Australian Plays
Australian Plays is a 1969 Australian anthology TV drama series that aired on the ABC.[1] It consisted of six original Australian dramas.[2]
| Australian Plays | |
|---|---|
| Genre | anthology |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Eric Taylor |
| Running time | 70 mins |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | 1969 |
It was the first Australian drama play since Lucullus in Sydney and Cobwebs in Concrete in Melbourne.[1]
It was the first Australian anthology series since Australian Playhouse and was described by the ABC as "representative of contemporary Australian writers and the development of Australian television drama today." It was produced by Eric Taylor. It was meant to be followed by a series Company of Eight which will have a regular repertory company of eight actors.[3] Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time.[4]
Ep 1. Dynasty
See Dynasty==
Ep 2. Voyage Out
Written and directed by John Croyston. It aired 5 November 1969.[1]
Plot
A woman, Kathy, discovers her husband Robert is dead.[5]
Cast
- Pat Bishop as Kathy
- Ray Hartley as Robert
Ep 3. The Cheerful Cuckold
Ep 4. Tilley Landed On Our Shore
Ep 5. The Torrents
See The Torrents.
Ep 6. Fiends of the Family
Written by Pat Flower based on her 1966 novel, directed by Oscar Whitbread. Aired 26 November 1969 and went for 70 mins.[6][7]
The ABC bought the rights to the novel in November 1967.[8]
Plot
In a lonely house in the suburbs, three middle-aged sisters are repressed by their mother.
Cast
- Ruth Cracknell
- Betty Lucas
- Judith Fisher
- Moray Powell
Reception
It won the 1970 Awgie for best script.
Second series
There was a second series whose plays included The Juggler (1970) and Chimes at Midnight (1970 play).
References
- "Drama Sheds Mothballs". The Age. 23 October 1969. p. 45.
- "Australian plays on ABC-TV". The Canberra Times. 27 October 1969. p. 15. Retrieved 29 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- Marshall, Valda. "Six Australian Plays in ABC Series". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 121.
- Vagg, Stephen (18 February 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
- "TELEVISION Frank in colour". The Canberra Times. 44 (12, 462). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 7 November 1969. p. 17. Retrieved 18 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- "television". The Canberra Times. 44 (12, 472). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 19 November 1969. p. 28. Retrieved 23 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- "TV Guide". Sydney Morning Herald. 24 November 1969. p. 19.
- "SOCIAL ROUNDABOUT". The Australian Women's Weekly. 35 (30). Australia, Australia. 20 December 1967. p. 10. Retrieved 23 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.