Remember "Play For Today" Back In The Seventies?

I remember watching. Some of them were quite daring for the time.

Play for Today was brilliant, really gritty. I think I'm correct in saying that "Cathy come Home" was one of them but possibly aired in the 60's. I vaguely remember "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" too.

Rosemary Leach was quite prolific back then. She was an understated beauty and very talented.

I also loved Armchair Theatre and Armchair Thriller. Some episodes of the latter were really quite chilling. There really isn't anything comparable to such programmes these days. The 60's and 70's saw an explosion of talented and experimental writers.

Cathy Come Home was ground-breaking. I think it was 1970 ? I remember watching it and reading the papers afterwards. Was it then that Shelter the charity came about as a result of that play ?
I live in a really run down area in the North of England and two bedroomed houses no garden are up for £ 900 pounds a month.
It's terrible. But I do know that Shelter do their best. My neighbours were helped with a deposit and guarantor through them.

And then there were the Wednesday Plays - my grandma thought they were quite disgusting, but was very cross with me when I suggested she might switch them off!!

The fact that older programmes hadn’t yet been infected by the politically correct nonsense, makes them all the more appealing to me.

Opinions on this will vary of course!

Edna The Inebriated Woman was on Play for Today

I liked Abigail’s party, with Alison Steadman, not sure if that was “play for today” I was 8

Mt61

I liked Abigail’s party, with Alison Steadman, not sure if that was “play for today” I was 8

Oh yes - "Abigails' Party" is in the same category. Highlighting the angst and petty pretentions of some parts of suburbia, and Alison Steadman's portrayal of the Demis Rousoss obsessed hostess. She was almost frightening.

(And the guys in kipper ties and suits with those very wide lapels!)

Yes remember all mentioned but also Saturday Night Theatre on the radio when I was a youngster. The family all settled down ready to hear it and there was no talking! The one I remember the most was An Inspector Calls. Not sure but think it was by J M Barrie. Everyone interviewed believes they are responsible for a death but it is their guilt which misleads them.

Lovetopaint037

Yes remember all mentioned but also Saturday Night Theatre on the radio when I was a youngster. The family all settled down ready to hear it and there was no talking! The one I remember the most was An Inspector Calls. Not sure but think it was by J M Barrie. Everyone interviewed believes they are responsible for a death but it is their guilt which misleads them.

"An Inspector Calls" is an all time classic. I think Alistair Sim played the police inspector in the film version. It also featured an astonishingly young Brian Forbes!

Yes, remember many of these plays. Oh come back play for today and all the other good dramas. When my son was little there wasnt much that I could really be in charge of, but I used to look in the radio times and it would give a structure to my day. I would see what plays or music on radio 3 I wanted to listen to and arrange my jobs accordingly. Ironing was a lot less boring listening to the play. Actually I still check the radio times these days but mostly to look at what music there is on 3. Bach before 7 is my time for coffee, then at least it galvanises me to go and get the shopping before my favourite music comes on the radio. Thank the lord for the radio, something I can still listen to without worrying about the cost!!

An Inspector Calls was written by J B Priestley.

My favourite Play For Today was Nuts in May, the trials and tribulations of Candice Marie and Keith on their camping trip. It was another by Mike Leigh.

An Inspector Calls is in BBC Sounds at the moment with Bob Peck - it’s only available for 16 days.

I listened to it earlier this week and enjoyed it.

I find Sounds has some good things on but I have to trail through all the music to get to spoken word.

Anniebach

Edna The Inebriated Woman was on Play for Today

This play has stayed with me to this day Anniebach. My younger self was heartbroken for Edna and I still am. Cathy Come Home needs to be updated now to shock us once more about how families are still being made homeless by circumstances outwith their control.

Parsley Jeremy Sandford wrote Edna and Cathy come Home . I was so distressed watching Edna

I remember when BBC radio had a repertory company - a group of actors who were on the BBC payroll and were in everything. They tackled everything from Shakespeare to dramatisations of James Bond novels. Sometimes well known actors like Ian Carmichael, Peggy Mount or John Gielgud guest starred.

These cast list was read out at the end of the broadcast and often "Other parts were played by Stanley McKenzie" I wonder what happened to him.

I remember Play for Today, but also remember Tales of Mystery and Imagination much more vividly. I was about 8 years old and 1 episode in particular frightened me to death (I shouldn't have been watching it, but Mum was out and I watched with my 2 older siblings). The episode featured a doll that came to life during the night and strangled the young girl who owned it. I hid my doll in another bedroom and had nightmares for months after!

Maggiemaybe

An Inspector Calls was written by J B Priestley.

My favourite Play For Today was Nuts in May, the trials and tribulations of Candice Marie and Keith on their camping trip. It was another by Mike Leigh.

I saw both of those in recent years, they must be reruns then.
Both very good, also Abigails Party.
I wish they would show more old plays.

I watched Nuts in May quite recently, loved it

I loved the plays and that's what got me interested in the theatre. I loved all the Classic serials as well @Pin to the the Peepshow', 'Madame Bovary', Les Miserables (no singing thank heaven) all the Hardy's. I am watching some good things on Netflix currently 'Henry' Benedict Cumberbatch is mesmerising.

I love Nuts In May, and Abigails Party.

Alison Steadman was Candice the female lead in Nuts in May. The husband, Keith, was an appalling and know-all prig.

Brilliant!

I've got Tales Of The Unexpected on, and Patricia Routledge and Richard Briars are in it, as well as some other "faces".

Oo, Tales of the Unexpected! I loved that series. My favourite being the one where she despatched her husband with a frozen leg of lamb to the head, then cooked the evidence.

It actually still sounds feasible to me.