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

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
One Morning Near Troodos
Based onplay by Iain MacCormick
Directed byWilliam Sterling
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
Production
Running time90 mins
DistributorABC
Release
Original release25 March 1959 (Melbourne) (live)[3]
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

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
  • 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

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 Rippon Lea. 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
  • List of live television plays broadcast on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1950s)

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. "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. March 19, 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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