the wednesday play (1965) [extract]

The Wednesday Play was a British television play which ran on BBC1 from 1964 to 1970. Every week this drama anthology series presented a different play, usually written for television, although adaptations from other sources were also presented.

By the advent of the second series in January 1965, the strand had really found its feet, and continueds to run the gamut of drama, from the old-school of '60s realism given a new documentary edge (Up the Junction, Cathy Come Home) to experimental, often mind-boggling productions (House of Character, The Rainbirds), launching and abetting the careers of writers as diverse as Dennis Potter, Jim Allen, Mike Leigh and David Rudkin, and directors and producers such as Ken Loach, Peter Watkins and Tony Garnett.

EXTRACT FROM 'CALEDONIA UBER ALLES' FANZINE INTERVIEW WITH EDWARD BALL OF THE TIMES UK POP GROUP, 1985(UNPUBLISHED)

CUA; What inspires the mind to create songs like This Is London and Chimes Of Big Ben?

EB; Oh, that's an easy one! In England we grew up with black and white TV plays about abortions and homelessness - it's in our blood, along with the booze and the crap national football. But we don't half know how write songs and plays that goe straight to the heart.

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[batterseaexile]

the swings- are on Wandsworth Common, my childhood playground.

[JohnnyTheExFish]

Thanks for uploading. Looks like it lives up to its reputation.

Stupid question I suppose, but do you have any more of this?

[sarsquare]

@normjhealy When I say 'show' I actually mean portrayed.

[sarsquare]

@normjhealy I spoke to a few friends and they said that it actually worked the opposite of its intention, by showing that black people would actually be worse in power than whites. It is potentially more interesting in concept than execution. Thanks for the info though.

[normjhealy]

@sarsquare

The Wedenesday Play 'Fable' was broadcast in its entirety in a programme called 'Tv on trial - the 1960s' broadcast in 2005. The play, although based on an interesting premise, is slow-moving and might even be thoought boring.

[normjhealy]

@sarsquare

The Wednesday play 'Fable' was shown in its entirety in a programme called 'Tv on Trial - the 1960s' broadcast in 2005. I have a copy of it, but it is on vhs. The play, although based on an interesting premise, is actually fairly slow-moving and might even be thought boring.

[Fredfrancoiss]

...very sad. Cannot even properly watch it

[ryanhudson174]

can anyone help me find footage of The Wednesday Play : The Big Flame.

Would be a great help if any one knew where to find footage.

Thanks.

[Jangalene1]

@cruisincat62 Yeah'..I remember watchin' these'...Mom used to watch em' with us.She was very open about these issues'...I used to be fascinated by the title sequence and loved the theme music.They did show opening theme on a repeat of Cathy Come Home'a few years ago....Interested?

[crawleygat37]

I only ever saw this once. I single play. It was far harder, rougher and more real than the film that was in colour a few years later.. I do wish it was still available..and could be shown again..!!