Australian Plays


Australian Plays is a 1969 Australian anthology TV drama series that aired on the ABC. It consisted of six original Australian dramas.
It was the first Australian drama play since Lucullus in Sydney and Cobwebs in Concrete in Melbourne.
It was the first Australian anthology series since Australian Playhouse and was described by the ABC as "representative of contemporary Australian writers and the development of Australian television drama today." It was produced by Eric Taylor. It was meant to be followed by a series Company of Eight which will have a regular repertory company of eight actors. Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time.

Ep 1. ''Dynasty''

See Dynasty

Ep 2. ''Voyage Out''

Written and directed by John Croyston. It aired 5 November 1969.

Plot

A woman, Kathy, discovers her husband Robert is dead.

Cast

See The Cheerful Cuckold

Ep 4. ''Tilley Landed On Our Shore''

See Tilley Landed On Our Shore

Ep 5. ''The Torrents''

See The Torrents.

Ep 6. ''[Fiends of the Family]''

Written by Pat Flower based on her 1966 novel, directed by Oscar Whitbread. Aired 26 November 1969 and went for 70 mins.
The ABC bought the rights to the novel in November 1967.

Plot

In a lonely house in the suburbs, three middle-aged sisters are repressed by their mother.

Cast

It won the 1970 Awgie for best script.

Second series

There was a second series whose plays included The Juggler and Chimes at Midnight.