ABC dramatises British nuclear tests

Australian pubcaster the ABC has commissioned a drama series based on British nuclear tests in the South Australian outback in the 1950s.

Ewen Leslie

Carried out in secret, the tests were later blamed for their long-term health effects on the Aboriginal custodians of the land and former Australian defence personnel.

Porchlight Films will produce the six-part Fallout (working title), co-created by Peter Duncan (Rake) and Tanya Phegan and scripted by Duncan, who will also direct.

Ewen Leslie will play Major Leo Carmichael, an Australian army engineer and Second World War hero, with James Cromwell as his commanding officer and Jessica de Gouw as a meteorologist who asks questions of the government. The cast also includes Ningali Lawford Wolf and Shaka Cook.

Filming starts next month, produced by Porchlight Films’ Vincent Sheehan and Phegan with major production investment from Screen Australia and the ABC, supported by Create NSW and the South Australian Film Corp.

Sally Riley, ABC head of scripted production, said: “The ABC is excited to bring the unique voice of Peter Duncan back to our audiences. His razor wit and satirical retelling of the Maralinga testing will challenge those who know the history, and be unbelievable for those who have little knowledge of what happened on Australian soil. This is a fictional story about true events.”

Sally Caplan, Screen Australia head of content, added : “Delving into a unique chapter of Australia’s history, this is an important and compelling Australian drama with local and international appeal.”

The international distributor is About Premium Content, marking its first investment in an Australian series.