The following is a list of live television plays broadcast on Australian broadcaster ABC from its inception in 1956 until 1969. Some were produced in Sydney (on ABN-2), and some were produced in Melbourne (on ABV-2). Most of the Sydney productions were kinescoped so they could be shown in Melbourne, and vice versa. It is not known how many of these kinescope recordings still exist.

Most of the live television plays presented on ABC during the period were adaptations of overseas stage plays, or new versions of works originally aired on BBC television. A few were written locally. The list mainly consists of drama and comedy productions, and also includes several opera presentations.

1950s 1956 The Telephone – first opera broadcast The Twelve Pound Look – based on play by J.M. Barrie – a play broadcast the first night the ABC went to air The Sub-Editor's Room – produced and written by Leslie Rees – first Australian-written television drama to air on Australian TV.

1957

Amahl and the Night Visitors – opera Dark Brown – story of unknown origin The Duke in Darkness – adaptation of play by Patrick Hamilton Ending It – adaptation of British play Fair Passenger – adaptation of 1955 British TV play A Fourth for Bridge Holiday in Biarritz The Importance of Being Earnest – adaptation of play by Oscar Wilde In The Zone – adaptation of play by Eugene O'Neill Killer in Close-Up – four episodes broadcast over 1957–58 The Passionate Pianist – adaptation of original Australian play by Barbara Vernon A Phoenix Too Frequent – adaptation of play by Christopher Fry The Proposal – based on the play A Marriage Proposal by Anton Chekov The Right Person Rope – adaptation of play by Patrick Hamilton Roundabout Shadow of Doubt – based on a British play The Sound of Thunder The Sub-Editor's Room – an original Australian play Sunday Costs Five Pesos Three Cornered Moon Tomorrow's Child Twelve Pound Look (a different adaptation to the 1956 version) The Wraith

1958

As You Are The Barber of Seville Box for One Captain Carvallo Chance of a Ghost Citizen of Westminster – adaptation of British play An Enemy of the People Fidelio G'day Digger Gaslight – adaptation of play by Patrick Hamilton The Governess – adaptation of play by Patrick Hamilton His Excellency I Pagliacci (1958) – opera If It's a Rose The Lark Last Call Miss Mabel The Multi-Coloured Umbrella – adaptation of Australian stage play Murder Story The Public Prosecutor Rose Without a Thorn Sixty Point Bold The Small Victory Sorry, Wrong Number Symphonie Pastorale Three's Company – opera

1959

Act of Violence Albert Herring – opera Antony and Cleopatra – adaptation of Shakespeare Black Chiffon Black Limelight Blue Murder – original Australian TV play Bodgie – original Australian TV play Cavalleria Rusticana – opera Crime Passionel A Dead Secret Dinner with the Family Hamlet Lady in Danger – adaptation of 1942 Australian play Misery Me One Bright Day One Morning Near Troodos – adaptation of BBC TV play Outpost – original Australian play written for TV Prima Donna (1959) – opera Rita – opera (per a search of their website, National Archives may hold a copy) The Seagull The Skin of Our Teeth The Soldier's Tale The Strong are Lonely Till Death Do Us Part Treason Trip Tease and High C's (1959) Wuthering Heights

1960s 1960

The Bartered Bride (1960) – opera Close to the Roof (1960) – TV play The Dock Brief (1960) – TV play based on British play by John Mortimer Even Unto Bethlehem (1960) – opera Heart Attack Il Seraglio (1960) – opera The Life and Death of King Richard II (1960) – TV play The Marriage of Figaro – opera The Medium (1960) – opera Ned Kelly (1960) The Scent of Fear (1960) The Slaughter of St Theresa's Day – based on Australian play by Peter Kenna The Square Ring (1960) – TV play Swamp Creatures (1960) – TV play Turning Point (1960) – TV play Venus Observed

1961

The Abduction from the Seraglio The Big Client (1961) Burst of Summer Corinth House (1961) Il Tabarro – opera La Boheme A Little South of Heaven The Merchant of Venice The Night of the Ding Dong (1961) A Night Out Samson and Delilah – opera The Secret of Susannah – opera The Sergeant from Burralee (1961) – TV play The Tell-Tale Heart Two Headed Eagle – based on an ITV play

1962

Boy Round the Corner – original Australian TV play The Case of Private Hamp (1962) The Consul – opera The Devil Take Her – opera Don Pasquale – opera Fly by Night – original Australian TV play Funnel Web – original Australian TV play Hansel and Gretel – opera The Hobby Horse – original Australian TV play The House of Mancello – original Australian TV play Jenny – original Australian TV play La Serva Padrona – opera The Land of Smiles – opera L’Enfant Prodigue – opera Lola Montez (1962) Madame Butterfly – opera My Three Angels – based on an American play by Samuel and Bella Spewack adapted from a French play The Pearlfishers – opera She'll Be Right The Taming of the Shrew The Teeth of the Wind – original Australian TV play

1963

Ballad for One Gun (1963) – TV play about Ned Kelly Bastien and Bastienne – opera A Dead Secret Don't Listen Ladies (1963) Fisher's Ghost – opera Flowering Cherry (1963) – based on play by Robert Bolt The Long Sunset (1963) – based on play by R.C. Sheriff Manon – opera A Piece of Ribbon (1963) The Right Thing (1963) – TV play The Sentimental Bloke (1963) Simone Boccanegra – opera The Tempest The White Carnation (1963) The Young Victoria

1964 Cinderella – opera I Pagliacci (No.2) – opera Peter Grimes – opera Tosca – opera

1965

Amelia Goes to the Ball – opera The Big Killing A Christmas Play – opera The Gypsy Baron – opera Louise (1965) – opera Macbeth Ring Out Wild Bells Rusty Bugles School for Fathers – opera The Tape Recorder (1965) Thirty-One Backyards (1965) – TV pkay The Tower (1965) What About Next Year (1965)

1966

Anonymous (1966) The Attack (1966) Blind Balance (1966) The Decision (1966) Easy Terms (1966) Goodbye, Gloria, Hello! (1966) The Gypsy Baron (1966) – opera Maestro a Capella – opera Marleen (1966) Objector (1966) The Paradise Shanty (1966) A Small Wonder (1966) Ticket to Nowhere (1966) The Third Witness (1966) V.I.P.P. (1966)

1967 The Brass Guitar (1967) The Five-Sided Triangle, Or One Too Many (1967) Shadow on the Wall (1967) Slow Poison (1967)

1968 Fiends of the Family (1968) – based on novel by Pat Flower The Shifting Heart (1968)

1969 The Cheerful Cuckold (1969) The Torrents (1969) – based on Australian play by Oriel Grey

See also The Adventures of Long John Silver Take That – 1957–1959, reputedly Australia's first regularly broadcast sitcom Autumn Affair – 1958–1959 Sydney-produced soap opera Emergency – 1959 Melbourne-produced series The House on the Corner (1957, ATN-7) List of television plays broadcast on ATN-7 Shell Presents – one off plays on ATN-7/GTV-9, 1959–1960

References

External links ABC Opera productions at Gore Hill