Playhouse

1. Sizwe Bansi Is Dead

Air Date: 1974-03-13

2. The Joke

Air Date: 1974-08-06

3. The Cafeteria

Air Date: 1974-08-13

1. The Breakthrough

Air Date: 1975-01-08

An engineer is sent to a remote government lab to assist a scientist in his research and to report back on what exactly this consists of. He discovers that the scientist is seeking to prove the existence of a theoretical form of energy that he believes to be the source of all paranormal powers. To capture it in the lab, he plans to use a subject on the brink of death, as well as in a hypnotic trance (to be induced by the computer) and also in telepathic communication with someone else--a child who is mentally deficient but psychically gifted--who can report the dying subject's sensations posthumously. At first skeptical, then appalled, the engineer soon becomes a convert to the scientist's views, concealing the nature of the planned experiment from his own employer and fending off a visit by government officials that would prevent it. At last it takes place, and it seems to be a success...

2. Mrs. Acland's Ghosts

Air Date: 1975-01-15

3. Diane

Air Date: 1975-07-09

Teenager Diane Weaver lives with her abusive single father. A religious local boy is the only who wants to be her friend, but she doesn't like him as much as he does her. What no one realizes is how far the abuse goes.

1. Kites

Air Date: 1976-03-19

2. An Accident of Class and Sex

Air Date: 1976-03-26

3. A Martyr to the System

Air Date: 1976-04-02

4. The Button Man

Air Date: 1976-04-09

5. Practical Experience

Air Date: 1976-04-16

6. Dad

Air Date: 1976-04-23

7. The Chauffeur

Air Date: 1976-04-30

8. Play Things

Air Date: 1976-05-07

9. Jumbo

Air Date: 1976-05-14

1. The Mind Beyond: Meriel, the Ghost Girl

Air Date: 1976-09-29

2. The Mind Beyond: Double Echo

Air Date: 1976-10-06

3. The Mind Beyond: The Love of a Good Woman

Air Date: 1976-10-13

4. The Mind Beyond: The Daedalus Equations

Air Date: 1976-10-20

5. The Mind Beyond: Stones

Air Date: 1976-10-27

6. The Mind Beyond: The Man with the Power

Air Date: 1976-11-03

1. The Achurch Letters

Air Date: 1977-01-12

A play about the (celibate) relationship between the unknown writer George Bernard Shaw and a famous, but drug-addicted, actress.

1. School Play

Air Date: 1979-11-07

A play about the horrors of life at an English public school - with all the schoolboys played by adults.

2. Every Good Boy Deserves Favour

Air Date: 1979-11-14

A dissident, Alexander, has been pronounced insane by the authorities (although he isn't), and finds himself sharing a cell with a genuine mental patient, Ivanov.

3. The Brylcreem Boys

Air Date: 1979-11-21

Cpl. George Hunn's sentry post is knocked over and he wakes to find he is suffering from frost bite of the face. Sent to hospital he is put on a ward with aircrew who have mental issues. He is trapped reenacting their missions at night.

4. An Affinity with Dr. Still

Air Date: 1979-11-28

5. Home Movies

Air Date: 1979-12-05

6. Sweet Wine of Youth

Air Date: 1979-12-12

7. Speed King

Air Date: 1979-12-19

In 1935 Sir Malcolm Campbell's obsession is to win the World's Land Speed Record in his car Bluebird. Speed King is about the man, the car, and the ruthless, but irresistible, public ambition of a world hero.

8. Pews

Air Date: 1980-01-12

Set in a north country synagogue, a group of Jewish men have to organise a 'shiva', however, not having the required number of their faith, resort to recruiting George, a 'non-Jew', to make up the numbers. I only saw the play once, but there were a number of memorable lines, including, when Kugleman comes out of the 'gents', he says to Liftchick, "George won't pass as Jewish, he's got a foreskin as long as my nose!" Another line was, when asked his occupation, George replied that he was an electrician. "If anyone askes", said Liftchick, " tell them you're an electrical contractor!" A great play with an excellent cast.

9. Gentle Folk

Air Date: 1980-01-19

10. Trouble with Gregory

Air Date: 1980-01-23

11. Lifelike

Air Date: 1980-01-26

A television play about a comprehensive school is praised for its authenticity, but the lead schoolboy actor does not agree with this assessment.

12. The Enigma

Air Date: 1980-02-09

An upper-class young man has rejected his affluent background, but, when a crisis comes, reverts to type pretty quickly.

13. Hesther for Example

Air Date: 1980-02-16

Cousin, W. Clifford Mill, ran a dirty postcard business; which brings Paul to the country in search of a profitable afternoon. Hesther knows the value of most things and, when evening falls, she turns his visit to her own advantage.

