One Morning Near Troodos
One Morning Near Troodos (1956) was a British TV play by Iain MacCormick which aired on the BBC as part of Sunday Night Theatre. It was the first British TV play about the Cyprus Emergency.[1][2]
Plot
A journalist in Cyprus is captured by EOKA guerillas. British troops track down the guerrillas and the journalist leads them into a rebel ambush. A woman is attracted to a British soldier.
1959 Australian Version
One Morning Near Troodos | |
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Ad from 'The Age' 19 Mar 1959 | |
Directed by | William Sterling |
Based on | play by Iain MacCormick |
Distributed by | ABC |
Release date | 25 March 1959 (Melbourne) (live) 8 April 1959 (Sydney) (recording)[3] |
Running time | 90 mins |
Country | Australia |
Language | English |
Iain MacCormick was Australian and a number of his plays, originally written for British TV, were adapted for Australian television. The play was performed live on Australian TV in 1959.[4][5] It was the ABC's 22nd live drama.[6]
Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time.[7]
Cast
- Carol Armstrong as Lena, the Greek girl attracted to a British soldier
- Edward Brayshaw
- Syd Conabere
- Lloyd Cunnington
- Frank Gatliff
- Judith Godden
- Ken Goodlet
- Edward Howell
- Robert Peach
- Jennifer Clare
Production
It was rehearsed and filmed at ABC's studios at Rippon Lea. There was some location filming on Melbourne streets. It had a cast of fifteen.[8]
A segment of the script was published in The Age as an example of TV scripts. The article said that Australian writers were typically paid between £60-£80 a script.[9]
Alexandra Atanassious was the Greek text adviser.[10]
See also
- List of live television plays broadcast on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1950s)
References
- Jonathan Stubbs, ‘Always ready to explode into violence!’ Representing the Cyprus Emergency and decolonization in The High Bright Sun (1965) Journal of European Popular Culture Vol 6 Issue 2 2015
- "Iain MacCormick". British Television Drama.
- "TV Guide". Sydney Morning Herald. 8 April 1959. p. 9.
- The Age, April 30, 1959 p25
- "Drama Set in Cyprus". Sydney Morning Herald. 6 April 1959. p. 19.
- "Advertisement". The Age. 19 March 1959. p. 25.
- Vagg, Stephen (February 18, 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
- "Drama Set in Cyprus". The Age. March 19, 1959. p. 14.
- "Opportunities for writers in TV". The Age. 30 April 1959. p. 25.
- "Full co operation". The Age. 19 March 1959. p. 24.