philip Saville.

Peter Luke Philip Saville Harold Pinter
Jane Arden
Katherine Woodville
Jonathan Hansen
Andre Boulay
David de Keyser
Repeated under Encore on BBC2 11 June 1965. Yes (35mm tr)
11 November 1964 Pale Horse, Pale Rider Katherine Anne Porter Eric Till Joan Hackett
Keir Dullea
John Drainie
Ruth Springford
Deborah Turnbull
Arch McDonell
A filmed production by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, first broadcast by CBC under Festival, 23 October 1963. Unknown
18 November 1964 The Big Breaker Alun Richards Peter Luke Charles Jarrott Rupert Davies
Nigel Stock
Daphne Slater
Edward Evans
Yes (16mm print)
25 November 1964 Mr. Douglas John Prebble Peter Luke Gilchrist Calder Michael Goodliffe
Jean Anderson
Laurence Hardy
Claire Nielson
Gary Bond
Margo Croan
Repeated under Encore on BBC2 30 July 1965. Yes (35mm tr?)
2 December 1964 Malatesta by Henry de Montherlant.

translated by Jonathan Griffin. adapted by Rosemary Hill.

Peter Luke Christopher Morahan Patrick Wymark
Jessica Dunning
Cyril Shaps
John Glyn-Jones
John Hollis
Edward Burnham
Blake Butler
Dallas Cavell
Jack Melford
Reginald Jessup
David Grey
Judy Geeson
David March
Adapted from the play. Repeated under Encore on BBC2 28 May 1965. missing
9 December 1964 The July Plot by Roger Manvell.

Based on the book by Roger Manvell and Heinrich Fraenkel.

Peter Luke Rudolph Cartier John Carson
Charles Lloyd-Pack
Peter Copley
Joseph Furst
Cyril Luckham
John Lee
John Paul
John Abineri
Graham Leaman
Jeffry Wickham
Yes (35mm tr?)
16 December 1964 First Love From the story by Ivan Turgenev. Mario Prizek Mario Prizek Heather Sears
Richard Monette
Produced and directed for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, first broadcast by CBC under Festival, 22 January 1964. Unknown
6 January 1965 Tap on the Shoulder by James O'Connor James MacTaggart Kenneth Loach Lee Montague
Richard Shaw
Griffith Davies
George Tovey
Tony Selby
Tom Bowman
Noel Johnson
Michael Mulcaster
Lucy Griffiths
Michael Collins
Michael Goldie
Tony Caunter
Repeated under Encore on BBC2 17 September 1965. Yes (16mm (BFI) or 35mm tr (TVBrain)?)
13 January 1965 Sir Jocelyn, the Minister Would Like a Word… Simon Raven James MacTaggart Stuart Burge Michael Hordern
Alec John
McCowen Phillips
Derek Francis
James Maxwell
Agnes Lauchlan
Leonard Maguire
Gerald Cross
Felix Felton
Colin Jeavons
Christopher Benjamin
Frank Williams
Steven Berkoff
missing
20 January 1965 The Navigators Julia Jones James MacTaggart Vivian Matalon George Baker
Kathleen Byron
Patience Collier
Terence Woodfield
Shown instead of the originally scheduled Fable due to the latter's postponement, so not listed in the Radio Times but listed as a Wednesday Play in the BFI database. missing
27 January 1965 Fable John Hopkins James MacTaggart Christopher Morahan Thomas Baptiste
Barbara Assoon
Ronald Lacey
Eileen Atkins
Keith Barron
Rudolph Walker
Carmen Munroe
Frank Singuineau
Postponed from 20 January 1965. Yes (35mm tr?)
3 February 1965 Dan, Dan, the Charity Man Hugh Whitemore James MacTaggart Don Taylor Barry Foster
Ernest Clark
Philip Locke
Dora Reisser
Antony Carrick
Arthur Mullard
Michael Barrington
Michael Brennan
Repeated under Encore on BBC2 1 October 1965. missing
10 February 1965 Ashes to Ashes Marc Brandel James MacTaggart Alan Cooke Toby Robins
Scott Forbes
Oscar Quitak
Tony Steedman
Yes (16mm tr)
17 February 1965 Wear a Very Big Hat Eric Coltart James MacTaggart Kenneth Loach Neville Smith
Sheila Fearn
William Holmes
Johnny Clive
Malcolm Taylor
Alan Lake
Royston Tickner
William Gaunt
James Hall
Ken Jones
David Jackson
Repeated under Encore on BBC2 24 September 1965. missing
24 February 1965 The Confidence Course Dennis Potter James MacTaggart Gilchrist Calder Dennis Price
Stanley Baxter
Neil McCarthy
Yootha Joyce
Gilly Flower
Jack Le White
missing
3 March 1965 Campaign for One Marielaine Douglas and Anthony Church James MacTaggart Moira Armstrong Barry Foster
Jeremy Kemp
David Bauer
Jerry Stovin
Robert Arden
Thomasine Heiner
George Roubicek
David Garth
Repeated under Encore on BBC2 3 September 1965. missing
10 March 1965 Horror of Darkness John Hopkins James MacTaggart Anthony Page Alfred Lynch
Nicol Williamson
Glenda Jackson
Yes (35mm tr?)
17 March 1965 A Little Temptation Thomas Clarke James MacTaggart Peter Duguid Barbara Jefford
Denholm Elliott
Caroline Mortimer
Michael Barrington
Cheryl Molineaux
Recorded in BBC Scotland's Glasgow studios Yes (35mm tr?)
24 March 1965 Moving On Bill Mellen James MacTaggart Brian Parker Peter Jeffrey
David Collings
Godfrey Quigley
Jack Watson
Eric Thompson
Kenneth Thornett
Tony Wall
James Appleby
David Brewster
Peter Diamond
missing
31 March 1965 Cat's Cradle Hugo Charteris James MacTaggart Henric Hirsch Leo Genn
Barbara Murray
Rachel Thomas
Billy Russell
Sheila Dunn
Recorded in BBC Scotland's Glasgow studios missing
7 April 1965 3 Clear Sundays James O'Connor James MacTaggart Kenneth Loach Tony Selby
Rita Webb
Glynn Edwards
George Sewell
Kim Peacock
Finuala O'Shannon
Will Stampe
Alec Ross
Eric Mason
Griffith Davies
Ken Jones
Harry Littlewood
Michael Goldie
George Tovey
Jack Cunningham
Hayden Jones
Jack Melford
Reg Lever
Ben Howard
Leslie Bates
David J. Grahame
Desmond Cullum-Jones
James Appleby
Repeated under Encore on BBC2 16 July 1965. Yes (35mm tr?)
14 April 1965 The Interior Decorator Jack Russell James MacTaggart James Ferman Barry Foster
Jane Arden
Yes (35mm tr?)
21 April 1965 Auto-Stop Alan Seymour James MacTaggart Brian Parker David Hemmings
Delphi Lawrence
Kevin Stoney
Janice Dinnen
Katherine Schofield
Jonathan Burn
Gertan Klauber
Yes (35mm tr?)
28 April 1965 The Good Shoemaker and the Poor Fish Peddler Jean Benedetti James MacTaggart John Gorrie John Barrie
Robert Ayres
Cec Linder
Bill Nagy
John Bailey
Robert Arden
Based on the lives of Sacco and Vanzetti. missing
5 May 1965 Cemented with Love Sam Thompson Peter Luke Michael Leeston-Smith Harold Goldblatt
Elizabeth Begley
Anton Rodgers
J. G. Devlin
Denys Hawthorne
Paddy Joyce
Postponed from December 1964. Shown in The Wednesday Play slot and listed as such in the BFI database, although apparently not billed as such in the Radio Times, according to the BBC Genome database. missing
12 May 1965 A Knight in Tarnished Armour Alan Sharp James MacTaggart John Gorrie Paul Young
Paul Curran
Hamish Wilson
Brian Cox
Henry Stamper
missing
26 May 1965 For the West Michael Hastings James MacTaggart Toby Robertson John Castle
Julian Glover
Freddie Jones
Edwin Richfield
Roy Stewart
Nigel Stock
John Stratton
Zena Walker
Gordon Gostelow
Declan Mulholland
missing
2 June 1965 And Did Those Feet? David Mercer James MacTaggart Don Taylor David Markham
Willoughby Goddard
Patrick Troughton
Sylvia Kay
Jo Rowbottom
Victor Lucas
Anna Wing
Jack May
Kristopher Kum
Donald Morley
Yes (35mm tr)
9 June 1965 The Man Without Papers Troy Kennedy Martin James MacTaggart Peter Duguid Benito Carruthers
Geraldine McEwan
James Maxwell
Charles Victor
Ingrid Hafner
John Woodnutt
Tom Bowman
Ian Fleming
partial
16 June 1965 The Pistol A novel by James Jones.

