Tusitala | |
---|---|
Genre | Drama |
Written by | Peter Yeldham |
Directed by | Don Sharp |
Starring |
John McEnery Angela Punch McGregor |
Country of origin | Australia United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 6 |
Production | |
Producer | Ray Alchin |
Production locations | Australia West Samoa |
Production company | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
Original release | |
Network |
ABC (Australia) Channel 4 (UK) |
Release | 15 June 1986 |
Tusitala is a 1986 three-part mini series for television based on the last years in the life of Robert Louis Stevenson, when he left Great Britain for Sydney and west Samoa. [1] [2]
In the Samoan language Tusitala means writer of stories and it is there that Robert Louis Stevenson spent his last four years. He was buried there at Mount Vaea. [3]
There had been plans to film this in the 1960s by Cinesound Productions. [4]
In 1983 producer Ray Alchin announced Ted Roberts would be the writer. The ABC deliberately aimed at an international co production. "We're branching out with an international figure," said Alchin. [5]
The budget was $5 million. [6]
Filming started June 1985 by which stage the writer had become Peter Yeldham. [7] It was the only production Don Sharp ever directed in his native Australia. [8]