Thirty-Minute Theatre 1965
★ 4.2/10 · 8 votes Drama 8 seasons · 285 eps Ended
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Quick answer
What is Thirty-Minute Theatre?
Thirty-Minute Theatre is a British anthology drama series that aired on BBC Television. The series consists of short plays, which were used as a training ground for new writers.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1965
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 285
- Runtime
- 30 minutes
- First aired
- Oct 7, 1965
- Last aired
- May 17, 1973
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- GB
- Networks
- BBC Two
- Genres
- Drama
- Updated
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Estimate the schedule using 285 episodes and an average 30-minute runtime.
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Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
Thirty-Minute Theatre is a British anthology drama series that aired on BBC Television. The series consists of short plays, which were used as a training ground for new writers. This format attracted many writers who later became well known. The series was broadcast between 1965 and 1973. The anthology series features a collection of short plays, each with its own unique storyline and characters.
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Should you watch it?
“This BBC anthology series showcases a collection of short plays produced between 1965 and 1973.”
Reasons to watch
- features early work from notable writers
- offers a variety of short-form stories
Keep in mind
- limited availability of episodes
- varied subject matter may not suit all tastes
Watch it if you are interested in the evolution of British television drama and historical writing talent.
The series consists of dramatic plays and is suitable for general audiences interested in classic television.
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Cast
Donald Sinden
Andrew Pelham
Clive Swift
Inspector Waugh
Lee Montague
The Soldier
Leslie Sands
Will Thompson
Charles Gray
Inspector Waugh
Keith Barron
Stephen
Tenniel Evans
Baker
John Castle
Johnny Derker
Kenneth Colley
Adolf Hitler
Amanda Barrie
Janet
Lyndon Brook
Adrian Phillips
Norman Rossington
Zinoviev
Comprehensive Directory
Episode guide
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Season 1 · 38 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 Parson's Pleasure Mytharc Oct 7, 1965
- E2 Give the Clown His Supper Core Oct 14, 1965
- E3 Portrait of a Madonna Core Oct 21, 1965
- E4 Pay as You Go Core Oct 28, 1965
- E5 Monica Core Nov 4, 1965
- E6 Love in Triplicate Core Nov 11, 1965
- E7 Application Form Core Nov 18, 1965
- E8 The Late Arrival of the Incoming Aircraft Core Nov 25, 1965
- E9 Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat Core Dec 2, 1965
- E10 Mr. Ponge Core Dec 9, 1965
- E11 That's Not My Name Core Dec 16, 1965
- E12 Family Christmas Core Dec 23, 1965
- E13 The Passenger Core Dec 30, 1965
- E14 The Flipside Core Jan 3, 1966
- E15 The Enchanted Night Core Jan 10, 1966
- E16 Four-Way Incident Core Jan 17, 1966
- E17 Brothers Core Jan 24, 1966
- E18 Janni! Oh Janni! Core Jan 31, 1966
- E19 The Sugar Cubes Core Feb 7, 1966
- E20 Case Suspended Core Feb 14, 1966