14. The Best of Friends

Air Date: 1980-03-08

15. In Hiding

Air Date: 1980-03-15

A teenager learns about life and death while staying with his aunt during the school holidays.

16. Rottingdean

Air Date: 1980-03-22

17. The Dig

Air Date: 1980-04-18

18. Happy

Air Date: 1980-04-25

19. Mary's Wife

Air Date: 1980-05-02

A married transvestite comes to terms with their true gender identity.

20. Games Without Frontiers

Air Date: 1980-05-09

Nobody goes to Amsterdam to wander about. It's either the Rijksmuseum or the red-light district. On the boat going home Clive and Stewart admit to not having spent long in the museums - so what did they get up to in Amsterdam?

21. The Unborn

Air Date: 1980-05-16

A physicist has visions of his unborn baby - it turns out that the child will grow up to become a Hitler-like dictator responsible for World War III.

22. Electric in the City

Air Date: 1980-05-23

23. Blue Remembered Hills

Air Date: 1980-05-30

Repeated from Play for Today

24. Thank You Comrades

Air Date: 1980-06-06

25. Coming Out

Air Date: 1980-06-13

26. Crest of a Wave

Air Date: 1980-06-20

27. Freedom of the Dig

Air Date: 1980-06-20

28. A Walk in the Forest

Air Date: 1980-07-06

29. Hallelujah, Mary Plum

Air Date: 1980-07-13

A talented, independent artist lives by the sea with her daughter. As summer approaches, she faces two threats to her way of life: the local doctor who is in love with her and her unhappy sister who comes to stay.

30. Dalhousie's Luck

Air Date: 1980-08-03

Our gamble is over, Dalhousie. You'll walk at dawn tomorrow as agreed, but in case you've no mind to return, there's one fact might persuade you. On what you do hangs not only your life but hers .

31. An Ordered Life

Air Date: 1980-08-10

Colin Jeavons is the German composer Anton Webern who survives Naziism only to be shot by an American GI in the closing days of WW2. Daniel Gerroll plays his son Stephen who, against his father's wishes, joined the Wehrmacht and was killed in a railway accident in 1943.

1. Caught on a Train

Air Date: 1980-10-31

Peter boards a train to attend an important business meeting across Europe. His train trip is made more complicated by two women also assigned to his train compartment. One is an independent American whom Peter finds attractive. The other is Frau Messner - an extremely particular and demanding older European woman. Between the two of them, they try different aspects of Peter's patience...

2. Fatal Spring

Air Date: 1980-11-07

3. The Black Madonna

Air Date: 1980-11-14

4. The Happy Autumn Fields

Air Date: 1980-11-21

5. Grown-Ups

Air Date: 1980-11-28

Dick and Mandy, a young working class couple, move into a council house in Canterbury, and find Mr. Butcher, one of their former teachers, living next door. Mandy's unmarried sister, Gloria, is constantly dropping in, and will not take any hints that the couple would prefer to be left alone, until her presence finally goads them to action.

6. My Dear Palestrina

Air Date: 1980-12-05

7. Shaping Up

Air Date: 1980-12-12

8. Standing in for Henry

Air Date: 1980-12-19

At an advertising agency in Nottingham, young graphic designer Graham is recruited as a temporary replacement for the iconic Henry. The agency are desperate to be part of the Swinging Sixties but not without Henry. Can Graham replace him?

9. Fothergill

Air Date: 1981-01-09

John Fothergill, aesthete and scholar, becomes the proprietor of the Spread Eagle, in Thame, Oxfordshire, with the intent of turning it into the most celebrated Inn in England, catering to the brightest lights in London's literati.

10. One Hundred and Eighty!!!

Air Date: 1981-01-16

A darts tournament is put in peril when the players' wives stage a sit-in in the pub.

11. The Kindness of Mrs. Radcliffe

Air Date: 1981-01-23

12. A Last Visitor for Mr. Hugh Peter

Air Date: 1981-01-30

In prison the night before his execution, republican preacher Hugh Peter prepares to be hanged, drawn and quartered for treason.

13. Journal of Bridget Hitler

Air Date: 1981-02-06

An Irishwoman married to a German in pre-WW1 Liverpool prepares to meet her brother-in-law, a young man named Adolf Hitler.

14. Episode 14

Air Date: 1981-02-13

Days at the Beach

15. Bobby Wants to Meet Me

Air Date: 1981-02-20

It's 1978, journalist Neville Morris, from Changes magazine, writes an essay about Bob Dylan called "A Jewish Massiah". Dylan's publicist Elle Smith reaches out that Bobby wants to meet him at Earl's Court. Neville goes into panic mode.

