In this single play, a new British Governor and his daughter confront political unrest in a volatile colonial outpost.
Anthony Folland (John Phillips) arrives in the politically charged colony of Solaro to begin his tenure as Governor. He is accompanied by his daughter, Jane (June Thorburn), who is unprepared for the tensions gripping the territory. Their arrival is marked by a bomb attack on the Governor’s residence, a clear signal from nationalist factions demanding independence. Folland must find a way to manage the crisis, primarily through his dealings with his Chief-of-Staff, Rocca (Harold Kasket), who is also the charismatic leader of the local nationalist movement. As Jane struggles with the prejudices and antagonisms of colonial life, her father is drawn into a delicate political game.
Staged for the Play of the Week strand, this teleplay was a direct engagement with the contemporary crises of the declining British Empire. The fictional setting of Solaro was constructed as an analogue for any number of real-world trouble spots, from Malaya to Kenya, where Britain’s authority was being challenged. The script, co-written by Member of Parliament Kenneth Robinson, used the machinery of a political thriller to examine the difficult questions of decolonisation. Rather than presenting a simple tale of imperial authority versus rebellion, the drama gives voice to the nationalist leader Rocca, creating a balanced argument that reflects the complex realities of the period.
Broadcast: ITV – Associated-Rediffusion, 1 Episode, Wednesday 9 October 1957
Written by: Henry Brinton, Kenneth Robinson
Director: Robert Tronson
Designer: Frederic Pusey
Main Cast: John Phillips (Anthony Folland), June Thorburn (Jane Folland), Harold Kasket (Rocca), Eric Lander (Philip Martin), Jerome Willis (Dick Owen), Anne Blake (Mrs. Larios), Richard Caldicot (Brigadier Peter), Michael David (Carlos), Bernard Davies (Sergeant), Michelle Maran (Teresa), Nicholas Amer (Miguel)