Adapted for television by Troy Kennedy Martin and Roger Smith.

James MacTaggart James Ferman Clive Endersby
John Brandon
Hal Galili
Walter Sparrow
Steven Berkoff
Callen Angelo
Robert Arden
Repeated under Encore on BBC2 10 September 1965. Yes (35mm tr?)
23 June 1965 Women in Crisis:
With Love and Tears
Colin Morris Cedric Messina William Slater Katharine Blake
Nigel Green
Alan Baulch
Margot Robinson
Margaret Ward
Margaret Denyer
Michael Brennan
Peter Thornton
Repeat of 27 September 1964 Theatre 625 production, substituting the advertised Vote, Vote, Vote for Nigel Barton due to the latter's late postponement.[27] Yes (16mm tr)
30 June 1965 The Seven O'Clock Crunch David Stone James MacTaggart Toby Robertson Nigel Stock
Peter Jeffrey
Zena Walker
Jan Waters
Trevor Baxter
June Brown
missing
13 October 1965 Alice Dennis Potter James MacTaggart Gareth Davies George Baker
Rosalie Crutchley
David Langton
Deborah Watling
John Bailey
Tony Anholt
Yes (35mm tr)
20 October 1965 The Girl Who Loved Robots Peter Everett James MacTaggart Brian Parker Dudley Foster
Isobel Black
Norman Rodway
Michael Guest
David Dodimead
John Bryans
Geoffrey Hinsliff
Kevin Stoney
Howard Charlton
missing
27 October 1965 A Designing Woman Julia Jones James MacTaggart Brian Parker Reginald Marsh
Rhoda Lewis
John Collin
missing
3 November 1965 Up the Junction Nell Dunn James MacTaggart Kenneth Loach Carol White
Geraldine Sherman
Vickery Turner
Tony Selby
Michael Standing
Ray Barron
Rita Webb
Hilda Barry
Jessie Robins
Sheila Grant
George Sewell
Frank Jarvis
George Tovey
Ben Howard
James Haswell
Will Stampe
Gilly Fraser
Anna Wing
Reg Cranfield
James Appleby
Based on the book. Repeated also 14 July 1993 on BBC2. Yes (35mm tr?)
10 November 1965 The Trial and Torture of Sir John Rampayne Alan Seymour James MacTaggart Peter Duguid Jack Hawkins
Ian McKellen
Faith Brook
Mary Hinton
Meredith Edwards
Robert James
Morris Perry
Richard Coe
Alan Mason
Rex Robinson
Milton Johns
Bill Lyons
Kenneth Benda
Penelope Lee
Yes (35mm tr?)
17 November 1965 The End of Arthur's Marriage Christopher Logue and Stanley Myers James MacTaggart Kenneth Loach Ken Jones
Maureen Ampleford
Edward de Souza
Fanny Carby
Toni Palmer
Lucy Griffiths
Nicholas Courtney
Neville Smith
Yes (35mm tr?)
24 November 1965 Tomorrow, Just You Wait Fred Watson James MacTaggart James Ferman James Chase
Janina Faye
Amelia Bayntun
Tony Selby
Charles Lamb
Joss Ackland
Judy Parfitt
Gábor Baraker
Yes (35mm tr?)
1 December 1965 The Bond Dawn Pavitt and Terry Wale James MacTaggart Mary Ridge Hannah Gordon
Barry Lowe
Nancie Jackson
Campbell Singer
Joan Young
William Marlowe
Annette Crosbie
Angus MacKay
George Selway
Geoffrey Cheshire
Ian Frost
John Flint
Peter Forbes-Robertson
Kenton Moore
Yes (35mm tr?)
8 December 1965 Stand Up, Nigel Barton Dennis Potter James MacTaggart Gareth Davies Keith Barron
Jack Woolgar
Katherine Parr
Janet Henfrey
Johnnie Wade
Godfrey James
Llewellyn Rees
Brian Badcoe
Peter Madden
Alan Lake
Ian Fairbairn
Michael Davis
Sheila Dunn
Repeated 11 August 1987 on BBC1, and also 12 June 2004 and 31 January 2005 on BBC4. Yes (35mm tr)
15 December 1965 Vote, Vote, Vote for Nigel Barton Dennis Potter James MacTaggart Gareth Davies Keith Barron
Valerie Gearon
John Bailey
Cyril Luckham
Donald Hewlett
Betty Bowden
Aimée Delamain
Postponed from 23 June 1965. Repeated 18 August 1987 on BBC1, and also 15 June 2004 and 31 January 2005 on BBC4. Yes (35mm tr)
22 December 1965 The Coming Out Party James O'Connor James MacTaggart Kenneth Loach Toni Palmer
George Sewell
Dennis Golding
Will Stampe
Alec Ross
Griffith Davies
George Tovey
Aubrey Richards
Fanny Carby
Ray Barron
Frank Jarvis
Patrick O'Connell
Yes (16mm (BFI) or 35mm tr (TVBrain)?)
5 January 1966 The Boneyard Clive Exton Peter Luke James MacTaggart Nigel Davenport
Neil McCarthy
Michael Robbins
John Le Mesurier
Originally scheduled for 30 September 1964 (as The Bone Yard, without Wednesday Play billing) but postponed. missing
12 January 1966 A Man on Her Back by Peter Luke.