16. Days

Air Date: 1981-02-27

17. Clapperclaw

Air Date: 1981-03-06

18. The Potsdam Quartet

Air Date: 1981-03-13

19. Unity

Air Date: 1981-03-20

Period Drama. The true story of Unity Mitford who in the 1930's went to live in Germany and was friends with Adolf Hitler.

20. Skylark

Air Date: 1981-03-27

21. Elizabeth Alone: Part 1

Air Date: 1981-04-03

22. Elizabeth Alone: Part 2

Air Date: 1981-04-10

23. Elizabeth Alone: Part 3

Air Date: 1981-04-17

24. The Man Who Almost Knew Eamonn Andrews

Air Date: 1981-04-24

25. Episode 25

Air Date: 1981-05-01

26. The Day War Broke Out

Air Date: 1981-05-15

Albie Warren and girlfriend Carla are second on the bill of variety artists and musicians performing to half empty venues. Albie impersonates wartime comic Rob Wilton to people who don't know him. Will he take the chance to top the bill?

27. Random Moments in a May Garden

Air Date: 1981-05-22

28. Going Gently

Air Date: 1981-06-05

Play about two elderly cancer patients suffering in hospital.

29. Marriage

Air Date: 1981-07-10

1. Mrs. Reinhardt

Air Date: 1981-10-30

An Englishwoman seeking to escape her marriage arrives at French hotel.

2. Last Summer's Child

Air Date: 1981-11-06

A boy feels restless during a hot summer in prewar Cornwall.

3. Autumn Sunshine

Air Date: 1981-11-13

4. The Grudge Fight

Air Date: 1981-11-27

5. Virginia Fly Is Drowning

Air Date: 1981-12-04

6. Findings on a Late Afternoon

Air Date: 1981-12-11

7. Dancing Country

Air Date: 1981-12-18

8. The Combination

Air Date: 1982-01-08

9. A Silly Little Habit

Air Date: 1982-01-15

A woman with an apparently happy and privileged life begins shoplifting.

10. Aubrey

Air Date: 1982-01-22

A play about the brilliant, shocking Victorian artist Aubrey Beardsley, who died in his twenties.

11. Preview

Air Date: 1982-01-29

12. Out of Step

Air Date: 1982-02-05

A keen ballroom dancer begins to drink heavily when she discovers she's infertile.

13. A Shilling Life

Air Date: 1982-02-12

A once-famous writer, now long out of fashion, is interviewed by a disconcerting young woman.

14. The Workshop

Air Date: 1982-02-19

15. How Many Miles to Babylon?

Air Date: 1982-02-26

Wealthy Alexander Moore and working-class Jerry Crowe are childhood friends and in 1914 find themselves in the same Army unit - Alex as an officer and Jerry as a private. They still remain close, however, until Jerry is court-martialed for desertion, and Alex is put in charge of the firing squad.

16. The Pigman's Protege

Air Date: 1982-03-05

17. A Pocketful of Dreams

Air Date: 1982-03-12

18. Keeping in Touch

Air Date: 1982-03-19

19. The Guest

Air Date: 1982-03-26

20. The Sidmouth Letters

Air Date: 1982-04-02

Shorty, an academic scavenger, believes he has tracked down some letters revealing an unexpected side to Miss Jane Austen's nature.

21. The Queen of Annagh

Air Date: 1982-04-16

22. By George

Air Date: 1982-04-23

23. Lunch

Air Date: 1982-04-30

Two women meet for lunch every two weeks to swap news. But this week is different.

24. Passing Through

Air Date: 1982-05-07

25. Jake's End

Air Date: 1982-05-14

26. Housewarming

Air Date: 1982-05-21

27. Easy Money

Air Date: 1982-05-28

At a concert, Marcia picked Terry out of the crowd. So he no longer feels alone. Until he learns about her secret life and dare not tell his friends.

28. Potatohead Blues

Air Date: 1982-06-04

29. Irwin Shaw Triple Bill: The Man who Married a French Wife/The Monument/The Girls

Air Date: 1982-06-11

30. Chains

Air Date: 1982-06-18

31. Come Into the Garden, Maud

Air Date: 1982-07-07

A henpecked American visiting Europe is able to throw off his ghastly wife and find love.

32. A Song at Twilight

Air Date: 1982-07-09

A famous writer finds that a long-suppressed secret is about to be revealed by his former mistress.

33. Fraulein Else

Air Date: 1983-01-14

34. Imaginary Friends

Air Date: 1983-04-01

35. Possibilities

Air Date: 1983-05-20