Episode 1
The Other Fella
Episode credits
Directed by Michael HartWritten by Alun OwenGuest stars Keith Barron, Geraldine Moffat
TV series
Thirty-Minute Theatre
19658 seasons4.3 / 10
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
Not streaming in United States
Checked Jul 22, 2026
Thirty-Minute Theatre premiered October 7, 1965. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Synopsis
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.
Season 2 episodes
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Where to watch Thirty-Minute Theatre
Episode 2
The Devil and All His Mischief
Episode credits
Directed by Bill SellarsGuest stars Sheila Hancock, Betty Marsden
Episode 3
The Spoken Word
Episode credits
Directed by Mary RidgeWritten by Julia JonesGuest stars John Barrie, Diana Coupland
Episode 4
The Sounds of War
Episode credits
Directed by Piers HaggardWritten by Gerry JonesGuest stars Renée Asherson, John Franklyn-Robbins
Episode 5
The Excavation
The jury gave a verdict, mister. But you came here. Why? Because I was off a chain gang and Jackie used to hustle.' An American lawyer challenges the evidence given by a young couple, which has led to the conviction of two boys for rape and murder
Episode credits
Directed by James FermanWritten by James Ferman, Alfred HayesGuest stars David Bauer, Michael Gothard
Episode 6
Play to Win
Episode credits
Directed by Douglas CamfieldWritten by Terry Wale, Dawn PavittGuest stars Kathleen Byron, Alethea Charlton
Episode 7
Confession
Episode credits
Directed by Anthea Browne-WilkinsonWritten by David WeirGuest stars John Cater, Mary Chester
Episode 8
Wife in a Blonde Wig
Episode credits
Directed by Piers HaggardWritten by Fay WeldonGuest stars Bridget Armstrong, Frances Cuka
Episode 9
O-Gosh!
Episode credits
Directed by David SaireWritten by Jack Trevor StoryGuest stars Lee Montague, Norman Rossington, Trevor Bannister, Vernon Dobtcheff
Episode 10
First Catch Your Hare...
Episode credits
Directed by Vivian MatalonWritten by Julia JonesGuest stars Peter Birrel, Eleanor Bron
Episode 11
Brainscrew
Episode credits
Directed by Rudolph CartierWritten by Henry LivingsGuest stars Jill Bennett, John Osborne
Episode 12
The Towers of Manhattan
Episode credits
Directed by Herbert WiseWritten by Keith DewhurstGuest stars John Castle, Chela Matthison
Episode 13
Taste
At a dinner party, the host hints that one of his guests, an appalling wine snob, will not be able to identify a particular rare vintage. The snob agrees to make a bet on it, but suggests an unusual stake.
Episode credits
Directed by John GlenisterWritten by Roald DahlGuest stars Donald Pleasence, Leonard Rossiter, Maureen O'Brien, Marion Mathie
Episode 14
R.S.V.P.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter DuguidWritten by Michael AsheGuest stars Patrick Allen, Bill Owen
Episode 15
The Suede Jacket
Episode credits
Directed by Peter DewsWritten by Tim AspinallGuest stars Daphne Anderson, Harry Locke
Episode 16
Oldenberg
Episode credits
Directed by David AndrewsWritten by Barry BermangeGuest stars Frank Finlay, Julian Glover, Mary Morris
Episode 17
Later a Man Was Questioned
Episode credits
Directed by Geoffrey NethercottWritten by Jack Trevor StoryGuest stars John Carlin, Patrick Carter
Episode 18
Teeth
Does Harry, a rather sinister dentist, know that the young man in his chair is having an affair with his wife? And is he does, is he planning some sort of revenge?
Episode credits
Directed by Alan GibsonWritten by Tom StoppardGuest stars Yootha Joyce, Andrée Melly, John Stride, Anna Wing, John Wood
Episode 19
Turn Off If You Know the Ending
Carol deserts her husband and son for her lover.