From a novel by William Sansom.

Peter Luke Waris Hussein Norman Rodway
Valerie Gearon
Barrie Ingham
Jo Rowbottom
Milo Sperber
Hana Maria Pravda
Douglas Ditta
John Baker
Yes (35mm tr)
19 January 1966 Rodney, Our Intrepid Hero Brian Finch Peter Luke Michael Simpson Graham Crowden
Danny Green
Jim Norton
Jacqueline Ellis
Kristopher Kum
Derek Ware
Alf Joint
Lucy Griffiths
missing
26 January 1966 Calf Love Philip Purser.

From a novel by Vernon Bartlett.

Peter Luke Gilchrist Calder Simon Ward
Warren Mitchell
Madeleine Christie
Isobel Black
Deborah Watling
Eileen Way
Nigel Lambert
Lisa Daniely
Yes (35mm tr?)
2 February 1966 Silent Song Frank O'Connor and Hugh Leonard Peter Luke Charles Jarrott Tony Selby
Leo McCabe
Milo O'Shea
Jack MacGowran
Yes (35mm tr?)
9 February 1966 Who's a Good Boy Then? I am Richard Harris Peter Luke James Ferman Thora Hird
Ron Moody
Ronald Lacey
Yes (35mm tr?)
16 February 1966 A Game - Like - Only a Game John Hopkins Peter Luke Christopher Morahan Susan Richards
Alethea Charlton
Stanley Meadows
Shelagh Fraser
Geoffrey Hibbert
David Webb
Peter Ducrow
Jack Wild
missing
23 February 1966 Why Aren't You Famous? Ernie Gebler Peter Luke Peter Sasdy Alan Dobie
Fionnula Flanagan
Martin Benson
John Forgeham
missing
2 March 1966 Macready's Gala Hugh Whitemore Peter Luke Waris Hussein Richard Pearson
John Le Mesurier
Barbara Couper
Jane Eccles
Donald Eccles
Yes (35mm tr?)
9 March 1966 A Walk in the Sea James Hanley Peter Luke Geoffrey Nethercott Mora Nicholson
Kenneth Griffith
Marius Goring
Peter Hawkins
Howard Lang
Harry Littlewood
Keith Pyott
missing
16 March 1966 Boy in the Smoke Patrick Galvin Peter Luke William Slater Sean Caffrey
Ray Mort
John Sharp
Tony Steedman
John Barrard
Frank Jarvis
Paddy Joyce
Allan Mitchell
Repeat; first shown in the series Londoners on BBC2 13 May 1965. missing
23 March 1966 Barlowe of the Car Park Paul Ableman Peter Luke Gareth Davies Jack Woolgar
Annabel Maule
Betty Romaine
Annette Robertson
Donald Hewlett
Michael Robbins
missing
30 March 1966 The Portsmouth Defence Nemone Lethbridge Peter Luke James MacTaggart Emrys James
Fanny Carby
Deborah Cranston
Maureen Ampleford
Michael Coles
Jerome Willis
Yootha Joyce
Roy Evans
Clifton Jones
John Woodnutt
John Garvin
Yes (35mm tr)
6 April 1966 Pity about the Abbey John Betjeman and Stewart Farrar Peter Luke Ian Curteis Henry McGee
John Harvey
Suzanne Mockler
Derek Francis
Pamela Ann Davy
Repeat; first shown in the series Londoners on BBC2 29 July 1965. Yes (35mm tr?)
13 April 1966 The Big Man Coughed and Died Brian Wright Peter Luke Peter Duguid George Baker
Eileen Atkins
John Sharp
Diana Coupland
Nicholas Smith
Harry Towb
Philip Anthony
Martin Friend
Yes (35mm tr?)
20 April 1966 The Snow Ball Brigid Brophy

Dramatised by Ursula Gray.

Peter Luke Charles Jarrott Patrick Allen
Katharine Blake
Clare Kelly
Trisha Noble
Yes (35mm tr?)
27 April 1966 A Cheery Soul Patrick White

Adapted by Jonquil Antony

Peter Luke Gilchrist Calder Hazel Hughes
Aubrey Richards
Lucy Griffiths
May Warden
Jack Bligh
Adapted from the play. missing
4 May 1966 The Connoisseur Hugo Charteris Peter Luke Waris Hussein Derek Francis
Rosalie Crutchley
Michael Goodliffe
Richard O'Sullivan
Ian Ogilvy
Rosalie Westwater
Stephen Whittaker
Yes (35mm tr)
11 May 1966 The Retreat Hugh Leonard Peter Luke Charles Jarrott Gerry Sullivan
Harry Webster
Juno Tobin
Gerry Duggan
David Kelly
Yes (35mm tr?)
18 May 1966 Ape and Essence Aldous Huxley

Dramatised by John Finch.

Peter Luke David Benedictus Alec McCowen
Robert Eddison
Derek Sydney
Petra Markham
Sydney Bromley
Yvonne Antrobus
Adapted from the novel. missing
25 May 1966 Toddler on the Run From the novel by Shena Mackay. Peter Luke James MacTaggart Ian Trigger
Anneke Wills
Jerome Willis
Iain Cuthbertson
Renu Setna
Mona Bruce
Michael Robbins
Yes (35mm tr?)
1 June 1966 The Executioner Robert Muller Peter Luke Michael Hayes Rosalie Crutchley
Sandor Elès
Elizabeth Bell
David Garfield
Meier Tzelniker
Eileen Way
Steven Scott
David de Keyser
missing
8 June 1966 Way Off Beat David Turner James MacTaggart Toby Robertson Brenda Bruce
Sydney Tafler
Helen Fraser
Gordon Reid
Stephanie Bidmead
Jimmy Hanley
Noel Johnson
Yes (35mm tr?)
15 June 1966 A Soiree at Bossom's Hotel Simon Raven Peter Luke Gilchrist Calder Fabia Drake
Raymond Huntley
Sarah Lawson
Wallas Eaton
Sally Bazeley
Roddy Maude-Roxby
Barbara Couper
Clive Morton
Henry McGee
Jeremy Young
missing
22 June 1966 Cock, Hen, and Courting Pit David Halliwell Peter Luke Charles Jarrott Nicola Pagett
Maurice Roëves
June Murphy
Clifford Cox
Yes (35mm tr?)
21 September 1966 Photo Finish Peter Ustinov Bernard Hepton Naomi Capon Paul Rogers
Robert Brown
James Maxwell
Simon Prebble
Peter Ashmore
Barbara Couper
Daphne Slater
Meg Wynn Owen
Alice Montego
Priscilla Morgan
Michael Bates
Repeat; first shown as a Thursday Theatre on BBC2 28 January 1965. missing
28 September 1966 A Hero of Our Time Ian Dallas.

