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

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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

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One Morning Near Troodos
Based onplay by Iain MacCormick
Directed byWilliam Sterling
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
Production
Running time90 mins
Original release
Release25 March 1959 (1959-03-25) (Melbourne, live)[3]
Release8 April 1959 (1959-04-08) (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

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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

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Production

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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

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References

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