TV series
An anthology of short plays shown on BBC Television between 1965 and 1973, used in part at least as a training ground for new writers, on account of its short length, and which therefore attracted many writers who later became well known.
Availability
Checked Jul 22, 2026
Thirty-Minute Theatre premiered October 7, 1965. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
An anthology of short plays shown on BBC Television between 1965 and 1973, used in part at least as a training ground for new writers, on account of its short length, and which therefore attracted many writers who later became well known.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
An unscrupulous antiques dealer with a method for acquiring invaluable antiques in the countryside, stumbles upon a priceless chair owned by a less than cooperative family.
Directed by Herbert WiseWritten by Roald Dahl, Philip LeveneGuest stars Derek Francis, Melvyn Hayes, Richard Pearson, Anne Blake
Episode 2
Failure to win in a television quiz proves too much for Stuart and Patricia Pendleton.
Directed by Tina WakerellWritten by Gerry JonesGuest stars Brenda Bruce, Patrick Troughton
Episode 3
Directed by Geoffrey NethercottWritten by Tennessee WilliamsGuest stars John Bloomfield, Larry Cross
Episode 4
Directed by Roderick GrahamWritten by James SaundersGuest stars Norman Rossington, Brian Wilde
Episode 5
Simon is trying to convince his mistress, Monica, to leave her husband by staging a suicide. But instead of Monica showing up, a stranger appears, who helps him to carry out the suicide he was staging at the beginning of the play.
Directed by Naomi CaponWritten by Pauline MacaulayGuest stars Gary Bond, Peter Cushing
Episode 6
Directed by George FoxWritten by Robert StoreyGuest stars Jacqueline Ellis, Bob Monkhouse, Joan Sims
Episode 7
Directed by Piers HaggardWritten by Hugh WhitemoreGuest stars Denholm Elliott, Donal Donnelly
Episode 8
Directed by Paddy RussellWritten by Hugh LeonardGuest stars Maureen Toal, Joe Lynch
Episode 9
Mrs. Bixby, a dentist's wife, goes alone once a month to the country "to see her aunt"; she's secretly visiting her lover, the Colonel. But when he gives her an expensive coat, she has to devise a way of explaining it to her husband.
Directed by Naomi CaponWritten by Hugh Whitemore, Roald DahlGuest stars Shelley Winters, Neil McCallum, Roald Dahl
Episode 10
Directed by Geoffrey NethercottWritten by James HanleyGuest stars Marius Goring, Kenneth Griffith, Megs Jenkins, Mary Kerridge, Brian Wilde
Episode 11
Directed by Piers HaggardWritten by Peter BrentGuest stars Alfred Burke, George Murcell
Episode 12
Directed by Mary RidgeWritten by Jean StubbsGuest stars John Gregson, Calvin Lockhart
Episode 13
Directed by Richard MartinWritten by Peter Van GreenawayGuest stars Bernard Lee, Margaret Tyzack
Episode 14
Directed by Gareth DaviesWritten by M. Charles CohenGuest stars Bob Monkhouse, Shane Rimmer
Episode 15
Directed by George R. FoaWritten by Sławomir Mrożek, George R. Foa, Nicholas BethellGuest stars Dudley Foster, Margaret Nolan
Episode 16
Directed by Piers HaggardWritten by Peter HammondGuest stars Lee Montague, John Franklyn-Robbins, Jack MacGowran
Episode 17
Directed by Michael HartWritten by John FinchGuest stars Sonia Dresdel, Ann Firbank
Episode 18
Directed by John GibsonGuest stars William Lucas, Thomas Heathcote
Episode 19
Directed by George Spenton-FosterWritten by Stewart LoveGuest stars Elizabeth Begley, Oliver Maguire
Episode 20
Directed by Tina WakerellWritten by Owen HolderGuest stars Leo McKern, Max Adrian
Episode 21
Directed by Ronald WilsonGuest stars Reg Lye, Leslie Sands
Episode 22
Directed by Michael HartWritten by Vickery TurnerGuest stars Anneke Wills
Episode 23
Directed by Mary RidgeWritten by Janet FisherGuest stars Victor Spinetti, Sheila Hancock
Episode 24
Directed by George Spenton-FosterWritten by Derrick SherwinGuest stars Billie Whitelaw, Alec McCowen
Episode 25
Directed by James FermanWritten by Vickery Turner, Clancy SigalGuest stars Calvin Lockhart, John Ashley Hamilton
Episode 26
Directed by Michael HartWritten by Terry Wale, Dawn PavittGuest stars Tessa Wyatt, Ray Brooks, Faith Brook
Episode 27
In this medical drama for the BBC's THIRTY MINUTE THEATER series, a doctor is helpless as an old man dies in pain. In the same ward, three other patients of different backgrounds attempt to deal with the old man's death.
Directed by Gareth DaviesWritten by Dennis PotterGuest stars Terence de Marney, Tenniel Evans, Dan Jackson, Gillian Lewis
Episode 28
Directed by Toby RobertsonWritten by Raymond WilliamsGuest stars Emrys James, John Bailey, Ann Firbank, Michael Goodliffe, Clifton Jones, Phil Collins
Episode 29
Directed by Naomi CaponWritten by Simon GrayGuest stars George Cole, Richard Pearson, Barbara Miller
Episode 30
Directed by Michael HartGuest stars Timothy Bateson, Patricia Burke
Episode 31
Directed by June Wyndham-DaviesWritten by Peter LewisGuest stars Julia Foster, Keith Barron
Episode 32
Directed by Ridley ScottWritten by Jim AllenGuest stars Iain Anders, Tony Selby, Jack Woolgar, Jeremy Young
Episode 33
Directed by Waris HusseinWritten by Rhys AdrianGuest stars Vivien Merchant, Edward Woodward
Episode 34
Directed by Michael HartWritten by Frank MarcusGuest stars Stephen Murray, Joseph Brady
Episode 35
Directed by Peter DuguidWritten by Victor CarinGuest stars Tim Preece, Milo O'Shea
Episode 36
Directed by John GlenisterWritten by Marc BrandelGuest stars Nerys Hughes, Roy Castle
Episode 37
Directed by John MackenzieGuest stars Harry Locke, Ken Jones, Jo Rowbottom
Episode 38
Directed by Michael HartWritten by Sheila MacLeodGuest stars Stephanie Bidmead, Lynette Chappell
Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026
Available now in United States
These shows are available now and closely match Thirty-Minute Theatre.
Richard PearsonCyril Boggis
Norman RossingtonZinoviev
Lee MontagueThe Soldier
Donald SindenAndrew Pelham
Hugh BurdenHusband
John Franklyn-RobbinsPrisoner
Julian GloverThe Tenant
David CollingsSverdlov
BBC TwoUnited Kingdom
BBCUnited Kingdom
