Category: Drama

‘Urban Jungle’ – photos by Willoughby Gullachsen

Photographs by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission.

The photos are of  ‘Urban Jungle’ a Robin Midgley, Pebble Mill, studio drama, from around 1985. The main photo is of a technical run at Moseley Hall.

The large photo shows Robin Midgley himself on the left hand side, Sally Daniels (PA), Annette Martin (light coloured top), Phil Wilson (camera), Charlie Bond (production designer), Ian Tootle (AFM), Andrew Smith (1st AD) (beard, nr door on right hand side).

The drama starred Roy Kinnear, Annie Raitt, and Tim Roth.  Unfortunately it didn’t ever make transmission.

Thanks to Gareth Williams for identifying the drama, he was a newly arrived floor assistant on the show.

 

Film Editor, Henry Fowler – photo by Ian Collins

Photograph by Ian Collins, no reproduction without permission.

The photo shows film editor Henry Fowler at his Steenbeck, editing.  Henry Fowler edited a variety of dramas and documentaries at BBC Pebble Mill including:

‘Death of a Miner’ 1968, ‘Before the Mast’ 1971, ‘That Quiet Earth’ 1972 (30 Min Theatre),’The Shoals of Herring’ 1972, ‘Land of Green Ginger’ 1973 (Play for Today), ‘Steps Back’ 1973 (Play for Today), ‘Penda’s Fen’ 1974 (Play for Today), ‘Gangsters’ 1975 (Play for Today), ‘Breath’ 1975 (Play for Today), ‘The Other Woman’ 1976 (Play for Today),’ The Muscle Market’ 1981 (Play for Today).

‘Laughter of God’ – TX card from Maggie Humphries

‘Laughter of God’ was a Screen 2 drama produced at Pebble Mill, and transmitted in 1991.

The drama starred Peter Firth, Amanda Donohoe and Sylvia Syms.  It was produced by Bill Shapter, with exec producers Michael Wearing and Barry Hanson.  Tony Bicat wrote and directed the play.  John Kenway was the cameraman, Beverley Mills the editor and Michael Edwards the production designer.

The BFI database describes the drama:

‘The Clemants family seem idyllic on the surface – Steve, an architect, his wife Jane and their two daughters, Gilly and Sophie, live a comfortable life in a converted farmhouse in the countryside. However, disturbing emotions lie behind them, with Jane fantasising about murdering her husband whilst carrying on a love affair with her art dealer, and Steve dreaming of his wife’s funeral and finding pleasure with Rose, a young actress in local Rep. What was once fantasy begins to stray into reality, as dark forces begin to work after the foundations for Steve’s current building project fall into an ancient burial chamber.’

Thanks to Maggie Humphries from Film Unit for making the TX card available.

Backup – photos by Willoughby Gullachsen

Photos by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission.

The photos probably come from the drama ‘Backup’.  It was a Pebble Mill drama which ran for two series.  The first eight part series went out in 1995, with the second, six part series transmitting in 1997.  Hilary Salmon was the producer; Tony Virgo the exec producer; Bob Blagdon, Jan Sargent, and Douglas Mackinnon the directors.  Nigel McCrery created the series with Roy Mitchell writing some of  the scripts.  The series was edited by John Rosser and Beverley Mills.

These photos are probably from the first series.

The drama featured Martin Troakes, Katrina Levon, Nick Miles, Christopher John Hall, and Calum MacPherson.

A synopsis by ‘Sulla-2’ on the IMDB site describes the drama:

‘There were two series of ‘Back up’ and they were both very good entertainment. Basically it is a series about a section of the Special Patrol Group ( SPG) They work has a crew of experienced male and female Constables working in uniform or plain clothes. They are based in Birmingham in the Digbeth area but can be called upon to assist any of the West Midlands Police areas, although they would mainly be in Birmingham. Their speciality is Public Order but they are in a position to provide back up for more or less anything. In real life, Officer on the SPG are very fit and highly trained. The officers portrayed in this programme are rather less fit. Several of the cast have gone on to bigger and better things but others have disappeared without trace.’ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115102/

Thanks to Ant Smith and Kevin Lakin for identifying the photos of this drama.

Mystery drama – photos by Willoughby Gullachsen

Photos by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission.

These photos are from a Pebble Mill drama, probably dating from the mid 1980’s.

If you can identify the drama, then please add a comment!