Corridors of Power

ABC TV
Directed by Michael Carson
Written by Graeme Koetsvel and Bill Harding
Produced by Julia Peters and Sharon O'Neil

Corridors of Power, a satirical comedy about the private and public lives of two ambitious Parliamentary backbenchers facing a forthcoming Federal election. The series follows the intrigues of Michael Fielding and Tony Dunne as they face volatile electorates, the unpredictability of their political masters, office goings-on and deal making in the corridors of power, to secure themselves a seat in the next Parliament.

Philip Quast and Jeremy Sims, two of Australia's most prestigious actor with enviable credentials in theatre, film and television, star in the lead roles.


Cast:Michael Fielding

Episode 1 Aired Monday 8th October 2001 Australia

Written by Graeme Koetsvel

In the first episode Tony is under pressure, as allegations of him being axed as Aged Care Shadow Minister are made public. Michael is also in trouble when his naiveté as a new backbencher becomes apparent when tackling the media without full knowledge of his own electorate. Michael is also dropped in it by who has closed a Care Home in his district, what makes it even worse is that Michael finds out it is the one his mother-in-law is in.

Michael Fielding 1Michael Fielding 2Michael Fielding 3Michael Fielding 4

Episode 2Aired Monday 15th October 2001 Australia

Written by Graeme Koetsvel and Bill Harding

In the second episode Tony Dunne and Michael Fielding, become a little less private with journalists digging up unsavoury information, true or false is yet to be determined.

With the federal election looming Dunne is determined that his future will not be as a humble backbencher. He's looking for the right opportunity to call in some favours. When he learns there's to be a testimonial dinner for right wing factional heavy Robert Ray he's very excited. The perfect opportunity to win back factional support over a few beers and some fried rice. But Tony is in for a surprise - he's not on the guest list. Worse than that his arch enemy left wing Mayor Barry McKenna is. Tony is beside himself. He has to get an invitation to that dinner. Meanwhile Tony's wife Tanya - who is standing for the Senate - has unofficially moved into his Parliament House office - a development that does not please Tony's advisor Craig.

In the world of the liberal backbencher, Michael Fielding, arrives at Parliament House unprepared for the drama which is about to unfold. The Bulletin magazine is carrying a story about three north shore Liberal MPs who had allegedly expressed very disparaging views about the Prime Minister at a recent dinner. The journalists at the doorstop ask Michael if he is one of the three and did he make the comments? Michael is aghast. Despite being lost for words in front of the press he later tells Vanessa he did attend the dinner but then assures her he did not say anything bad about the PM. Vanessa is convinced it's a set up - that her boss is being blamed for comments made by two MPs who are now firmly in the Peter Costello camp. Michael wants to go straight to the PM and tell him the truth. But, as Vanessa explains, avoiding the truth is sometimes a much better strategy. For Michael it's a day of decisions: should he tell the truth and dump on his colleagues or should he lie low and hope the headlines go away? To make matters worse there's a cocktail party on at the Lodge. Should he go? And will he be welcome?

Michael looking under toilet cubicle door.

Episode 3Aired Monday 22nd October 2001 Australia

Written by Bill Harding

In the third episode Tony Dunne has made a decision. He needs to improve his image, to raise his profile in a positive way and he thinks he's come up with the perfect plan. When he tells his adviser Craig he's going to become a Greenie, the news is not welcome. "You're a backbencher, you can't talk about policy on the eve of an election campaign", Craig warns. But Tony will not be deterred.

He and Tanya are to be featured in a television segment on power couples on Today Tonight and Tony wants to use the opportunity to broaden his image. He thinks Labor has dropped the ball on environmental issues and he's keen to let people know it is an area that he cares about. But Tony's enthusiasm for a higher profile is dampened when he learns the name of the Greens candidate who will be running against him in his electorate of Wheeler. It is someone from his past who Tony fears has come back to haunt him.

It's a good day for Michael Feilding. He has been asked by the Prime Minister's office if he would entertain an Indonesian trade delegation prior to their meeting with the PM later that evening. He is very excited and keen to be able to use his Indonesian language skills. Also, Michael's local paper is coming to Canberra to do a story about a day in the life of the local member.

Michael's wife Caroline is also in town for the interview and although she's a little nervous she's assured by both Michael and Vanessa that there will be no problems. But in politics, as the Feildings are quickly learning, things never go quite they way they are expected to.

