Chch Actors In TV Serial

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31870, 24 December 1968, Page 9

Chch Actors In TV Serial

The well - known Auckland actor, Bruce Montague, fonneriy of Christchurch and now a leading figure in the Mercury Theatre, is to play the hero in Roy Hope’s sixepisode television thriller, “The Alpha Plan,” next year.

The series will also feature the Christchurch actor, Fred Betts, who has been in Auckland for two productions with the Mercury Theatre. Both Mr Betts and Mr Montague are at present appearing in Mercury’s production of “Lock Up Your Daughters.”

Filming of the serial will begin next month, soon after the play ends its run. Mr Montague’s wife, the

actress Barbara Latham, will play one of the leading female parts in the serial.

Mr Montague has appeared in a number of television plays and serials.

Since he arrived in New Zealand in May, 1967, to join the ill-fated Canterbury Theatre Company, Mr Montague has written scripts for N.Z.B.C. radio and has delivered almost 100 radio broadcasts.

He joined the Mercury Theatre as associate director at the beginning of this year, produced “Alfie,” “Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’Be,” "Wait until Dark” and “There’s a Girl in My Soup,” and played leading roles in most other Mercury productions.

Filming of ‘The Alpha Plan” will continue to the end of June and after that date Mr Montague has no definite plans.