Based on the novel by Mihail Lermontov.

Peter Luke Henric Hirsch Alan Bates
Mary Miller
Terence De Marney
Jeremy Young
Donald Sumpter
Brigit Forsyth
Michael Mulcaster
Adapted from the novel. Yes (35mm tr?)
12 October 1966 The Frighteners Daniel Farson Peter Luke Gilchrist Calder Tom Adams
Griffith Davies
Ben Howard
George Sewell
Frank Jarvis
June Murphy
Peter Ducrow
John Harvey
Repeat; first shown in the series Londoners on BBC2 8 July 1965. missing
19 October 1966 A Piece of Resistance Terence Dudley Cedric Messina Geoffrey Nethercott Lally Bowers
William Kendall
Frederick Jaeger
James Villiers
Gerald Cross
Michael Craze
Gábor Baraker
Repeat of 26 December 1965 Theatre 625 on BBC2. missing
2 November 1966 Where the Buffalo Roam Dennis Potter Lionel Harris Gareth Davies Hywel Bennett
Megs Jenkins
Glyn Aubrey
Houston Richards
Richard Davies
Repeated also 25 August 1976 on BBC2 and 21 July 1993 on BBC2. Yes (35mm tr)
9 November 1966 The Head Waiter John Mortimer Lionel Harris Rex Tucker Donald Pleasence
Peter Madden
Pauline Letts
Alexandra Bastedo
missing
16 November 1966 Cathy Come Home Jeremy Sandford Tony Garnett Kenneth Loach Carol White
Ray Brooks
Barry Jackson
Geoffrey Palmer
Barry Jackson
John Baddeley
Paddy Joyce
Lennard Pearce
Will Stampe
Lila Kaye
Repeated also 11 August 1976 on BBC2, 23 December 2001 on BBC Choice, 5 June 2003 on BBC4, 11 June 2003 on BBC4, 26 November 2006 on BBC4. Yes (original negative)
23 November 1966 The Private Tutor Christopher Williams Lionel Harris Alan Gibson Ian McShane
Marty Cruickshank
Patricia Garwood
Alan Tucker
Christopher Wray
missing
30 November 1966 A Pyre for Private James Simon Raven Lionel Harris Gilchrist Calder Basil Henson
Percy Herbert
Dudley Sutton
David Conville
Grant Taylor
John Bailey
William Fox
Basil Dignam
Nick Tate
John Garvin
missing
7 December 1966 A Tale of Two Wives Marc Brandel Lionel Harris Peter Duguid Dinsdale Landen
Peter Jeffrey
Amanda Barrie
Suzanna Leigh
missing
14 December 1966 Little Master Mind Nemone Lethbridge Tony Garnett James MacTaggart George Sewell
John Porter Davison
Michael Robbins
Robert Russell
Jerome Willis
Yootha Joyce
John Woodnutt
Roy Evans
Charles Morgan
John Garvin
Lila Kaye
missing
21 December 1966 The Mayfly and the Frog Jack Russell Lionel Harris Robin Midgley John Gielgud
Isa Miranda
David Stoll
Felicity Kendal
Timothy Bateson
Repeated 10 July 1968 under Playbill. Yes (35mm tr?)
4 January 1967 Person to Person Joan Henry Lionel Harris Raymond Menmuir Elizabeth Sellars
Robin Bailey
Michael Standing
Michael Wennink
missing
18 January 1967 The Order Fritz Hochwälder.

Translated by Patrick Alexander.

Cedric Messina Basil Coleman John Neville
Catherine Lacey
George Coulouris
Laurence Hardy
George Murcell
Clive Morton
John Woodvine
Jerold Wells
James Cairncross
Yvonne Antrobus
Michael Pennington
A Wednesday Play production for The Largest Theatre in the World project of the EBU. missing
25 January 1967 Everyone's Rich Except Us Thomas Clarke Lionel Harris Brian Parker Alfred Lynch
Jennifer Jayne
Richard Vernon
Vic Wise
Wallas Eaton
David Hutcheson
Llewellyn Rees
Howard Charlton
Leonard Grahame
Patsy Smart
James Ottaway
missing
1 February 1967 The Lump Jim Allen Tony Garnett Jack Gold Leslie Sands
Joby Blanshard
James Caffrey
Frank Gatliff
Ken Jones
Paddy Joyce
Neville Smith
Yes (16mm print)
8 February 1967 Who's Going to Take Me On? Andrew Davies Lionel Harris John Glenister Richard O'Sullivan
Garfield Morgan
George Moon
Trisha Mortimer
Ann Holloway
Derek Seaton
Clifford Cox
missing
15 February 1967 Death of a Teddy Bear Simon Gray Lionel Harris Waris Hussein Brenda Bruce
Hywel Bennett
Rachel Kempson
Kenneth J. Warren
John Bailey
Repeated 17 July 1968 under Playbill. missing
22 February 1967 Days in the Trees Marguerite Duras

Translated by Sonia Orwell. adapted by Jeremy Brooks.

Lionel Harris Waris Hussein Peggy Ashcroft
George Baker
Frances Cuka
Brian Badcoe
Dallas Adams
Roger Brierley
Noel Collins
Patricia Maynard
A Wednesday Play presentation.

Original Royal Shakespeare Company stage production directed by: John Schlesinger.

missing
1 March 1967 In Two Minds David Mercer Tony Garnett Kenneth Loach Anna Cropper
George A. Cooper
Neville Smith
Malcolm Taylor
Patrick Barr
Repeated also 16 August 1977 on BBC2, 22 November 1980 on BBC2, and 21 July 1988. Yes (35mm tr?)
8 March 1967 Another Day, Another Dollar Michael Standing Lionel Harris Raymond Menmuir Victor Maddern
Tony Selby
Michael Standing
Reg Lye
Garfield Morgan
Eric Flynn
Harry Landis
partial
15 March 1967 Public Inquiry Raymond Williams Lionel Harris Gareth Davies Charles Williams
Edward Evans
Clive Graham
Roderick Jones
Richard Davies
Michael Elwyn
missing
22 March 1967 A Crucial Week in the Life of a Grocer's Assistant Thomas Murphy Lionel Harris James MacTaggart T. P. McKenna
Elizabeth Begley
Fionnula Flanagan
Dermot Tuohy
Denis McCarthy
David Kelly
missing
29 March 1967 A Breach in the Wall Ray Lawler Lionel Harris Gilchrist Calder Robert Harris
Barry Justice
John Phillips
Rosemary Leach
Jennifer Daniel
John Bryans
Donald Morley
Repeated 31 July 1968 under Playbill. missing
5 April 1967 The Voices in the Park Leon Griffiths Tony Garnett John MacKenzie Kenneth Haigh
George Sewell
Brian Oulton
Paddy Joyce
Will Stampe
Wendy Richard
Alec Ross
Sonnie Willis
Eric Mason
missing
12 April 1967 Dismissal Leading to Lustfulness Thomas Whyte Lionel Harris Rex Tucker Peter Copley
Petra Davies
Fiona Duncan
Carl Jaffe
John Moffatt
Ronald Radd
Jane Wenham
missing
19 April 1967 A Brilliant Future Behind Him Thomas Clarke Lionel Harris Robert Fleming David Buck
John Phillips
Isobel Black
James Bree
Patricia Garwood
Robert Harris
Guy Middleton
Ann Tirard
Stephen Jack
Philip Latham
Richard Carpenter
Frank Gatliff
Yvonne Antrobus
Barry Humphries
Yes (35mm tr?)
3 May 1967 Message for Posterity Dennis Potter Lionel Harris Gareth Davies Patrick Magee
Joseph O'Conor
Geoffrey Chater
Donald Hewlett
Peter Welch
John Golightly
missing
10 May 1967 A Way with the Ladies Simon Gray.

