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
editA 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
edit| One Morning Near Troodos | |
|---|---|
| Based on | play by Iain MacCormick |
| Directed by | William Sterling |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Running time | 90 mins |
| Original release | |
| Release | 25 March 1959 (Melbourne, live)[3] |
| Release | 8 April 1959 (Sydney, recording)[4] |
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.[5][6]
It was the ABC's 22nd live drama made in Melbourne.[7]
Premise
editIn Cyprus there has been terrorist activity near Mt Troodos, leading to a large scale operation of British troops and police. Two British journalists arrive in the area: James Stark, is an unscrupulous and influential former MP, and Walters, his hard-drinking offsider. Walters does the work while Start takes the credit. They are not allowed into the fighting zone so make their headquarters in a nearby village. Start decides to deal with the terrorists himself, thereby bringing bloodshed to the village.
Cast
edit- Edward Brayshaw
- Syd Conabere
- Carol Armstrong as Lena, the Greek girl attracted to a British soldier
- Lloyd Cunnington
- Frank Gatliff
- Judith Godden
- Ken Goodlet
- Edward Howell
- Robert Peach
- Jennifer Clare
Production
editThe play had been performed on Melbourne radio in 1957 and repeated in 1959.[8][9]
It was rehearsed and filmed at ABC's studios at Ripponlea. There was some location filming on Melbourne streets. It had a cast of fifteen.[10]
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.[11]
Alexandra Atanassious was the Greek text adviser.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ 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". The Age. 19 March 1959. p. 34.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Radio Guide". The Age. 26 February 1959. p. 32.
- ^ "COMMERCIAL". ABC Weekly. 16 February 1957. p. 21.
- ^ "Drama Set in Cyprus". The Age. 19 March 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.