Category: Drama

Olly’s Prison – Photos by Willoughby Gullachsen

Photos by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission.

‘Olly’s Prison’ was a three part drama series produced at Pebble Mill by Richard Langridge.  The script was written by Edward Bond, and directed by Roy Battersby. It was transmitted in 1993, and was probably the last studio only drama to be recorded in Studio A at Pebble Mill.  Dave Bushell was the lighting director, and Bob Jacobs the 1st A.D. and Ian Barber the AFM.  Dave Bushell remembers it being a satisfying drama to work on, although not a bundle of laughs.

Mike Eastman remembers working on the series: “I had a small acting role in this production playing a prisoner, my filming days were just prior to Christmas 1991. It was the first time I had worked with Bob Jacobs as ‘first’, but went on to do lots more work with him later on.”

The BFI database http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/489433 includes this precis of the storyline:

Part 1: Tells the tragic story of Mike who sees his life crumble as his grip on reality becomes ever more tenuous. He shares a claustrophobic flat with his 16-year-old daughter, Sheila. Sheila is uncommunicative, like many teenagers, and Mike becomes increasingly frustrated by her silence. He resorts to violence.

Part 2: Bernard is serving a life sentence for the murder of his daughter. He attempts suicide but fails. His fellow prisoner Smiler uses his makeshift noose to hang himself.

(No precis of Part 3 is included)

‘Olly’s Prison’ featured Bernard Hill as Mike, Jonny Lee Miller as Smiler, Mary Jo Randle as Vera, George Anton as Frank, Bryan Pringle as Barry, Richard Graham as Olly, and Maggie Steed as Ellen.

 

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Love Birds – photo by Willoughby Gullachsen

Photo by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission.

The photo is from a Screen Two drama called ‘Love Birds’, which was transmitted in 1988.  It shows cameraman Keith Froggatt, and director Stephen Whittaker (who sadly is no longer with us).  Chris Parr was the producer, and Sharon Pemberton the editor.

The BFI Database includes the following synopsis of the drama:

‘Barbara and Naseem are in the same hospital having babies. They become friends, but the celebrations of their husbands, Kenny and Quereshi, lead to a headlong chase, with crazy mix-ups, collisions and brushes with the law.’ http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/425046

‘Love Birds’ starred Paul Bhattacharjee, Stephen Bent, Jane Gurnett, Linda Henry, Lisa Meredith, Van Martin, Shaheen Khan, Tracey Wilkinson, Margaret Heery, Sally Jackson, Jane Hazelgrove and Ken Hastwell.

Thanks to Sharon Pemberton for identifying the drama from the photo.

Broke – Photos by Willoughby Gullachsen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission.

‘Broke’ was part of the BBC 2 ‘Screenplay’ anthology series, being transmitted in 1991.  It was written by Stephen Bill, directed by Alan Dosser and produced at Pebble Mill by Barry Hanson.

The BFI database includes the following synopsis:

‘Ken Bannister is a wealthy, self-made man, who gives some work to his friend Francis Meeks, whose own small business is just getting oof the ground, commissioning him to refurbish the country club. However, when he asks for his money, Ken can’t pay, having been declared bankrupt, although this doesn’t seem to affect his affluent lifestyle in any way. Francis stands by helpless, watching his business and home go to rack and ruin, until his determined wife Melanie steps in.’ http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/460448

‘Broke’ starred Timothy Spall, Sheila Kelley, Larry Lamb, Susan Wooldridge, and Leo Bill.

The photo of the crew includes Alan Dosser (director), Steve Saunderson (camera), Tim Everett (sound), and Bob Jacobs (1st AD).

Terry Powell (dresser) remembers that ‘Broke’ was the 1st time he worked with Timothy Spall,  and through it became good friends. When he left the BBC to go freelance he worked with Tim on many a show and still sees him today.

 

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All Creatures Great and Small – photos by Kevin Lakin


Photos by Kevin Lakin, no reproduction without permission.

These photos are from ‘All creatures Great and Small’ I think from around 1989.. first pic John Kenway on camera… bloke in white shirt is Mike Brayshaw director… Barrie Foster camera assistant… then Bob Farr design… John Cole sound.. electrican, I don’t name… Girl in sunglasses is Helen Mays costume.

A funny thing happened at this location, there was a tapping all the way through the take, there a big inquest were the the tapping was coming from 2 takes were ruined cos this constant tapping, sound man was going crazy. till it was discovered … it was a Thrush with a snail in its beak, tapping the snail on a stone, trying to break the snails shell. 2nd pic is Mike Brayshaw the Director.
Kevin Lakin
(Murray Clarke (sound recordist) added the following comment about ‘All Creatures’: My first assignment as a freelance sound recordist was a fortnight’s filming on ACGS. I borrowed what was an awful amount of money (in those days) from the Bank to finance the purchase of a brand new Nagra 3 and a few microphones. It pissed down with rain for the whole of the two weeks and all the gear got very wet!! I was very upset!!!)

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The Fall Out Guy – TX Card by Dave Bushell

TX Card from lighting director Dave Bushell.

“The Fall Out Guy’ was a spy thriller, produced at Pebble Mill by Caroline Oulton and transmitted in 1991.  It was a studio drama recorded in Studio A.

The script was written by John Random, with Tony Dennis as script editor.  It was directed by Phil Tickell, with Josephine Ward as production associate and Rob Hinds the designer.

The play featured Lou Hirsch, Amanda Boxer, Eugene Lipinski, Maria Charles, Joe Melia, Lex Van Delden, Nicolas Colicos, Mitch Webb, and James Tillitt.

The BFI database summarise the storyline thus:

“Raymond is an overweight, immature chemical engineer, aged 39 and still living with his parents. He is also a spy, and when the FBI begins to close in, he makes a run for it with Danica, a dental receptionist.”