Based on the novel A Helping Hand by Celia Dale.

Lionel Harris John Glenister Bill Fraser
Barbara Couper
Amy Dalby
missing
17 May 1967 The Playground Hunter Davies Lionel Harris John Robins John Ronane
Ann Lynn
Wendy Gifford
Roy Purcell
Jim McManus
missing
24 May 1967 Drums Along the Avon Charles Wood Tony Garnett James MacTaggart Leonard Rossiter
Valerie Newman
Maureen O'Reilly
Salmaan Peer
Derek Ware
Yes (16mm print)
11 October 1967 Sleeping Dog Simon Gray Graeme McDonald Waris Hussein Marius Goring
Rachel Kempson
Johnny Sekka
missing
18 October 1967 Wanted: Single Gentleman… James Broom Lynne Irene Shubik John Gorrie Peter Jeffrey
John Stratton
Alan Rowe
Eileen Atkins
missing
25 October 1967 A Black Candle for Mrs Gogarty Edward Boyd Pharic MacLaren Duncan MacRae
John Grieve
Phil McCall
Peggy Marshall
From BBC Scotland missing
8 November 1967 The Devil a Monk Would Be Peter Luke

Based on a story by Alphonse Daudet.

Lionel Harris Waris Hussein Max Adrian
Tony Selby
Elizabeth Begley
Derek Francis
Bernard Archard
Roger Hammond
John Sharp
missing
15 November 1967 Fall of the Goat Fay Weldon Graeme McDonald Gilchrist Calder Joss Ackland
Patricia Lawrence
John Stratton
Christine Hargreaves
Sheila Burrell
Joan Sanderson
Arthur Hewlett
missing
22 November 1967 The Profile of a Gentleman Jimmy O'Connor Graeme McDonald John MacKenzie Lee Montague
George Sewell
Ken Jones
Paddy Joyce
Richard Shaw
Eric Mason
Michael Goldie
partial
29 November 1967 Dial Rudolph Valentino One One Ewart Alexander Graeme McDonald Gareth Davies Keith Barron
Roy Dotrice
Nerys Hughes
Alan Lake
John Rees
Richard Davies
Edward Burnham
missing
6 December 1967 Kippers and Curtains Vickery Turner Lionel Harris Alan Gibson Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies
Angela Baddeley
John Glyn-Jones
Paul Angelis
Stephen Hubay
missing
13 December 1967 Death of a Private Robert Muller

Based on Georg Büchner's Woyzeck.