Episode credits
Directed by John GlenisterWritten by John WestgateGuest stars Peter Barkworth, Sheila Grant, Janet Munro
Episode 20
An Absolute Treasure
Episode credits
Directed by George Spenton-FosterWritten by Peter CokeGuest stars Erik Chitty, Barbara Lott, Patricia Routledge, Mary Webster, John Le Mesurier
Episode 21
Go Tell It on Table Mountain
Episode credits
Directed by Toby RobertsonWritten by Evan JonesGuest stars Sylvia Coleridge, Judy Cornwell, Calvin Lockhart
Episode 22
Taffy Came to My House
Episode credits
Directed by Geoffrey NethercottWritten by Alun RichardsGuest stars Clive Graham, Denys Graham, Nerys Hughes
Episode 23
Who Were You With Last Night?
Episode credits
Directed by Michael HayesWritten by Brian PhelanGuest stars Valerie Gearon, Frederick Jaeger
Episode 24
Two and Two Make Twenty Two
Episode credits
Directed by John TydemanWritten by William WoodsGuest stars Timothy West, John Woodnutt
Episode 25
Wanted
Episode credits
Directed by Michael HartWritten by John FinchGuest stars Hannah Gordon, Edward Woodward
Episode 26
The Gun
Episode credits
Directed by John MackenzieWritten by Eric ColtartGuest stars Geoffrey Hughes, Dennis Waterman, Jess Conrad, Stephen Whittaker
Episode 27
Failpass
Episode credits
Directed by Alan BridgesWritten by Brian WrightGuest stars Christopher Benjamin, Jennifer Daniel
Episode 28
Boa Constrictor
Episode credits
Directed by David SaireWritten by William BastGuest stars Ronald Lacey, Frederick Bartman
Episode 29
The Isle is Full of Noises
Episode credits
Directed by Mary RidgeWritten by Terry Wale, Dawn Pavitt, Tony HollandGuest stars Diana Coupland, Philip Stone
Episode 30
Silver Wedding
Episode credits
Directed by John GorrieWritten by John BowenGuest stars Alan MacNaughtan, Valerie White
Episode 31
The Sufferings of Peter Obiznov
Episode credits
Directed by Mary RidgeWritten by Frank NormanGuest stars John Barrard, James Bolam
Episode 32
Haven't You People Got Homes?
Episode credits
Directed by Piers HaggardWritten by Thomas ClarkeGuest stars Michael Brennan, Kenneth Colley, Glynn Edwards, Dilys Laye
Episode 33
That Woman
Episode credits
Directed by Geoffrey NethercottWritten by James HanleyGuest stars Paula Byrne, Derek Francis
Episode 34
The Other Side
Episode credits
Directed by Tony WickertWritten by John MortimerGuest stars Nick Edmett, Kenneth Farrington
Episode 35
The Wake
Episode credits
Directed by Gareth DaviesWritten by Alun OwenGuest stars Keith Barron, Pearl Hackney
Episode 36
Child Marlene
Episode credits
Directed by Gilchrist CalderWritten by John HallGuest stars Lally Bowers, John Phillips
Episode 37
Another Moon Called Earth
Episode credits
Directed by Alan GibsonWritten by Tom StoppardGuest stars John Bennett, Diane Cilento, Donald Eccles, John Wood
Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026
Available now in United States
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More about Thirty-Minute Theatre
Cast
Richard PearsonCyril Boggis
Norman RossingtonZinoviev
Lee MontagueThe Soldier
Donald SindenAndrew Pelham
Hugh BurdenHusband
John Franklyn-RobbinsPrisoner
Julian GloverThe Tenant
David CollingsSverdlovProduction details
- Status
- Ended
- Series type
- Scripted
- Episodes
- 285
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
BBC TwoUnited Kingdom
BBCUnited Kingdom
Themes
anthologybased on novel or bookbased on play or musicalbased on short storyliterary adaptationpartially lost media