List of live television plays broadcast on ABC (1956–1969)

The following is a list of live television plays broadcast on Australian broadcaster ABC from its inception in 1956 until 1969. Some were produced in Sydney (on ABN-2), and some were produced in Melbourne (on ABV-2). Most of the Sydney productions were kinescoped so they could be shown in Melbourne, and vice versa. It is not known how many of these kinescope recordings still exist.

Most of the live television plays presented on ABC during the period were adaptations of overseas stage plays, or new versions of works originally aired on BBC television. A few were written locally. The list mainly consists of drama and comedy productions, and also includes several opera presentations.

1950s[]

1956[]

The Twelve Pound Look - based on play by J.M. Barrie - a play broadcast the first night the ABC went to air
The Telephone - first opera broadcast

1957[]

Amahl and the Night Visitors - opera
Dark Brown - story of unknown origin
The Duke in Darkness - adaptation of play by Patrick Hamilton
Ending It - adaptation of British play
Fair Passenger - adaptation of 1955 British TV play
A Fourth for Bridge^[1]
Holiday in Biarritz^[2]
The Importance of Being Earnest - adaptation of play by Oscar Wilde
In The Zone - adaptation of play by Eugene O'Neill
Killer in Close-Up - four episodes broadcast over 1957-58
The Proposal - based on the play, A Marriage Proposal by Anton Chekov
The Passionate Pianist - adaptation of original Australian play by Barbara Vernon
A Phoenix Too Frequent - adaptation of play by Christopher Fry
The Right Person^[3]
Rope - adaptation of play by Patrick Hamilton
Roundabout^[4]
Shadow of Doubt - based on a British play
The Sound of Thunder^[5]
The Sub-Editor's Room - an original Australian play
Sunday Costs Five Pesos^[6]
Three Cornered Moon^[7]
Tomorrow's Child^[8]
Twelve Pound Look^[9] (a different adaptation to the 1956 version)
The Wraith^[10]

1958[]

As You Are^[11]
The Barber of Seville^[12]
Box for One^[13]
Captain Carvallo^[14]
Chance of a Ghost^[15]
Citizen of Westminster - adaptation of British play
An Enemy of the People^[16]
Fidelio^[17]
G'day Digger
Gaslight - adaptation of play by Patrick Hamilton
The Governess - adaptation of play by Patrick Hamilton
His Excellency^[18]
(1958) - opera
If It's a Rose^[19]
The Lark^[20]
Last Call^[21]
Miss Mabel^[22]
The Multi-Coloured Umbrella - adaptation of Australian stage play
Murder Story^[23]
The Public Prosecutor^[24]
Rose Without a Thorn^[25]
Sixty Point Bold^[26]
The Small Victory^[27]
Sorry, Wrong Number ^[28]
Symphonie Pastorale^[29]
Three's Company - opera

1959[]

Act of Violence^[30]
Albert Herring - opera
Antony and Cleopatra - adaptation of Shakespeare
Black Chiffon^[31]
Black Limelight^[32]
Blue Murder - original Australian TV play^[33]
Bodgie - original Australian TV play
Cavalleria Rusticana - opera^[34]
Crime Passionel^[35]
A Dead Secret^[36]
Dinner with the Family^[37]
Hamlet^[38]
Lady in Danger - adaptation of 1942 Australian play
Misery Me^[39]
One Bright Day^[40]
One Morning Near Troodos - adaptation of BBC TV play
Outpost - original Australian play written for TV
Prima Donna (1959) - opera
Rita - opera^[41] (per a search of their website, National Archives may hold a copy)
The Seagull^[42]
The Skin of Our Teeth^[43]
The Soldier's Tale^[44]
The Strong are Lonely^[45]
Till Death Do Us Part^[46]
Treason^[47]
Trip Tease and High C's (1959)
Wuthering Heights^[48]

1960s[]

1960[]

The Scent of Fear (1960)
Ned Kelly (1960)
The Bartered Bride (1960) - opera
Even Unto Bethlehem (1960) - opera
Il Seraglio (1960) - opera
The Life and Death of King Richard II (1960) - TV play
Close to the Roof (1960) - TV play
The Dock Brief (1960) - TV play based on British play by John Mortimer
Heart Attack
The Square Ring (1960) - TV play
Swamp Creatures (1960) - TV play
Turning Point (1960) - TV play
The Marriage of Figaro - opera
The Slaughter of St Theresa's Day - based on Australian play by Peter Kenna
Venus Observed
The Medium (1960) - opera

1961[]

