Episode 1
Leave Me Alone
Episode credits
Directed by David AndrewsWritten by Robert GouldGuest stars Julian Glover, Michael Standing
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 3 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Where to watch Thirty-Minute Theatre
Episode 2
The Timekeepers
Episode credits
Directed by Michael HartWritten by Derrick SherwinGuest stars Anna Perry, Lyndon Brook, Geraldine Moffat
Episode 3
You Meet All Sorts
Episode credits
Directed by Philip DudleyWritten by Gwen CherrellGuest stars Johnny Briggs, Jane Downs
Episode 4
The Tape Recorder
Episode credits
Directed by Tony WickertWritten by Pat FlowerGuest stars Guy Doleman, Suzanne Neve
Episode 5
The Top Bunk
Episode credits
Guest stars Brian Coburn, Patrick Westwood
Episode 6
Have It On The House
Episode credits
Directed by Michael HartWritten by Paul WheelerGuest stars John Barrett, Patrick Kavanagh
Episode 7
Notice! Meeting In Progress
Episode credits
Directed by Philip DudleyWritten by Claude Stephenson, P.C. JersildGuest stars John Barcroft, Hugh Dickson
Episode 8
A Time of Wolves and Tigers
An alcoholic civil servant is abandoned by his wife and comes home to an empty house.
Episode credits
Directed by Hugh DavidWritten by Hugh LeonardGuest stars Cyril Cusack
Episode 9
The Keys on the Streets
Episode credits
Directed by William SlaterGuest stars Ann Todd, Ray Brooks
Episode 10
Come Death
Rome, in the latter part of the 19th century. A plague is raging through all that part of Italy, and death is beginning to visit households in the city itself. A rich and famous hostess is determined to crown her social career by giving a splendid ball for the most awesome guest of honour of all--the lordly Death himself.
Episode credits
Directed by Geoffrey NethercottWritten by Peter S. Beagle, John WilesGuest stars Pamela Brown, Felicity Kendal, Barrie Ingham
Episode 11
The Metal Martyr
Episode credits
Directed by Brian HulmeWritten by Derrick Sherwin, Robert Moore WilliamsGuest stars Barry Jackson, Alex Scott
Episode 12
A Private Place
Episode credits
Directed by Gerald BlakeWritten by David CamptonGuest stars Sean Caffrey, Patrick Magee
Episode 13
The News-Benders
Episode credits
Directed by Rudolph CartierWritten by Shaun MacLoughlin, Desmond LowdenGuest stars Donald Pleasence, Nigel Davenport
Episode 14
Diary of an Encounter
Keith Michell portrays a sad man who books a room in an English seaside hotel with a revolver in his luggage and an intention to shoot himself. Once in his room alone, we watch him silently and sadly unpack the gun, place it in front of him on the table in his room and prepare to do away with himself. He slowly places a bullet in the chamber and positions the gun to his head. At that moment there comes a knock on the door. He hides the gun and answers the door to find a pretty young woman standing there played by Geraldine McEwan.
Episode credits
Directed by David GilesWritten by Leo LehmannGuest stars Geraldine McEwan, Keith Michell
Episode 15
Lovely In Black
Episode credits
Directed by James FermanWritten by Maggie RossGuest stars Elizabeth Shepherd, Eleanor Summerfield
Episode 16
Happiness Is E Shaped
Episode credits
Directed by Bill CraskeWritten by Donald ToshGuest stars George Baker, Barbara Lott
Episode 17
Child's Play
Episode credits
Directed by John MatthewsWritten by Gerry JonesGuest stars Tenniel Evans, Ian Ogilvy
Episode 18
Snakes and Reptiles
Episode credits
Directed by David AndrewsWritten by Thomas MurphyGuest stars Jim Norton, Dudley Sutton
Episode 19
The Unquiet Man
A ventriloquist , shares a few secrets with his dummy.
Episode credits
Directed by Naomi CaponGuest stars Leonard Rossiter
Episode 20
The Interview
Episode credits
Directed by Donald McWhinnieWritten by Barry BermangeGuest stars Denys Graham, Noel Johnson
Episode 21
Eveline
Episode credits
Directed by Elsa BolamWritten by Jeremy Paul, James JoyceGuest stars Mary Duddy, Sheelagh Cullen, Donal Donnelly, Eileen Colgan
Episode 22
A Personal Affair
Episode credits
Directed by Alan BridgesWritten by Maurice EdelmanGuest stars Leslie Sands, John Alderton
Episode 23
No Trams To Ethiopia
Episode credits
Written by Barry LettsGuest stars Jack Hedley, Jan Holden
Episode 24
Father's Day
Episode credits
Directed by Elsa BolamWritten by Jeremy PaulGuest stars David Carson, Mona Hammond
Episode 25
Pleasant Dreams, Fernando
Episode credits
Directed by Michael HartWritten by Rod BeachamGuest stars James Culliford, Anna Palk
Episode 26
The Sinner
Episode credits
Directed by James Cellan JonesWritten by David HopkinsGuest stars William Mervyn, Doris Hare
Episode 27
It's On You, John
Episode credits
Directed by James MacTaggartWritten by John LucarottiGuest stars Scott Forbes, John Junkin
Episode 28
Standing By For Santa Claus
Episode credits
Directed by Michael HartWritten by Denis Plimmer, Charlotte PlimmerGuest stars Michael Gough, Dennis Alaba Peters
Episode 29
Empty Bottles
Episode credits
Directed by John MatthewsWritten by Robin SmythGuest stars John Ronane, Reg Lye
Episode 30
Thank God for U.D.I.!
A black Rhodesian and a white Rhodesian meet in London.
Episode credits
Directed by Oliver HorsbrughWritten by Frank ClementGuest stars Louise Pajo, David Savile, Rudolph Walker
Episode 31
Still Death
Episode credits
Directed by Mark CullinghamWritten by David RolfeGuest stars Katherine Barker, John Castle, Richard Ng Yiu-Hon
Episode 32
Walk In The Dark
Episode credits
Directed by Christopher BarryWritten by John WilesGuest stars Cavan Kendall, Beatrix Lehmann
Episode 33
The Boy's Room
A couple wait for their son to return from Vietnam.
Episode credits
Directed by Geoffrey NethercottWritten by Kon FraserGuest stars Robert Ayres, Brenda Peters
Episode 34
Number 30, Approximately
A woman's romantic tryst with a married man is interrupted by the arrival of his wife.
Episode credits
Directed by Douglas CamfieldWritten by Laurence CollinsonGuest stars Stephanie Bidmead, Ursula Howells
Episode 35
A Question of Honour
Episode credits
Directed by Geoffrey NethercottWritten by Don ShawGuest stars Nigel Green, Laurence Carter
Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026
Available now in United States
What to watch instead
These shows are available now and closely match Thirty-Minute Theatre.
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