A live television play from the immediate post-war period, broadcast on four separate occasions from Alexandra Palace.
The drama centres on the characters of Lieutenant Commander Peter Colebrook (Anthony Sharp / Andrew Osborn) and Jill Colebrook (Lesley Brook / Nancy O’Dell). As the play was transmitted live and no recordings are known to exist, further specific plot details are not recorded. The production also features Charles Victor as the character Dodge and H. G. Stoker as Doctor Lane.
Adapted from Charles Terrot’s successful stage play, this was a notable production from the earliest days of the revived post-war BBC Television Service. As was common in an era when recording technology was not yet available for preservation, the play was broadcast live from Alexandra Palace and mounted on four separate occasions during 1946.
This repertory-style approach resulted in cast changes between performances; the initial broadcasts in July and August starred Anthony Sharp and Lesley Brook, while the September revivals featured Andrew Osborn and Nancy O’Dell in the lead roles. The production is a clear example of the theatrical grammar of early television, built on dialogue and contained studio sets.
Broadcast: BBC, 4 Performances, 29 July, 9 August, 23 September & 24 September 1946
Adapted by: Michael Barry, from the play by Charles Terrot
Play Production by: Michael Barry
Main Cast: Anthony Sharp / Andrew Osborn (Lieutenant Commander Peter Colebrook), Lesley Brook / Nancy O’Dell (Jill Colebrook), Charles Victor (Dodge), H. G. Stoker / Alfred A. Harris (Doctor Lane), Richard Hurndall (Machine Operator), Norman Caro (Price), Leo de Pokorny (Film Director)