Corinth House (1961)
The Big Client (1961)
A Little South of Heaven
The Night of the Ding Dong (1961)
Burst of Summer
Il Tabarro - opera
The Sergeant from Burralee (1961) - TV play
A Night Out
The Tell-Tale Heart
The Merchant of Venice
A Little South of Heaven
The Abduction from the Seraglio
Samson and Delilah - opera
The Secret of Susannah - opera
Two Headed Eagle - based on an ITV play

1962[]

Don Pasquale - opera
Jenny - original Australian TV play
The House of Mancello - original Australian TV play
Funnel Web - original Australian TV play
Boy Round the Corner - original Australian TV play
The Teeth of the Wind - original Australian TV play
Fly by Night - original Australian TV play
The Hobby Horse - original Australian TV play
The Land of Smiles - opera
My Three Angels - based on an American play by Samuel and Bella Spewack adapted from a French play
The Taming of the Shrew
Lola Montez (1962)
She'll Be Right
The Case of Private Hamp (1962)
L’Enfant Prodigue - opera
Madame Butterfly - opera
La Serva Padrona - opera
The Devil Take Her - opera
The Consul - opera
The Pearlfishers - opera
Hansel and Gretel - opera

1963[]

The Sentimental Bloke (1963)
Don't Listen Ladies (1963)
A Piece of Ribbon (1963)
The White Carnation (1963)
The Right Thing (1963) - TV play
Ballad for One Gun (1963) - TV play about Ned Kelly
A Dead Secret
The Tempest
Flowering Cherry (1963) - based on play by Robert Bolt
The Long Sunset (1963) - based on play by R.C. Sheriff
Bastien and Bastienne - opera
Fisher’s Ghost - opera
Simone Boccanegra - opera
Manon - opera

1964[]

Tosca - opera
Peter Grimes - opera
I Pagliacci (No.2) - opera
Cinderella - opera

1965[]

The Tower (1965)
Macbeth
Ring Out Wild Bells
Rusty Bugles
The Big Killing (1965 film)
What About Next Year (1965)
Thirty-One Backyards (1965) - TV pay
The Tape Recorder (1965)
School for Fathers - opera
Louise (1965) - opera
A Christmas Play - opera
The Gypsy Baron - opera
Amelia Goes to the Ball - opera

1966[]

Anonymous (1966)
Marleen (1966)
Blind Balance (1966)
Ticket to Nowhere (1966)
The Third Witness (1966)
The Decision (1966)
Objector (1966)
A Small Wonder (1966)
V.I.P.P. (1966)
The Paradise Shanty (1966)
Easy Terms (1966)
The Attack (1966)
Goodbye, Gloria, Hello! (1966)
Maestro a Capella - opera
The Gypsy Baron (1966) - opera

1967[]

Shadow on the Wall (1967)
Slow Poison (1967)
The Five-Sided Triangle, Oor One Too Many (1967)
The Brass Guitar (1967)

1968[]

The Shifting Heart (1968)
Fiends of the Family (1968) - based on novel by Pat Flower

1969[]

The Torrents (1969) - based on Australian play by
The Cheerful Cuckold (1969)

References[]

External links[]

ABC Opera productions at Gore Hill

[1] ttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt3594094/

[2] ttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt3359678/

[3] ttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt3359912/

[4] ttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt3359804/

[5] ttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt3362262/

[6] ttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt3365352/

[7] ttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt3374664/

[8] ttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt3359708/

[9] ttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=309VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KZUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6053%2C4116432

[10] ttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DVURAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ppUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6079%2C3311600

[11] ttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3gdQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mJUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3793%2C4533673

[12] ttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt3478514/

[13] ttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt3476860/

[14] ttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt3393040/

[15] ttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt3383762/

[16] "Enemy of the People". IMDb.

[17] "Fidelio". IMDb.

[18] "His Excellency". IMDb.

[19] "If It's a Rose". IMDb.

[20] "The Lark". IMDb.

[21] "Last Call". IMDb.

[22] "Miss Mabel". IMDb.

[23] "Murder Story". IMDb.

[24] "The Public Prosecutor". IMDb.

[25] "Rose Without a Thorn". IMDb.

[26] "Sixty Point Bold". IMDb.

[27] "The Small Victory". IMDb.

[28] "Sorry, Wrong Number". IMDb.

[29] ttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MlFVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nJUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4647%2C900469

[30] "Act of Violence". IMDb.

[31] "Black Chiffon". IMDb.

[32] "Black Limelight". IMDb.

[33] ttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2vJjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9OQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3525%2C6831434

[34] ttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ddBVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uL0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4764%2C4011611

[35] ttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tH9WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5eQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1046%2C2858616

[36] ttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2oRVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=F6wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4790%2C2273059

[37] "Dinner with the Family". IMDb.

[38] "Hamlet". IMDb.

