A single television play from the celebrated poet and dramatist Louis MacNeice.
Details of the plot for this single play are scarce. The narrative centres on a group of characters whose lives intersect on board ship: Haffer (William Squire), Carstairs (Russell Napier), Portia (Margaret Gordon), Bridie (Sheila Brennan), Fraser (Roddy McMillan), Ryan (Liam Gaffney), and Norton (John Dearth).
This production is distinguished as a work of singular authorial vision. The celebrated poet and playwright Louis MacNeice was not only the writer but also the producer and director, a rare consolidation of creative control for a major literary figure in 1960s television. This arrangement allowed MacNeice to bypass the typical BBC production structure, creating a work that was a direct expression of his own artistic concerns. The play stands as an example of television’s growing importance as a medium for serious, writer-led drama, attracting established talents from literature and radio to explore its possibilities.
Broadcast: BBC, 1 Episode, 6 September 1960
Written by: Louis MacNeice
Producer: Louis MacNeice
Director: Louis MacNeice
Main Cast: William Squire (Haffer), Russell Napier (Carstairs), Margaret Gordon (Portia), Sheila Brennan (Bridie), Roddy McMillan (Fraser), Liam Gaffney (Ryan), John Dearth (Norton)
