The original producer of the series was Dennis Vance, who was in charge for the first two years. In its early years the series drew heavily on North American sources. The first play, "The Outsider", was a medical drama adapted from a stage play by Dorothy Brandon, which was transmitted live on 8 July 1956 from ABC's Manchester studios in Didsbury. Reportedly Vance had a preference for classical adaptations, though some of these—such as a version of "The Emperor Jones" (30 March 1958) by the American dramatist Eugene O'Neill—were not conservative choices. Vance was succeeded by Sydney Newman, who was ABC's Head of Drama from April 1958.