Irene Shubik James Ferman Dudley Sutton
Liam Redmond
John Nettleton
Geraldine Sherman
Harry Fowler
Ralph Watson
Godfrey James
Jack Bligh
Yes (35mm tr)
20 December 1967 An Officer of the Court Nemone Lethbridge Tony Garnett James MacTaggart Tommy Godfrey
Yootha Joyce
Bryan Pringle
Ronald Radd
Glynn Edwards
Alec Ross
Mona Bruce
Desmond Cullum-Jones
Frank Jarvis
Erik Chitty
Bill Burridge
Joby Blanshard
Steve Peters
Yes (35mm tr?)
27 December 1967 The Fat of the Land Jack Russell Graeme McDonald Toby Robertson Joan Greenwood
Willoughby Goddard
Roy Holder
Hazel Hughes
Peter Jones
Helen Fraser
Russell Hunter
Yvonne Antrobus
missing
3 January 1968 Toggle Ian Roberts Graeme McDonald Waris Hussein Alan Badel
Moray Watson
Daphne Heard
Ray Armstrong
missing
10 January 1968 House of Character David Rudkin Irene Shubik Alan Cooke Alfred Lynch
Shelagh Fraser
John Collin
Rex Garner
Elroy Josephs
Brian Badcoe
Sylvia Coleridge
Yes (35mm tr)
17 January 1968 Jamie, on a Flying Visit Michael Frayn Graeme McDonald Claude Whatham Anton Rodgers
Caroline Mortimer
Dinsdale Landen
Felicity Gibson
Norman Mitchell
Reg Whitehead
Jane Enshawe
John Scott Martin
Repeated 7 August 1968 under Playbill. missing
24 January 1968 Monsieur Barnett Jean Anouilh Lionel Harris Donald McWhinnie Michael Redgrave
Miriam Karlin
Harold Lang
missing
31 January 1968 The Drummer and the Bloke Rhys Adrian Irene Shubik Herbert Wise Peter Sallis
Peter Vaughan
Donal Donnelly
Michael Robbins
John Dearth
missing
7 February 1968 Rebel in the Grave Marc Brandel Lionel Harris Raymond Menmuir Grégoire Aslan
Michael York
missing
21 February 1968 Coincidence Piers Paul Read Graeme McDonald Moira Armstrong Clive Revill
Caroline Blakiston
Donald Douglas
Emrys James
John Franklyn-Robbins
John Savident
Llewellyn Rees
Bella Emberg
Roger Avon
Michael Sheard
Desmond Cullum-Jones
Michael Mulcaster
missing
3 April 1968 Light Blue Gerald Vaughan-Hughes Graeme McDonald Alan Cooke Calvin Lockhart
Maureen O'Brien
Robert Gillespie
missing
10 April 1968 Let's Murder Vivaldi David Mercer Graeme McDonald Alan Bridges Denholm Elliott
Gwen Watford
Glenda Jackson
David Sumner
Repeated also 7 July 1988. Yes
17 April 1968 The Golden Vision Neville Smith and Gordon Honeycombe Tony Garnett Kenneth Loach Ken Jones
Bill Dean
Neville Smith
Joey Kaye
Yes (35mm tr?)
1 May 1968 The Man Behind You Jeremy Scott Irene Shubik Moira Armstrong Michael Bryant
Tony Steedman
Alan Tucker
Stephen Whittaker
missing
8 May 1968 Infidelity Took Place John Mortimer Irene Shubik Michael Hayes Judy Cornwell
Paul Daneman
John Nettleton
Patrick Newell
missing
21 August 1968 Mrs. Lawrence Will Look After It Tony Parker Irene Shubik John MacKenzie Mary Miller
Ray Smith
Barry Jackson
James Appleby
Ray Barron
Pauline Collins
Griffith Davies
Gilly Fraser
Sheila Grant
Ben Howard
Frank Jarvis
Eric Mason
Royston Tickner
Yes (35mm tr?)
28 August 1968 Spoiled Simon Gray Graeme McDonald Waris Hussein Michael Craig
Elizabeth Shepherd
Simon Ward
missing
4 September 1968 The Gorge Peter Nichols Tony Garnett Christopher Morahan Billy Hamon
Constance Chapman
Reg Lye
Neil Wilson
John Woodnutt
David Webb
Repeated also 8 September 1976 on BBC2, 28 July 1993 on BBC2. Yes (35mm tr?)
11 September 1968 A Night with Mrs. Da Tanka William Trevor Irene Shubik John Gorrie Jean Kent
Geoffrey Bayldon
Arthur Lowe
Peter Bathurst
Daphne Heard
John Savident
Reginald Barratt
Christopher Burgess
Barry Andrews
missing
18 September 1968 Charlie Alun Owen Irene Shubik Michael Hayes Barrie Ingham
Julian Glover
Mary Chester
missing
25 September 1968 Anyone for Tennis? J. B. Priestley Graeme McDonald Claude Whatham Clifford Evans
Rachel Kempson
Joseph O'Conor
Ernest Clark
Michael Pennington
Angharad Rees
missing
2 October 1968 Mooney and his Caravans Peter Terson Irene Shubik James Ferman John Alderton
Diana Bishop
Dave Prowse
Jerry Holmes
missing
9 October 1968 The Lower Largo Sequence Edward Boyd Pharic MacLaren Patrick Allen
Isobel Black
From BBC Scotland missing
16 October 1968 Hello, Good Evening, and Welcome Hugh Whitemore Graeme McDonald Claude Whatham Robert Hardy
Michael Robbins
James Marcus
Roshan Seth
George Roubicek
Ralph Bates
Dallas Cavell
missing
30 October 1968 A Bit of Crucifixion, Father Julia Jones Graeme McDonald Geoffrey Nethercott Walter Fitzgerald
Valerie White
Margery Mason
Alan Lake
P.G. Stephens
missing
6 November 1968 Nothing will be the Same Again James Hanley Irene Shubik Peter Hammond Patrick Magee
Bernard Lee
Gwen Cherrell
Tessa Wyatt
missing
20 November 1968 A Beast with Two Backs Dennis Potter Graeme McDonald Lionel Harris Patrick Barr
Denis Carey
Christian Rodska
Basil Henson
Madeleine Newbury
Geraldine Newman
Llewellyn Rees
Yes (16mm print)
27 November 1968 On the Eve of Publication David Mercer Graeme McDonald Alan Bridges Leo McKern
Thorley Walters
Michele Dotrice
Kay Dotrice
Repeated also 6 December 1980 on BBC2, on 30 June 1988, and on 19&20-10-2002 on BBC4. Yes (35mm tr)
8 January 1969 The Fabulous Frump James Gibbins Irene Shubik Peter Hammond Sheila Steafel
Peter Butterworth
Donald Churchill
Patsy Rowlands
Richard Stilgoe
missing
15 January 1969 Smoke Screen Fay Weldon Graeme McDonald Donald McWhinnie Lally Bowers
Stephanie Bidmead
Gemma Jones
Edwin Richfield
Jonathan Newth
Ian Lavender
Geoffrey Cheshire
missing
22 January 1969 Dr. Aitkinson's Daughter Hugo Charteris Graeme McDonald Gilchrist Calder Raymond Huntley
Peter Barkworth
Fanny Rowe
Jennifer Hilary
Sylvia Coleridge
David Langton
Helen Lindsay
Neil Wilson
Reginald Barratt
missing
29 January 1969 The Apprentices Peter Terson Graeme McDonald James Ferman James Gibson
Barrie Rutter
Allan Swift
Paula Wilcox
Russell Dixon
Gareth Thomas
Loftus Burton
Peter Turner
The National Youth Theatre production of The Apprentices missing
12 February 1969 Birthday Michael Frayn Graeme McDonald Claude Whatham Rosemary Leach
Angela Pleasence
Clive Swift
Georgina Ward
Roshan Seth
Tariq Yunus
missing
19 February 1969 The Big Flame Jim Allen Tony Garnett Kenneth Loach Norman Rossington
Godfrey Quigley
Ken Jones
Griffith Davies
Neville Smith
Michael Lynch
Paddy Joyce
Yes (35mm tr?)
26 February 1969 A Serpent in Putney Fred Watson Graeme McDonald Geoffrey Nethercott Tony Britton
Angela Browne
Frances White
John Alderton
Barry Stanton
missing
5 March 1969 Bam! Pow! Zapp! Nigel Kneale Graeme McDonald William Slater Clive Revill
Pauline Delany
Robert Powell
Jeremy Ranchev
Robert James
missing
2 April 1969 Sling Your Hook Roy Minton Irene Shubik Michael Tuchner Michael Bates
Joe Gladwin
Kenneth Cranham
Barry Jackson
Warren Clarke
Patrick O'Connell
Jo Rowbottom
George Layton
Johnnie Wade
Norman Jones
Neville Smith
Colin Spaull
Andrew McCulloch
Derek Keller
Yes (35mm tr)
9 April 1969 A Child and A Half Owen Holder Graeme McDonald Alan Bridges Geoffrey Bayldon
Caroline Mortimer
Dinsdale Landen
Rhoda Lewis
missing
16 April 1969 Son of Man Dennis Potter Graeme McDonald Gareth Davies Colin Blakely
Robert Hardy
Bernard Hepton
Brian Blessed
Edward Hardwicke
Godfrey Quigley
Gawn Grainger
Godfrey James
Eric Mason
Hugh Futcher
Edmund Bailey
David Cannon
Roy Stewart
Repeated also 28 July 1987, and 23 January 2005 on BBC4. Yes
23 April 1969 The Exiles Errol John Irene Shubik Herbert Wise Errol John
Esther Anderson
Michael Griffiths
Lelia Goldoni
Donald Douglas
Ann Tirard
Hugh Morton
Robin Scott
missing
30 April 1969 Blodwen, Home from Rachel's Marriage David Rudkin Irene Shubik Alan Cooke Ann Beach
Gilbert Wynne
Megs Jenkins
William Squire
Declan Mulholland
Eamonn Boyce
Clive Merrison
Clare Jenkins
Heather Emmanuel
missing
6 August 1969 The Parachute David Mercer Tony Garnett Anthony Page Alan Badel
Jill Bennett
John Osborne
Isabel Dean
Esmond Knight
Drewe Henley
Barry Jackson
John J. Carney
Norman Jones
Royston Farrell
Stephen Whittaker
Repeat of Play of the Month 21 January 1968. Repeated also 1 September 1976 on BBC2 and 29 November 1980 on BBC2, on 23 June 1988. Yes (35mm tr)
24 September 1969 Pitchi Poi François Billetdoux

