The Wednesday Play (1964–1970)

Series of one-off plays made by BBC television which gave breaks to a wide range of writers and directors in the late 60s, such as Dennis Potter, Ken Loach, David Mercer and John Hopkins. ... See full summary »

Creator:

Sydney Newman

Stars:

Edwin Brown, Neville Smith, Tony Selby

3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Edwin Brown	...	Chief Prison Officer (9 episodes, 1965-1969)
Neville Smith	...	Eddie (8 episodes, 1965-1969)
Tony Selby	...	Brother Malachay (7 episodes, 1965-1967)
Ken Jones	...	Arthur (7 episodes, 1965-1969)
Michael Robbins	...	Albert Barking (7 episodes, 1966-1970)
Alec Coleman	...	Gambler (7 episodes, 1965-1967)
George Sewell	...	Barny the tallyman, in the washhouse (6 episodes, 1965-1967)
Griffith Davies	...	Jackie Coulson (6 episodes, 1965-1969)
Paddy Joyce	...	Docker (6 episodes, 1965-1969)
Alan Selwyn	...	Gambler (6 episodes, 1965-1967)
William Moore	...	Constable Howell (5 episodes, 1965-1967)
Wally Patch	...	Grandad (5 episodes, 1965-1967)
John Bailey	...	Humphrey Wiles (5 episodes, 1965-1967)
John Kidd	...	Auctioneer (5 episodes, 1965-1967)
Will Stampe	...	Boat Proprietor (5 episodes, 1965-1967)
Julie May	...	Inmate at Cumbermere Lodge (5 episodes, 1965-1968)
Tommy Godfrey	...	Plantaganet King (5 episodes, 1965-1967)
Keith Campbell	...	American (5 episodes, 1965-1969)
Eric Mason	...	Policeman (5 episodes, 1965-1969)
Peter Jeffrey	...	Charles (4 episodes, 1965-1967)
Keith Barron	...	Nigel Barton (4 episodes, 1965-1967)
Eileen Atkins	...	Joan (4 episodes, 1965-1969)
Rosemary Leach	...	Jean Marfield (4 episodes, 1967-1970)
Derek Francis	...	Cornelius Shafton (4 episodes, 1965-1969)
Elizabeth Begley	...	Auntie (4 episodes, 1965-1968)
Geraldine Moffat	...	Jo (4 episodes, 1965-1969)
John Nettleton	...	Captain (4 episodes, 1967-1970)
Dennis Golding	...	Boy (4 episodes, 1965-1967)
Jo Rowbottom	...	Christine (4 episodes, 1965-1970)
Alec Ross	...	Jon Anson (4 episodes, 1965-1969)
Llewellyn Rees	...	Arnold (4 episodes, 1965-1968)
Godfrey James	...	Bert (4 episodes, 1965-1970)
Michael Wynne	...	Arthur (4 episodes, 1966-1970)
Yvonne Antrobus	...	Girl (4 episodes, 1966-1967)
Walter Hall	...	Henry Cooper (4 episodes, 1965-1969)
Frank Littlewood	...	Judge (4 episodes, 1965-1970)
George Tovey	...	Little George (4 episodes, 1965)
John Phillips	...	Cardinal Runan (4 episodes, 1965-1968)
Isobel Black	...	Annabel Tranter-Percy (4 episodes, 1965-1968)
Geraldine Sherman	...	Mary (4 episodes, 1965-1969)
Bryan Pringle	...	Trumper (4 episodes, 1966-1969)
Christine Hargreaves	...	Doreen (4 episodes, 1967-1970)
Yootha Joyce	...	Miriam Green (4 episodes, 1965-1967)
Winifred Dennis	...	Mrs. Ward (4 episodes, 1965-1968)
John Woodnutt	...	Albert Stamp (4 episodes, 1965-1968)
Alan Lake	...	Arthur (4 episodes, 1965-1968)
Basil Henson	...	Brigadier Terence O'Brian (4 episodes, 1964-1968)
Andrea Lawrence	...	Gambler (4 episodes, 1965-1967)
Eileen Way	...	Aunt Erika (4 episodes, 1966-1969)
Fanny Carby	...	Connie (4 episodes, 1965-1970)
Lucy Griffiths	...	Bishop's wife (4 episodes, 1965-1966)
Eileen Colgan	...	Dora (4 episodes, 1965-1968)
Lionel Wheeler	...	Mr. Gray (4 episodes, 1965-1968)
Eunice Black	...	Audrey (4 episodes, 1965-1967)
Frank Jarvis	...	Customer (4 episodes, 1965-1968)
David Hutcheson	...	Blecker (4 episodes, 1966-1969)
James Appleby	...	Bushey (4 episodes, 1965-1968)
Cleo Sylvestre	...	Inmate at Holm Lea (4 episodes, 1965-1969)

Storyline

Series of one-off plays made by BBC television which gave breaks to a wide range of writers and directors in the late 60s, such as Dennis Potter, Ken Loach, David Mercer and John Hopkins. Famous plays include 'Up the Junction', 'Cathy Come Home' , 'Stand Up Nigel Barton', 'Vote, Vote, Vote For Nigel Barton', 'On the Eve of Publication' and 'Son of Man'. The series often addressed controversial issues such as homelessness and abortion.

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Plot Keywords:

partially lost tv series | day in title

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 October 1964 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min 75 min (172 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This series does not exist complete in the archives, with several episodes having been wiped years ago (meaning they no longer exist).

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Connections

Referenced in The Cult of...: Adam Adamant Lives! (2006)

User Reviews

Not all formulae are formulaic

The Wednesday play seemed to me a brave attempt to do something new and interesting with drama on television. Very like fringe theatre in some respects but with an ability to stretch locations I found it immensely stimulating as a teenager and would love to see more TV drama like it.

Things like The Sopranos or 6' under seem to me to represent a very commercialised aspect of the attempt to surprise and stimulate that The Wednesday Play did in an understated way.

I suppose one could look back to things like Armchair Theatre to such one-offs too. I know that writers of equally good talent must still exist but are they getting the chances they deserve? Otherwise, what do we do? Flog off to Edinburgh again and sleep on a floor? At my age? Well, yes of course if I have to.