The Wednesday Play 1964

Overview

The Wednesday Play is an anthology series of British television plays that aired on BBC1 for six seasons between October 1964 and May 1970. Created by Sydney Newman, the program debuted on October 28, 1964, with the presentation of A Crack In The Ice, written by Nikolai Leskov and directed by Ron. The series featured a collection of one-off dramatic productions, primarily consisting of original works written specifically for television, though it also included adaptations of stage plays and other literary sources. The show developed a reputation for presenting groundbreaking and controversial stories that addressed various social issues, including homelessness and abortion. Notable works featured in the series include Cathy Come Home and Up the Junction. The production is credited with helping to launch the careers of writers and directors such as Potter, Loach, Mercer, and Hopkins. The cast of the series included actors such as Edwin Brown, Neville Smith, Tony Selby, and Ken Jones.