English version by Peter Meyer

Michael Bakewell Roderick Graham Georges Rouquier
David Spenser
Simon Lack
Hana Maria Pravda
Repeat; originally shown as part of The Largest Theatre in the World project of the EBU, 1 November 1967. Yes
1 October 1969 The Last Train through the Harecastle Tunnel Peter Terson Irene Shubik Alan Clarke Richard O'Callaghan
John Le Mesurier
Paul Brooke
Robert Hartley
Angela Pleasence
John Owens
Jonathan Burn
Bill Lyons
Griffith Davies
John Scott Martin
Eileen Way
Claire Davenport
Shelagh Fraser
Yes (35mm tr)
8 October 1969 Patterson O.K. Ray Jenkins Pharic MacLaren Andrew Robertson
Roddy McMillan
Callum Mill
Virginia Stark
from BBC Scotland missing
15 October 1969 The Mark-Two Wife William Trevor Irene Shubik Philip Saville Faith Brook
Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies
Joanna Lumley
Henry Gilbert
Roger Hammond
Alethea Charlton
Philip Madoc
Lillias Walker
Yes
22 October 1969 Close the Coalhouse Door Alan Plater

from a story by Sid Chaplin

Graeme McDonald Bill Hays Dudley Foster
Alan Browning
Colin Baker
Bryan Pringle
John Woodvine
Ralph Watson
Kevin Stoney
James Garbutt
missing
29 October 1969 The Sad Decline of Arthur Maybury John Gorrie Irene Shubik John Gorrie Roland Culver
Lally Bowers
Valerie White
John Ringham
John Savident
Sheila Grant
Harry Littlewood
Sylvia Coleridge
Paul Greenhalgh
Peter Stenson
missing
5 November 1969 All Out for Kangaroo Valley Noel Robinson Irene Shubik Bill Bain Sandra Gleeson
Mark Edwards
Jennifer Young
Kerry Francis
Peter Arne
Peter Collier
Donald Pickering
Eileen Way
missing
12 November 1969 Happy Alan Gosling Irene Shubik Marc Miller Malcolm McDowell
Richard Vernon
Brenda Bruce
Leslie Sands
Pauline Collins
Frank Mills
David Ashford
missing
19 November 1969 There is also Tomorrow Hugo Charteris Graeme McDonald John MacKenzie Glyn Houston
Jean Harvey
Ann Penfold
David Burke
Neville Smith
John Nettleton
Kenneth Farrington
Alec Ross
Colour. Repeated as a Play for Today 24 June 1971. missing
26 November 1969 Double Bill Johnny Speight Graeme McDonald David Myerscough-Jones Marty Feldman
Eileen Atkins
Joby Blanshard
Diane Aubrey
Donald Gee
Colour. Comprises The Compartment and Playmates. Playmates was repeated as a Play for Today 8 April 1971. Yes (16mm b&w print)
3 December 1969 Blood of the Lamb Leon Whiteson Graeme McDonald Alan Bridges Frank Finlay
Nicola Pagett
T.P. McKenna
Anthony Corlan
Donald Morley
Trevor Martin
Colour missing
10 December 1969 The Vortex Noël Coward Graeme McDonald Philip Dudley Margaret Leighton
Alan Melville
Patrick Barr
Jennifer Daniel
Barry Justice
Richard Warwick
Felicity Gibson
Nancie Jackson
David McKail
Colour. Adapted from the play. Yes
17 December 1969 It Wasn't Me James Hanley Irene Shubik James Ferman Frances Cuka
Ronald Lacey
Derek Francis
Milton Johns
Colour missing
7 January 1970 The Season of the Witch Desmond McCarthy and Johnny Byrne Anne Head Desmond McCarthy Julie Driscoll
Paul Nicholas
Robert Powell
Maurice Quick
Fanny Carby
Glynn Edwards
Tony Caunter
Colour. Repeated as a Play for Today 22 April 1971. Yes
14 January 1970 Mille Miglia Athol Fugard Ronald Travers Robin Midgley Michael Bryant
Ronald Lacey
Guy Deghy
George Roubicek
Douglas Ditta
Colour. Repeat of 5 August 1968 Theatre 625 on BBC2. Yes
21 January 1970 The Hunting of Lionel Crane Roy Minton Irene Shubik Michael Tuchner Robert Powell
Michael Robbins
Geoffrey Hughes
Walter Sparrow
John Rees
Reg Lye
Colour Yes
28 January 1970 Rest in Peace Uncle Fred Alan Plater Graeme McDonald Michael Hayes Susan Jameson
Corin Redgrave
Jack Watson
Jo Rowbottom
Colour missing
4 February 1970 Mad Jack Tom Clarke Graeme McDonald Jack Gold Michael Jayston
Michael Pennington
Clive Swift
David Wood
Donald Sumpter
Ann Beach
Colour. Winner of the first prize and the silver Dore Catholic Prize at the 1971 Monte Carlo International Television Festival. Repeated as a Play for Today 18 March 1971. Yes
11 February 1970 Nathan and Tabileth Barry Bermange Gerald Savory, David Koning Barry Bermange Albert van Dalsum
Nell Knoop
Colour (almost entirely in brown and white, with one colour scene). A BBC/NCRV co-production, shot as a silent film then re-dubbed into both English and Dutch. Yes
18 February 1970 The Italian Table William Trevor Irene Shubik Herbert Wise Leonard Rossiter
Isabel Dean
Moira Redmond
Ronald Hines
Repeated as a Play for Today 17 June 1971. missing
25 February 1970 The Boy Who Wanted Peace George Friel Pharic MacLaren Laurance Ruddick
Roddy McMillan
Joseph Brady
Irene Sunters
From BBC Scotland Yes
4 March 1970 The Cellar and the Almond Tree David Mercer Graeme McDonald Alan Bridges Celia Johnson
Peter Vaughan
Sydney Tafler
Patsy Byrne
Bernard Kay
Jon Rollason
Godfrey James
Valentino Musetti
Colour. Repeated as a Play for Today 10 June 1971, on BBC2 13 December 1980 and on BBC1 14 July 1988. Yes
11 March 1970 The Year of the Sex Olympics Nigel Kneale Ronald Travers Michael Elliott Leonard Rossiter
Suzanne Neve
Tony Vogel
Vickery Turner
Brian Cox
George Murcell
Martin Potter
Patricia Maynard
Derek Fowlds
Wolfe Morris
Colour. Repeat of 29 July 1968 Theatre 625 on BBC2. Repeated again 22 May 2003. Yes (16mm b&w print)
18 March 1970 No Trams to Lime Street Alun Owen Harry Moore Piers Haggard Rosemary Nicols
Glyn Owen
Anthony May
Paul Greenwood
Elian Wyn
Artro Morris
Julia Hand
Gerard Hely
George Giles
Colour. Repeated as a Play for Today 11 March 1971. Yes (16mm b&w print)
25 March 1970 To See How Far It Is: 1: Murphy's Law Alan Plater Michael Bakewell Roderick Graham Norman Rodway
Nigel Davenport
Philip Bond
John Bryans
Donald Gee
Rhoda Lewis
Arthur Cox
Arnold Ridley
Colour. Repeat of 1 January 1968 Theatre 625 on BBC2. Yes (16mm b&w print)
1 April 1970 To See How Far It Is: 2: The Curse of the Donkins Gilchrist Calder Nigel Davenport
Norman Rodway
Stephanie Bidmead
Fiona Walker
John Bryans
Jill Melford
Patricia Maynard
Tony Blackburn
Judith Chalmers
Stephen Jack
Colour. Repeat of 8 January 1968 Theatre 625 on BBC2. Yes (16mm b&w print)
8 April 1970 To See How Far It Is: 3: To See How Far It Is Naomi Capon Nigel Davenport
Norman Rodway
Geoffrey Bayldon
Peter Stephens
Colour. Repeat of 15 January 1968 Theatre 625 on BBC2. Yes (16mm b&w print)
15 April 1970 Wine of India Nigel Kneale Graeme McDonald Gilchrist Calder Annette Crosbie
Brian Blessed
John Standing
Rosemary Nicols
Catherine Lacey
Ian Ogilvy
Reg Whitehead
Colour missing
22 April 1970 Sovereign's Company Don Shaw Irene Shubik Alan Clarke Roland Culver
Gareth Forwood
James Cosmo
David Rowlands
Raymond Adamson
Norman Mitchell
Moray Watson
John Nettleton
Colour. Repeated as a Play for Today 15 April 1971. Yes
29 April 1970 Party Games Hugh Whitemore Michael Bakewell Roderick Graham Frederick Jaeger
Eileen Atkins
Derek Smith
John Nettleton
Nancie Jackson
Roger Mutton
Paul Angelis
Ray Armstrong
Roy Pearce
Joby Blanshard
Colour. Repeat of 11 March 1968 Theatre 625 on BBC2. missing
13 May 1970 Emma's Time David Mercer Graeme McDonald Alan Bridges Michele Dotrice
Andrew Keir
Robert Kelvin
Peter Vaughan
Ian Holm
John Sharp
Kay Dotrice
Colour Yes
20 May 1970 Chariot of Fire Tony Parker Irene Shubik James Ferman Rosemary Leach
Jimmy Gardner
Charles Tingwell
Stephen Yardley
George Selway
Frank Mills
Michael Turner
Colour. Repeated as a Play for Today 1 July 1971. Yes
27 May 1970 Wind versus Polygamy Obi Egbuna Michael Bakewell Naomi Capon Earl Cameron
Gordon Jackson
Charles Hyatt
Clifton Jones
Rudolph Walker
Elroy Josephs
Colour. Repeat of 15 July 1968 Theatre 625 on BBC2. Repeated also 1 April 1971 as a Play for Today. missing