- E21 Ships of the Line Core Feb 21, 1966
- E22 Keep on Running Core Feb 28, 1966
- E23 Not for Just an Hour Core Mar 7, 1966
- E24 'Twas on a Sunday Core Mar 14, 1966
- E25 Magnolia Summer Core Mar 28, 1966
- E26 A Girl's Best Friend Core Apr 4, 1966
- E27 Emergency Ward 9 Mytharc Apr 11, 1966
- E28 A Letter from the Country Core Apr 18, 1966
- E29 The Caramel Crisis Core Apr 25, 1966
- E30 Don't Go Down to the Bingo Mother, Father's Coming to Tea Core May 2, 1966
- E31 The House Mouse Core May 9, 1966
- E32 The Hard Word Core May 16, 1966
- E33 Ella Core May 23, 1966
- E34 The Window Core May 30, 1966
- E35 Friday Night's the Best Night Core Jun 6, 1966
- E36 A Good Reason for Getting Married Core Jun 13, 1966
- E37 The Queen Street Girls Mytharc Jun 20, 1966
- E38 They Put You Where You Are Mytharc Jun 27, 1966
Season 2 · 37 episodes
Open the complete Season 2 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Other Fella Mytharc Oct 3, 1966
- E2 The Devil and All His Mischief Core Oct 10, 1966
- E3 The Spoken Word Core Oct 17, 1966
- E4 The Sounds of War Core Oct 24, 1966
- E5 The Excavation Core Oct 31, 1966
- E6 Play to Win Core Nov 7, 1966
- E7 Confession Core Nov 14, 1966
- E8 Wife in a Blonde Wig Core Nov 21, 1966
- E9 O-Gosh! Core Nov 28, 1966
- E10 First Catch Your Hare... Core Dec 5, 1966
- E11 Brainscrew Core Dec 12, 1966
- E12 The Towers of Manhattan Core Dec 19, 1966
- E13 Taste Core Jan 4, 1967
- E14 R.S.V.P. Core Jan 11, 1967
- E15 The Suede Jacket Core Jan 18, 1967
- E16 Oldenberg Core Jan 26, 1967
- E17 Later a Man Was Questioned Core Feb 1, 1967
- E18 Teeth Core Feb 8, 1967
- E19 Turn Off If You Know the Ending Core Feb 15, 1967
- E20 An Absolute Treasure Core Feb 22, 1967
- E21 Go Tell It on Table Mountain Core Mar 1, 1967
- E22 Taffy Came to My House Core Mar 8, 1967
- E23 Who Were You With Last Night? Core Mar 15, 1967
- E24 Two and Two Make Twenty Two Core Mar 22, 1967
- E25 Wanted Core Mar 29, 1967
- E26 The Gun Core Apr 12, 1967
- E27 Failpass Core Apr 19, 1967
- E28 Boa Constrictor Core Apr 26, 1967
- E29 The Isle is Full of Noises Core May 3, 1967
- E30 Silver Wedding Core May 10, 1967
- E31 The Sufferings of Peter Obiznov Core May 17, 1967
- E32 Haven't You People Got Homes? Core May 24, 1967
- E33 That Woman Core May 31, 1967
- E34 The Other Side Core Jun 7, 1967
- E35 The Wake Core Jun 14, 1967
- E36 Child Marlene Mytharc Jun 21, 1967
- E37 Another Moon Called Earth Mytharc Jun 28, 1967
Season 3 · 35 episodes
Open the complete Season 3 guide & lore primer →- E1 Leave Me Alone Mytharc Oct 2, 1967
- E2 The Timekeepers Core Oct 9, 1967
- E3 You Meet All Sorts Core Oct 16, 1967
- E4 The Tape Recorder Core Oct 23, 1967
- E5 The Top Bunk Core Oct 30, 1967
- E6 Have It On The House Core Nov 6, 1967
- E7 Notice! Meeting In Progress Core Nov 27, 1967
- E8 A Time of Wolves and Tigers Core Dec 6, 1967
- E9 The Keys on the Streets Core Dec 13, 1967
- E10 Come Death Core Dec 20, 1967
- E11 The Metal Martyr Core Dec 27, 1967
- E12 A Private Place Core Jan 3, 1968
- E13 The News-Benders Core Jan 10, 1968
- E14 Diary of an Encounter Core Jan 17, 1968
- E15 Lovely In Black Core Jan 24, 1968
- E16 Happiness Is E Shaped Core Jan 31, 1968
- E17 Child's Play Core Feb 7, 1968
- E18 Snakes and Reptiles Core Feb 14, 1968
