A series of plays which included offerings ranging from comedy to horror
Some People Get All The Luck (15/7/1974)
comedy written by Roger Hall
Meg (22/7/1974)
The Bach (29/7/1974)
comedy written by Roger Hall
The Party (5/8/1974)
A Bed for the Night (12/8/1974)
Rehearsal (19/8/1974)
"Drama" (26/8/1974)
The Reward (2/9/1974)
by Roger Hall
Finders Keepers (9/9/1974)
by Elizabeth Moir
"Play" (16/9/1974)
The Golden Handshake (23/9/1974)
"Play" (30/9/1974) Final
The series featured four main actors who star in all the plays in the series: Roger Oakley, Lee Grant, David Weatherley, and Margaret Blay.
The script editor for the series was a former B.B.C. script editor, John Maynard, and the 30-minute plays were filmed in Auckland in colour under executive producer Douglas Drury.
Directors involved include John Barningham (who soon after joined Crawford Productions in Australia). Donald Hope Evans, Bill Cole, Murray Reece, and Richard Finny.
Writers Roger Hall, John Smythe, David Hughes, Arthur Baysting, David and Huia Seidler, David Stevens, Elizabeth Moir, Gary Langford, and Sue McCauley’ contributed plays to the series.
The principals
Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33590, 19 July 1974, Page 4
Roger Oakley was born in Auckland. He started acting with the Auckland University Drama Society while studying for a B.A. He has worked at The Central Theatre, Grafton Theatre, Downstage and has done numerous radio dramas.
He visited England in 1968 and stayed for five years. While there he worked in repertory throughout England and also in Belfast, and he appeared in the B.B.C. television production, “Elizabeth R.” His other plays include “Romeo and Juliet,” “Richard III,” "The Importance of Being Earnest,” and “John Bull’s Other Island.”
David Weatherley started acting in New Zealand about nine years ago in amateur theatre and branched out to do radio drama and commercials. He appeared in the TV series “Make Mine Minstrels". He turned professional about eight years ago. His first show was “Oh What A Lovely War” with Downstage. Then he did a couple of national tours. He worked with the Dunedin, Southern Players, joined the Central Theatre, and then the Mercury Company. He has now been a member of the Mercury Company for five years and a half. In 1970 he appeared at Expo 70 in Japan.
Margaret Blay was born in Auckland and began her career with the Auckland University Drama Society, the Auckland Operatic Society and the Light Opera Club. Parts played have included Hecuba in “Trojan Women.” Anna in “The King and I,” Irma in “Irma La Duce.” She has done cabaret, radio dramas, “Review 66” and the “We Three Show.” She went to Britain for five years and for four years worked in West End musicals. She was understudy juvenile lead in “Canterbury Tales.” While in Britain she filled a long-standing ambition to play principal boy in pantomime. She appeared in a television production of “Beggar’s Opera.” She returned to New Zealand in February, 1973, and played the part of Katherine Mansfield in “Two Tigers.”
Lee Grant was born in Surrey. She started ballet training at an early age, and played in musical comedy all over England, including the West End, for a number of years. She went to Australia and undertook TV and nightclub work, coming on to New Zealand and cabaret. She appeared in musical shows on TV—“Those Were The Days” and “The Music Makers.” She joined the Mercury Theatre when it opened and has now been with it six years, playing everything from Miller to Shakespeare. Miss Grant has taken part in many radio drama productions, but the “Spotlight” series marks her first appearance in television drama.
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