Episode 4Aired Monday 29th October 2001 Australia

Written by Graeme Koetsvel

In this episode Michael Fielding is finally leaving Canberra - going back to the safety and security of his own electorate of Clifton. Hot on the heels of an embarrassing corridor vomit, still suffering from being locked in his office toilet and only just recovering from his One Nation nursing home disaster, Michael cannot afford another mistake. His ever-vigilant adviser Vanessa has been doing some fast negotiating with the Prime Minister's office and there's a strong chance the PM will have time to formally open the new gymnasium at a private school in Michael's electorate. It's a great opportunity to get some good publicity and impress John Howard at the same time. All they have to do is stay out of trouble and smile for the cameras . . .

Tony Dunne is also pleased to be getting away from Canberra and back to his heartland - the electorate of Wheeler - where the "real" people live but Tony is very quickly distracted. His local newspaper is carrying a front-page story about the Greens candidate Sophie Hamilton, attacking Tony's poor record on the environment. Tony and his adviser Craig are miffed. Craig's conclusion is that Tony couldn't have satisfied Sophie during their brief affair at the earth summit in Rio - an explanation Tony is reluctant to accept. He's confident he can sort it all out - and with Tanya away campaigning in the country he's got every opportunity to resolve the problem.

Episode 5Aired Monday 5th November 2001 Australia

Written by Bill Harding

In this episode, it's time for Michael Fielding to make some big decisions. He either has to become a "politician" and start behaving like one, or get out of the game. He is a man torn. The test comes when he comes into possession of information which could severely embarrass the Labor party. The problem for Michael is that he was given the information in confidence. His wife Caroline cannot understand his dilemma. He must respect a confidence and stay true to his beliefs. But adviser Vanessa has other ideas. Michael's information is just the break they need and she urges him to use it to his own advantage. It's a huge opportunity. The question is, will he use it?

Tony Dunne is also grappling with some big decisions. He learns from his wife Tanya that Craig, his rat cunning adviser, has been disloyal to him - and that he's been applying for jobs all over Parliament House, including a job with Cheryl Kernot. This distressing news quickly turns to alarm as Tony realises the potential damage Craig can do him. There are too many skeletons in Tony's closet, which Craig could reveal. He has to find a way to get rid of him while at the same time keeping him indebted. Tony's political brain is in overdrive as he finally comes up with the perfect solution - or so he thinks.

Episode 6Aired Monday 12th November 2001 Australia

Written by Graeme Koetsvel

In the final episode of ABC's satirical drama Corridors of Power which screens on the ABC, November 12, a storm is brewing in Canberra and the atmosphere is bleak. Labor is on the nose in the electorate and headed for certain defeat. Despite his best efforts Tony has failed to make it back on the front bench and now his future is almost certainly another three years as an Opposition backbencher. To make matters worse Tanya `s hopes of being elected to the Senate are also fading and he's still got the problem with Craig, the disloyal adviser.

As the thunder rolls around the hills of Canberra Tony makes a difficult decision: he's going to leave politics. Tanya laughs off the news, but Tony has never been more serious. It's time to get out, to move on to something new. But, as Tony Dunne learns in this final episode, in politics life is never that simple and difficult decisions are never that made that easily.

Michael Fielding meanwhile is in full battle mode. There's a war brewing, the Liberals are up in the polls and he's enjoying every minute of it. He is finally at home in the corridors of power. After weeks of stumbles and embarrassments, bad headlines and schoolboy jokes, Michael has come of age.

He is, at last, a politician. And when he's told by Howard's office that he's back in the fold, that he's "one of us" Michael's joy turns to ecstasy. Life doesn't get any better that this. But, as Michael Fielding knows too well, in politics things can go terribly wrong - just when you least expect it.


We would like to thank Elizabeth for providing us with details and episode.

Some of the above is from the ABC online Television guide.

Excerpt from The Daily Telegraph Sydney 4th October 2001

The political games begin By Eleanor Sprawson

Philip Quast was drawn back to Australia from his successful career in London to play the Liberal backbencher Michael Fielding, who finds himself at the helm of a blue-ribbon north shore seat after the death of his father, who had been the local conservative representative for more than 20 years.

"It has been a bit of a shock to the system," confesses Quast, whose own politics are starkly different from the very right-wing views devoutly held by his character.

"But I think he's a wonderful character. I do like him. Poor old Michael. Nothing ever seems to go right for him."

That bad luck has extended to real life. Unlike the popular appearances by Sims in his Cabramatta constituency, which suggest that the actor could go all the way to The Lodge if he liked, Quast has been all but ignored when he has filmed on location in Hunter's Hill.