- E19 The Unquiet Man Core Feb 21, 1968
- E20 The Interview Core Feb 28, 1968
- E21 Eveline Core Mar 6, 1968
- E22 A Personal Affair Core Mar 13, 1968
- E23 No Trams To Ethiopia Core Mar 20, 1968
- E24 Father's Day Core Mar 27, 1968
- E25 Pleasant Dreams, Fernando Core Apr 3, 1968
- E26 The Sinner Core Apr 10, 1968
- E27 It's On You, John Core Apr 24, 1968
- E28 Standing By For Santa Claus Core May 1, 1968
- E29 Empty Bottles Core May 8, 1968
- E30 Thank God for U.D.I.! Core May 15, 1968
- E31 Still Death Core May 22, 1968
- E32 Walk In The Dark Core May 29, 1968
- E33 The Boy's Room Core Jun 5, 1968
- E34 Number 30, Approximately Mytharc Jun 19, 1968
- E35 A Question of Honour Mytharc Jun 26, 1968
Season 4 · 36 episodes
Open the complete Season 4 guide & lore primer →- E1 Baby Mytharc Sep 9, 1968
- E2 A Matter of Principle Core Sep 16, 1968
- E3 The Flag Core Sep 23, 1968
- E4 The Chequers Manoeuvre Core Sep 30, 1968
- E5 Something To Hide: The First Floor Core Oct 7, 1968
- E6 Something To Hide: The Studio Core Oct 14, 1968
- E7 Something To Hide: The Caretaker's Flat Core Oct 21, 1968
- E8 Of Public Concern Core Nov 4, 1968
- E9 Cause of Death Core Nov 11, 1968
- E10 The Last Victim Core Nov 18, 1968
- E11 Loving Israel Core Nov 25, 1968
- E12 The Bishop and the Actress Core Dec 2, 1968
- E13 Before Breakfast Core Dec 9, 1968
- E14 Cross Examine Core Dec 16, 1968
- E15 Swallowing the Anchor Core Dec 23, 1968
- E16 Game, Set and Match Core Dec 30, 1968
- E17 Where Have They Gone, All The Little Children Core Jan 6, 1969
- E18 Absolute Aggers and Torters Core Jan 13, 1969
- E19 These Men Are Dangerous: Mussolini Core Jan 20, 1969
- E20 These Men Are Dangerous: Hitler Core Jan 27, 1969
- E21 These Men Are Dangerous: Stalin Core Feb 3, 1969
- E22 Stake Money Core Feb 13, 1969
- E23 First Confession Core Feb 20, 1969
- E24 The Boat To Addis Ababa Core Feb 27, 1969
- E25 A Hot Day Core Mar 6, 1969
- E26 Roses, Roses, All The Way Core Mar 20, 1969
- E27 The Victims: A Degree of Stress Core Mar 20, 1969
- E28 The Victims: Frontier Core Mar 27, 1969
- E29 The Victims: Progressive Blues Core Apr 3, 1969
- E30 Invasion Core Apr 10, 1969
- E31 A Nice Cool Pad in the Sky Core Apr 24, 1969
- E32 Anything You Say Core May 1, 1969
- E33 Conversation at Night Core May 8, 1969
- E34 Roly Poly Core May 15, 1969
- E35 ...And Was Invited to Form a Government Mytharc May 22, 1969
- E36 A Borderline Case Mytharc May 29, 1969
Season 5 · 36 episodes
Open the complete Season 5 guide & lore primer →- E1 Remote Control Mytharc Sep 14, 1969
- E2 Gangster Core Sep 28, 1969
- E3 Trial Core Oct 5, 1969
- E4 A Formula for Treason Core Oct 12, 1969
- E5 Someone's Knocking at Me Door Core Oct 19, 1969
- E6 Trespassers Core Oct 26, 1969
- E7 Aggers and Torters: Back to Nature Core Nov 9, 1969
- E8 Aggers and Torters: Psy-Fi Core Nov 16, 1969
- E9 Aggers and Torters: Hickory Dickory Core Nov 23, 1969
- E10 Lecture to an Academy Core Dec 7, 1969
- E11 The Switch Core Dec 14, 1969
- E12 The Discharge of Trooper Lusby Core Dec 28, 1969
- E13 Laffin' Gas Core Jan 10, 1970
- E14 The Chief Whip Sends His Compliments Core Jan 17, 1970
- E15 Reparation Core Jan 24, 1970
- E16 The Scarecrows Core Jan 31, 1970
