Seven Deadly Sins is a 1993 Australian television drama anthology series aired by ABC Television.
The stories examine the dark side of human nature in seven episodes: "Lust", "Pride", "Wrath", "Sloth", "Greed", "Envy", and "Gluttony" — the seven deadly sins. A soundtrack was released by ABC Music, featuring vocals by artists Paul Kelly, Renée Geyer, Vika Bull, and Deborah Conway.
In the same year, ABC TV screened a series of short films under the same name, produced and directed by Stephen Burstow, comprising dance works commissioned from leading contemporary choreographers.
Contents
Cast
Lust
Andy Anderson as Colin
Hugo Weaving as Eric
Victoria Longley as Deirdre
Heather Mitchell as Belinda
David Roberts as Alistair
Pride
Colin Friels as Roger Pascoe
Elizabeth Alexander as Jill Pascoe
Linden Wilkinson
Beth Champion
Sloth
Steve Bisley as Meadowvale Supervisor
Vince Colosimo as Tony
Robyn Nevin as Margot
Frank Gallacher as Elliot
Monica Maughan as Lorna
Bob Baines as Ray
Greed
Pamela Rabe as Laura
Marshall Napier as Tom
Kim Gyngell as William
Caroline Gillmer as Rachel
Claudia Black
Gosia Dobrowolska
Envy
Belinda McClory
Genevieve Lemon as Envy
Lech Mackiewicz as Andre
Roslyn Oades
Gluttony
Gia Carides as Gina
Richard Roxburgh as Mark
Lynne McGranger as Gluttony
Deborah Conway as Party Guest
Paul Kelly as Party Guest
Vincent Gil
Anni Finsterer
Geneviève Picot as Eve
Steve Jacobs
Paul Blackwell
Abe Forsythe as Dead Child
Diarmid Heidenreich
Frank Gallacher as Elliott
Betty Lucas
Heather Mitchell
Production
Seven Deadly Sins was pitched to Penny Chapman, then head of drama at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, by script editor Barbara Masel. Her idea was to create a series of stories that would "let the moral compass spin". Masel was also interested in encouraging the audience to identify with behaviour they would not normally condone and "that all of the characters in each episode should manifest the sin". With Chapman on board and Bob Weis appointed as series producer, Masel found writers. When outlines and drafts were completed, the directors were brought on board. P. J. Hogan ("Sloth") and Alison Maclean ("Greed") were selected as directors before their international careers had taken off, while Gale Edwards ("Pride") had until then had only ever directed for the theatre. The series was broadcast at 9.30pm because of the language used. The series rated well, pulling the biggest audience ever for an ABC drama program in that time slot.
Soundtrack
A soundtrack was released by ABC Music and produced by Martin Armiger. It features vocals by artists Paul Kelly, Renée Geyer, Vika Bull, and Deborah Conway, with arrangements by Derek Williams. The album peaked at number 71 on the ARIA Charts.
Geyer's version of "Crazy" was released as the lead single. "He Can't Decide" was released as the second and final single in 1993.
Dance film series
Also in 1993, ABC TV screened seven works by leading contemporary choreographers, with the series title as well as the segments carrying the same title as the miniseries. The series was produced and directed by Stephen Burstow, and each of the seven films were seven minutes long. The seven works were:
"Lust", choreographed by Graeme Watson with One Extra Company
"Avarice", choreographed by Leigh Warren with Australian Dance Theatre
"Sloth", choreographed by Meryl Tankard with Meryl Tankard Company
"Envy", choreographed by Paul Mercurio with Australian Choreographic Ensemble
"Wrath", choreographed by Chrissie Parrott with Chrissie Parrott Dance Company
"Gluttony", choreographed by Kai Tai Chan for Sydney Dance Company
"Pride", choreographed by Stephen Page for Bangarra Dance Theatre