"It's a bit sad in my constituency – there's no one there," says Quast mournfully. "When I had my pants down around my ankles to adjust the belt for my radio mike people were driving past beeping their horns, but that's about it I'm afraid."

"It's a very fine script and it's so uplifting for an actor to do comedy, I'm just trying to enjoy it," says Quast.


A timely look at the follies of pollies.

Bureaucrats copped it in The Games and politicians are under fire in the new ABC satirical drama, Corridors of Power.

Tony Johnson reports The Sunday Telegraph TV Guide Oct 7-13 2001

The title of the ABC's latest tongue-in-cheek drama says it all. Real political power is more often than not found schmoozing up and down the corridors of Canberra, rather than behind any given door, It is who you see, what you acknowledge, who you ignore. And who you attack. And just as often, it is scurrying backbenchers, aligning themselves to this ship that, depending on the tide, that provide a true barometer of the current state of political play.

Consequently, the ABC's new six-part half-hour satirical drama series, Corridors of Power, focuses on the daily lives (public and private) and machinations of two backbenchers: Liberal Michael Fielding (Philip Quast - Fields of Fire, Brides of Christ, The Governor) and Labour's Tony Dunne (Jeremy Sims - Stinger, the Bill).

While they provide stark contrasts in style and goals, both characters face volatile electorates, the unpredictability of their political masters, office goings-on, and the deal-making required to secure themselves a seat in the next parliament.

Sims is familiar to TV viewers, but is also a stalwart of the Sydney stage, both with his own production company, Porkchop Productions, producing and starring in the likes of Rosencrantz and guildenstern are Dead, then in mainstream productions.

For Quast being cast as one of the two leads in Corridors of Power continues and strengthens his professional lifeline with Australia.

For the past 11 years, he and his young family have been based in London, where he is constantly in work, he has made his mark with the Royal Shakespeare Theatre Company and in the West End, with productions such as Les Miserables (for which he won the 1998 Theatre Critics Award), troilus and Cressida and The Secret Garden. He has also worked regularly on UK TV.

Quast is grateful for the chance to return. "I've never had so much fun in my life," he says, part way through shooting the fourth episode.

The script for Corridors of Power was sent to Quast by director Michael Carson (Sea Change, Halifax), with whom he had worked before.

Quast's character, Michael Fielding, is in his late 40's, and is a member for Clifton, a blue-ribbon seat he virtually inherited when his father died suddenly.

Fielding has not planned a political career. He was content with a well-paid job in finance, and an easy lifestyle with wife and kids in leafly northern Sydney suburb. Now he finds himself suddenly in Canberra, and he faces a rapid education on the pitfalls of being an MP. "he's pretty inept really," says Quast. "A bit of a buffoon. The biggest shook is he has to learn how to lie."

Quast, like many other Australians believes politicians do lie out of necessity for political survival.

"But I think it eventually becomes pathological, in that they do it without thinking," Quast says. "And it becomes noticeable, so people become disillusioned with them."

The other aspect of the show's perception of politics that appealed to him was the modern politician's preoccupation with image and celebrity.

"It is quite an odd thing. Therefore in a show like this we can be more about the style of politics than about topicality," he says. "The trouble with modern (Australian) politics is that in this very big and visible arena we have this incredibly childish behaviour. At the same time that they might be deciding about sending our soldiers to fight in a war overseas, a stylist is telling them what tie to wear. Politics is all about celebrity."

Increasing the intrigue is the way production of the TV series has at times collided with the real thing in Canberra.

In one example, Labor leader Kim Beazley walked out og Parliament House and stepped into Jeremy Sims' character's limo, in the middle of a shoot.

More deliberatly, real-life backbenchers are readily volunteering as extras for the series, strolling through corridors, out doors, when required.

"Just enough to give it (the show) a flavour of reality," says Quast.

Quast, who has become more concerned about this growing cult of celebrity during recent visits home, prepared himself for his Corridors of Power role accessing the internet every night in London, to catch up with contemporary Aussie politics.

"When I arrived (in Sydney) the rest of the cast were already underway, so I wanted to be up to speed," he said.

Quast said knowing he would be sharing the load with Sims helped grease the wheels of production.

Quast also found Corridors of Power has been cathartic in re-immersing him in Australian humour.


[UPDATES] [BIOGRAPHY] [ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS ] [ STAGE ]

[ FILM & TV ][AUDIO/VIDEO ] [ LINKS] [SCRAPBOOK] [ HOME ]


© Kate McCullugh & Angela Pollard 2001. No portion of this page may be copied without permission of the author.