# Seven Deadly Sins (miniseries)

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.

## 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.

### Charts

| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
| Australian (ARIA Charts) | 71 |

## 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

## Footnotes

* ↑ "Stephen Burstow is a Sydney-based visual artist, lecturer and filmmaker. As a director he has specialised in performing arts projects for film, television and digital media. His dance films have been awarded internationally". He is also co-creator of Bush Tucker Man (TV series, 1988-2006).