One Morning Near Troodos Explained

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

Director:William Sterling
Based On:play by Iain MacCormick
Released: (Melbourne, live)[3]
Released2: (Sydney, recording)[4]
Runtime: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.[5] [6]

It was the ABC's 22nd live drama made in Melbourne.[7]

Premise

In 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

Production

The 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

External links

Notes and References

  1. 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
  2. Web site: Iain MacCormick. British Television Drama.
  3. News: TV Guide. The Age. 19 March 1959. 34.
  4. News: Sydney Morning Herald. TV Guide. 8 April 1959. 9.
  5. The Age, April 30, 1959 p25
  6. News: Drama Set in Cyprus. Sydney Morning Herald. 6 April 1959. 19.
  7. News: Advertisement. The Age. 19 March 1959. 25.
  8. News: The Age. Radio Guide. 26 February 1959. 32.
  9. ABC Weekly. COMMERCIAL . 16 February 1957. 21.
  10. News: The Age. Drama Set in Cyprus. March 19, 1959. 14.
  11. News: The Age. Opportunities for writers in TV. 30 April 1959. 25.
  12. News: The Age. 19 March 1959. 24. Full co operation.