- E17 Laying It Off For Spangle Core Feb 7, 1970
- E18 Home Is Where You Hang Your Hat Core Feb 14, 1970
- E19 What a Pity You Can't Stay Longer Core Feb 21, 1970
- E20 Out of Sight, Out of Mind Core Feb 28, 1970
- E21 Meanwhile Back at the Office Core Mar 14, 1970
- E22 All My Own Army Core Mar 28, 1970
- E23 Whispers Core Apr 4, 1970
- E24 Revolutions: Cromwell Core Apr 11, 1970
- E25 Revolutions: Lenin Core Apr 18, 1970
- E26 Revolutions: Fidel Castro Core Apr 25, 1970
- E27 Is That Your Body, Boy? Core May 9, 1970
- E28 The Tidewatchers Core May 16, 1970
- E29 Twenty-Six Efforts at Pornography Core May 23, 1970
- E30 Lilly: Part 1 Mytharc Jun 6, 1970
- E31 Lilly: Part 2 Mytharc Jun 13, 1970
- E32 Ben Core Jun 20, 1970
- E33 An Uncertain Sound Core Jun 27, 1970
- E34 Hope Core Jul 4, 1970
- E35 Good Times Mytharc Jul 25, 1970
- E36 Tropical Wednesdays Mytharc Aug 1, 1970
Season 6 · 37 episodes
Open the complete Season 6 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Raid Mytharc Sep 18, 1970
- E2 The Year of the Crow Core Oct 2, 1970
- E3 Did Your Nanny Come from Bergen? Core Oct 9, 1970
- E4 Tribunal Core Oct 16, 1970
- E5 Helen Core Oct 30, 1970
- E6 The Warmonger Core Nov 13, 1970
- E7 The Editor Regrets Core Nov 27, 1970
- E8 Waugh on Crime: In Which Inspector Waugh Settles an Account Core Dec 4, 1970
- E9 Waugh on Crime: In Which Inspector Waugh Meets a Man Going to St. Ives Core Dec 11, 1970
- E10 Waugh on Crime: In Which Inspector Waugh Encounters the English Class System Core Dec 18, 1970
- E11 Waugh on Crime: In Which Inspector Waugh Observes the Truth of an Old Music Hall Song Core Dec 25, 1970
- E12 Waugh on Crime: In Which Inspector Waugh Plays Cops and Robbers Core Jan 1, 1971
- E13 Waugh on Crime: In Which Inspector Waugh Knows the Criminal but not the Crime Core Jan 8, 1971
- E14 But Now They Are Fled Core Jan 11, 1971
- E15 Faith Core Jan 18, 1971
- E16 Terrible Jim Fitch Core Jan 25, 1971
- E17 The Bequest Core Feb 1, 1971
- E18 Me MacKenna Core Feb 8, 1971
- E19 The Proposal Core Feb 15, 1971
- E20 Asquith in Orbit Core Feb 22, 1971
- E21 Happy Days Are Here Again Core Mar 1, 1971
- E22 The Railway Man's New Clothes Core Mar 8, 1971
- E23 No Charge for the Extra Service Core Mar 15, 1971
- E24 A Distinct Chill Core Mar 22, 1971
- E25 The Waiting Room Core Mar 29, 1971
- E26 Listen to the Drums Core Apr 5, 1971
- E27 Death's Head Core May 24, 1971
- E28 Jilly Core May 31, 1971
- E29 Something for the Children Core Jun 7, 1971
- E30 The Room They Left Core Jun 14, 1971
- E31 Seven Days in the Life of Andrew Pelham: Crisis Core Jul 5, 1971
- E32 Seven Days in the Life of Andrew Pelham: Suspect Core Jul 12, 1971
- E33 Seven Days in the Life of Andrew Pelham: Inquiry Core Jul 19, 1971
- E34 Seven Days in the Life of Andrew Pelham: Retreat Core Jul 26, 1971
- E35 Seven Days in the Life of Andrew Pelham: Deadlock Core Aug 2, 1971
- E36 Seven Days in the Life of Andrew Pelham: Breakthrough Mytharc Aug 9, 1971
- E37 Seven Days in the Life of Andrew Pelham: Decision Mytharc Aug 16, 1971
Season 7 · 33 episodes
Open the complete Season 7 guide & lore primer →- E1 Walt, King of the Dumper Mytharc Sep 20, 1971
- E2 Soldier Ants Core Sep 27, 1971
- E3 Gun Play Core Oct 4, 1971
- E4 Combing Down His Yellow Hair Core Oct 11, 1971