[39] "Misery Me". IMDb.

[40] ttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sKUUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Sq8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4903%2C3970953

[41] ttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=woRVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5KgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4942%2C650920

[42] "The Seagull". IMDb.

[43] "The Skin of Our Teeth". IMDb.

[44] "The Soldier's Tale". IMDb.

[45] "The Strong Are Lonely". IMDb.

[46] "Till Death do Us Part". IMDb.

[47] ttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ey9WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QuYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1134%2C799233

[48] ttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=n6UUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Sq8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4714%2C592640

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v t TV productions of William Sterling
TV plays	Elizabeth Refuses (1957) In the Zone (1957) Ending It (1957) Rope (1957) Sound of Thunder (1957) Captain Carvallo (1958) Killer in Close-Up (1958) The Small Victory (1958) Box for One (1958) Gaslight (1958) The Governess (1958 film) (1958) The Lark (1959) One Morning Near Troodos (1959) A Dead Secret (1959) Black Limelight (1959) Ned Kelly (1959) Treason (1959) Heart Attack (1960) The Public Prosecutor (1960) Mine Own Executioner (1960) Macbeth (1960) Dark Under the Sun (1960) Who Killed Kovali? (1960) Two-Headed Eagle (1960) The End Begins (1961) Shadow of Heroes (1961) Call Me a Liar (1961) Hedda Gabler (1961) Night of the Ding-Dong (1961) Burst of Summer (1961) The Lady from the Sea (1961) The Big Deal (1961) The House of Mancello (1962) The Ides of March (1961) Murder in the Cathedral (1962) Light Me a Lucifer (1962) The Devil Makes Sunday (1962) The Hobby Horse (1962) The Music Upstairs (1962) Village Wooing (1962) Barnstable (1963) The Prisoner (1963) Uneasy Paradise (1963) The Fighting Cock (1963) The Chinese Wall (1963) A Man for All Seasons (1964) The First 400 Years (1964) Othello (1965)
Revues	Wild Life and Christmas Belles (1958) Trip-Tease and High C's (1959)
Ballets	The Soldier's Tale (1959) The Forbidden Rite (1962)
Operas	The Pearl Fishers (1963)
TV series	Compact (1965) Quick Before They Catch Us (1966) The Three Musketeers (1966-67) The Further Adventures of the Musketeers (1967) Sherlock Holmes (1968) Dr. Finlay's Casebook (1969) The Expert (1969) Counterstrike (1969)
Feature film	Return Journey (1961) (incomplete) Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972)

v t TV productions of Christopher Muir
TV plays	The Proposal (1957) Dark Brown (1957) Killer in Close-Up (1957) The Duke in Darkness (1957) Last Call (1958) Outpost (1959) Black Chiffon (1959) Antony and Cleopatra (1959) Till Death Do Us Part (1959) Dinner with the Family (1959) The Astronauts (1960) Uncle Martino (1960) Eye of the Night (1960) It's the Geography That Counts (1960) Waters of the Moon (1961) The First Joanna (1961) The Rivals (1961) Quiet Night (1961) Marriage Lines (1962) Martine (1961) Boy Round the Corner (1962) Fury in Petticoats (1962) The Teeth of the Wind (1962) She'll Be Right (1962) Man of Destiny (1963) A Piece of Ribbon (1963) The White Carnation (1963) The Physicists (1964) Six Characters in Search of an Author (1964) Luther (1964) Nude with Violin (1964) Everyman (1964) The Tower (1965) Boy with Banner (1966) (not screened) Topaze (1966) A Ride on the Big Dipper (1967) Shadow on the Wall (1968) The Party (1969)
Operas	Amahl and the Night Visitors (1957) Fidelo (1958) Albert Herring (1959) The Bartered Bride (1960) The Secret of Susannah (1961) Il Tabarro (1961) The Ambitious Servant Girl (1962) The Prodigal Son (1962) The Consul (1962) Bastien and Bastienne (1963) Simone Boccanegra (1963) Peter Grimes (1964) The Bloodless Sand (1964) Martha (1964) Carmen (1965)
Ballets	Giselle (1959) (1959) The Nutcracker (1960) Coppelia (1960) The Bloodless Sand (1961) Sylvia (1961) Caranval (1961) The Spider's Banquet (1963) One in Five (1963) Robert Pomie Ballet (1963) Hans Christian Anderson (1963) The New Horizon (1964) The Fir Tree (1964) Seven Deadly Sins (1965) She (1967)
Feature film	Libido (1973)
TV series	Lucky Colour Blue (1975) (TV series) Andra (1976) (TV series) Golden Pennies (1985) (TV mini series) Great Expectations: The Untold Story (1988)