The Wednesday Play on DVD edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Oliver Wake, "Wednesday Play, The (1964-70)", BFI Screenonline.
  2. ^ Madeleine Macmurraugh-Kavanagh, "The BBC and the Birth of the Wednesday Play 1962-66" in Janet Thumim Small Screens, Big Ideas: Television in the 1950s, London: I.B. Tauris, 2000, pp. 149–64, 159.
  3. ^ a b Mark Duguid "Fable (1965)", BFI Screenonline.
  4. ^ Sergio Angelini, "Stand Up, Nigel Barton (1965)", BFI screenonline
  5. ^ Sergio Angelini, "Vote, Vote, Vote, for Nigel Barton (1965)", BFI screenonline
  6. ^ John R. Cook, Dennis Potter: a life on screen, Manchester: Manchester University Press, p. 333, n.3:5.
  7. ^ a b c d Irene Shubik, Play for Today: the evolution of television drama, Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2000 [1975], p. 46
  8. ^ a b Madeleine MacMurragh-Kavanagh and Stephen Lacey "Who Framed Theatre?: The 'Moment of Change' in British TV Drama" in New Theatre Quarterly, No.57, February 1999, p. 69.
  9. ^ Adam Benedick and Sydney Newman, Obituary: Peter Luke, The Independent, 26 January 1995.
  10. ^ "Winners 1949-2010" Archived 22 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Prix Italia official website.
  11. ^ a b Stephen Lacey, Tony Garnett, Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2002, p. 56.
  12. ^ Jacob Leigh, The Cinema of Ken Loach: Art in the Service of the People, London: Wallflower Press, 2002, p. 195.
  13. ^ Ros Cranston, "Up the Junction (1965)", BFI Screenonline.
  14. ^ Mark Duguid, "Cathy Come Home (1966)", BFI screenonline
  15. ^ Jason Deans and Maggie Brown, "Up the Junction's Tony Garnett reveals mother's backstreet abortion death", The Guardian, 28 April 2013.
  16. ^ a b Anthony Hayward "Cathy come home", The Independent, 3 November 2006.
  17. ^ Asa Briggs, The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom, Volume 5, Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 519.
  18. ^ Quoted by Stephen Lacey, Tony Garnett, Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2002, p. 57.
  19. ^ Graham Fuller, Loach on Loach, London: Faber, 1998, p. 15, cited in Samantha Lay, British Social Realism: From Documentary to Brit-Grit, London: Wallflower Press, 2002, p. 21.
  20. ^ Janet Moat, "In Two Minds (1967)", BFI Screenonline
  21. ^ Janet Moat, "Let's Murder Vivaldi (1968)", BFI Screenonline.
  22. ^ Sergio Angelini, "Son of Man (1969)", BFI Screenonline.
  23. ^ Roger Graef, "Out of the box", The Guardian, 15 February 2006.
  24. ^ "BBC Genome". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk.
  25. ^ "Collections Search | BFI | British Film Institute". collections-search.bfi.org.uk.
  26. ^ "TVBrain | Kaleidoscope | Lost shows | TV Archive | TV History". www.tvbrain.info.
  27. ^ The Programmes as Broadcast record held by the BBC Written Archives Centre reports "21:33 The Wednesday Play – Women in Crisis: With Love and Tears (repeat of telerecording 35/6T/23437 first transmitted in BBC2 at 20.05.10 on 27.09.1964). Produced by Cedric Messina."

Further reading edit

  • Evans, Jeff. The Penguin TV Companion (1st edn). London: Penguin Books. 2001. ISBN 0-14-051467-8.
  • Vahimagi, Tise. British Television: An Illustrated Guide. Oxford: Oxford University Press / British Film Institute. 1994. ISBN 0-19-818336-4.

External links edit