My Ten Plays for Today: Billy Smart This is the latest in a series of posts in which we publish the ‘top ten’ or ‘top five’ Plays for Today identified by a range of writers, researchers and media professionals. The brief was that such lists should not necessarily consist of what were considered to be […]
This is the third in a series of posts in which we publish the ‘top ten’ or ‘top five’ Plays for Today identified by a range of writers, researchers and media professionals. The brief was that such lists should not necessarily consist of what were considered to be the ‘best’ Plays for Today but could […]
By Simon Farquhar Written by Alan Sharp, produced by Irene Shubik and directed by Philip Saville. Broadcast on BBC1 at 9.20pm on 15th October 1970. ‘Men with Something to Say,’ was the fanfare Radio Times headline in the week that BBC 1 launched Play for Today. Alan Sharp, John Osborne, Dennis Potter, Clive Exton and […]
This is the second of a series of posts in which we publish the ‘top ten’ or ‘top five’ Plays for Today identified by a range of writers, researchers and media professionals. The brief was that such lists should not necessarily consist of what were considered to be the ‘best’ Plays for Today but could […]
Written by Barrie Keeffe, produced by Margaret Matheson and directed by Brian Farnham. Broadcast on BBC1 at 9.35pm on Tuesday 15 November 1977. At the time of his death in December 2019, it was his screenplay for the cult thriller The Long Good Friday (1980), and its heady cocktail of London East End gangsters, docklands’ […]
By Jon Dear Written by John Bowen, directed by John Glenister and produced by Graeme McDonald. Broadcast on BBC1 at 9.25pm on Tuesday 22 March 1977. The Radio Times listing for A Photograph states: Michael Otway has everything to live for, but he is going to die. His life is elegant, his marriage comfortable, his […]
by Jonathan Owen Written by David Mercer, directed by Alan Bridges and produced by Graeme McDonald. Broadcast on BBC1 at 9.10pm on Wednesday 4 March 1970 (The Wednesday Play) and on BBC1 at 9.20pm on Thursday 10 June 1971 (Play for Today). David Mercer’s The Cellar and the Almond Tree was first broadcast in 1970 […]
by Philip Braithwaite The Flipside of Dominick Hide. Written by Jeremy Paul and Alan Gibson, directed by Alan Gibson, and produced by Chris Cherry. Broadcast at 9.35pm on Tuesday 9 December 1980. Another Flip for Dominick. Written by Jeremy Paul and Alan Gibson, directed by Alan Gibson, and produced by Chris Cherry. Broadcast at 9.25pm […]
by John Cook ‘The television play is virtually the last place on the box where the individual voice and the personal vision is central to the experience.’[1] ‘Play for Today ! Just for today !… Something easy, undemanding. It’s all part of the commercial ! It’s all “pass the time”‘ ! How do we reconcile […]
By Tom May Written by David Edgar, directed by Barry Davis and produced by Kenith Trodd. Broadcast on BBC1 at 9.25pm on Thursday 7 November 1974 David Edgar’s Baby Love is a significant addition to the Play for Today strand; it is an edgy, archetypally ‘underdog’-centred drama that addresses difficult, emotive issues. Directed by Barry […]
Forgotten Television Drama