- E5 The Moonlighters Core Oct 18, 1971
- E6 Getting In Core Oct 25, 1971
- E7 Psychological Warfare Core Nov 1, 1971
- E8 A Settled Sort of Life Core Nov 8, 1971
- E9 The Gardeners of My Youth Core Nov 15, 1971
- E10 Blues in the Morning Core Nov 22, 1971
- E11 Jenkins Core Nov 29, 1971
- E12 Allotment Core Dec 6, 1971
- E13 Farewell Performance Core Dec 13, 1971
- E14 Footprints Core Dec 20, 1971
- E15 A Wen Core Dec 27, 1971
- E16 Not Counting the Savages Core Jan 3, 1972
- E17 Uncle Rollo Core Jan 10, 1972
- E18 They Don't All Open Men's Boutiques Core Jan 17, 1972
- E19 The Penthouse Apartment Core Jan 24, 1972
- E20 An Affair of Honour Core Jan 31, 1972
- E21 An Arrow for Little Audrey Core Feb 21, 1972
- E22 That Quiet Earth Core Feb 28, 1972
- E23 Said the Preacher Core Mar 6, 1972
- E24 That Time of Life Core Mar 13, 1972
- E25 Under the Age Core Mar 20, 1972
- E26 Bypass Core Mar 27, 1972
- E27 And For My Next Trick Core Apr 3, 1972
- E28 The Sit In Core Apr 10, 1972
- E29 Mill Hill Core May 22, 1972
- E30 King's Cross Lunch Hour Core May 29, 1972
- E31 Swiss Cottage Core Jun 5, 1972
- E32 Knightsbridge Mytharc Jun 12, 1972
- E33 Bermondsey Mytharc Jun 19, 1972
Season 8 · 33 episodes
Open the complete Season 8 guide & lore primer →- E1 Hands Mytharc Aug 14, 1972
- E2 Lushly Core Aug 21, 1972
- E3 Too Far Core Aug 28, 1972
- E4 Thrills Galore Core Sep 4, 1972
- E5 The Argument Core Sep 11, 1972
- E6 The Seventh Juror Core Sep 18, 1972
- E7 I Spy a Stranger Core Sep 25, 1972
- E8 The Judge's Wife Core Oct 2, 1972
- E9 Scarborough Core Oct 12, 1972
- E10 Tonight We Meet Arthur Pendlebury Core Oct 19, 1972
- E11 Ronnie's So Long at the Fair Core Oct 26, 1972
- E12 Ten Torrey Canyons Core Nov 2, 1972
- E13 I Wouldn't Tell on You, Miss Core Nov 9, 1972
- E14 You're Free Core Nov 16, 1972
- E15 Dialogue Core Nov 22, 1972
- E16 Krapp's Last Tape Core Nov 29, 1972
- E17 The Chauffeur and the Lady Core Dec 6, 1972
- E18 You've Been a Long Time, Alfred Core Dec 13, 1972
- E19 The Japanese Student Core Jan 3, 1973
- E20 The Punchy and the Fairy Core Jan 10, 1973
- E21 Playthings Core Jan 17, 1973
- E22 Is Nellie Dead? Core Jan 24, 1973
- E23 A Chance Encounter Core Jan 31, 1973
- E24 You and Me and Him Core Feb 22, 1973
- E25 The Great Acrobile Core Mar 1, 1973
- E26 Atrocity Core Mar 15, 1973
- E27 Beginning To End Core Mar 29, 1973
- E28 Swamp Music Core Apr 12, 1973
- E29 Croust Core Apr 19, 1973
- E30 The Baby's Name Being Kitchener Core Apr 26, 1973
- E31 Kamikaze in a Coffee Bath Core May 3, 1973
- E32 About a Bout Mytharc May 10, 1973
- E33 Shakespeare Country Mytharc May 17, 1973
Verified insights
Frequently asked questions
What is Thirty-Minute Theatre?
It is an anthology drama series featuring short plays broadcast on BBC Television.
When did the series air?
The series was shown on television between 1965 and 1973.
Why was the series significant for writers?
The short format served as a training ground for new writers, attracting many who later became well known.
What genre is the series?
It is categorized as a drama anthology.
Is this a continuous story?
No, it is an anthology series consisting of individual short plays.
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