Performance Details: The Escapist
Project type: Cinematic film
Synopsis: Frank Perry is a lifer; in prison for the rest of his natural born days. He’s never had a problem with that -- until now. He receives a letter telling him that his only and much loved (but estranged) daughter is in hospital, critically ill following an overdose. Desperate to make his peace with her, Frank develops a plan to escape. But he can't break out alone and enlists an ensemble of escapists -- a motley crew of younger inmates. As they prepare to break out, Frank’s focus is distracted by the arrival of a young con James Lacey -- a reminder of days long lost. As the new kid on the block, Lacey also attracts the sadistic attention of Tony, the drug-addicted brother of Rizza. Rizza is "king of the wing" and is Frank's nemesis. Personality conflicts puts the escape in jeopardy, and Frank is forced to find the energy and courage of the man he once was.
Chronology: In production from late January 2007 through early March 2007, filming for four weeks in Dublin and one week in London. Released in cinemas in the UK on June 20, 2008. Released in cinemas in the United Arab Emirates on October 30, 2008. Released in cinemas in Kuwait on November 20, 2008. Released on region 2 DVD in the UK on February 9, 2009. Released on region 2 DVD in Germany for rental on January 28, 2009, and for sale on February 23, 2009. Released on region 2 DVD in Finland on March 18, 2009. Released on region 2 DVD in Sweden on March 25, 2009. Available for on-demand viewing via IFC-In-Theaters On Demand in the US beginning April 1, 2009. Released in cinemas in New York City on April 3, 2009. Released in cinemas in Los Angeles on April 10, 2009, followed by cinematic release in select US cities in the subsequent weeks. Released in cinemas in New Zealand on May 28, 2009. Released in cinemas in Australia on July 16, 2009. Released in cinemas in the Netherlands on July 23, 2009. Released in cinemas in Belgium on August 12, 2009. Released for rental only (Blockbuster exclusive) on region 1 DVD in the US on October 10, 2009. Released on DVD in Hungary on October 13, 2009. Released for purchase on region 1 DVD in the US on January 26, 2010.
Film Festivals & Other Special Screenings:
Awards & Nominations:
This production received the following awards:
This production received the following nominations:
Principal Cast & Crew: Pat Ainscough as Prison Guard; John Campion as Screw #1; Dominic Cooper as James Lacey; Brian Cox as Frank Perry; John Crean as Young Prison Guard; Liam Cunningham as Brodie; Alan Curren as Cockney Con; Ned Dennehy as Jumpy Con; Phelim Drew as Doctor; Joseph Fiennes as Lenny Drake; Seu Jorge as Viv Batista; Damian Lewis as Rizza; Steven Macintosh as Tony; Vincent McCabe as Sam; Bernadette McKenna as Frank's Wife; Eleanor McLynn as Frank's Daughter; Domhnall O'Donoghue as Mary; Sheamus "The Irish Curse"' O'Shaunessy as Two Ton; Frank O'Sullivan as Hedges; Robert Prior as Screw #2; Tony Senior as Boxing Con; George Seremba as Stan; Paul Vaughan as Prison Tannoy Voice; Marcel Vidal as Rizza's Lackey; Jack Walsh as Sikes; Directed by Rupert Wyatt; Written by Rupert Wyatt and Daniel Hardy.
Links:
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Performance Details: Essential Poems To Fall In Love With
Project type: Television special
Synopsis: Passionate, touching and amusing, this poetic journey explores the highs and lows of romance through the world's most memorable love poems recited by the best-loved actors. From Shakespeare to Wendy Cope, from Tennyson to Maya Angelou, from D.H. Lawrence to John Hegley, the themes of love's pain, ecstasy, uncertainty and fulfillment have been explored in beautiful, touching, bitter and witty verse. Seductive, humorous or uplifting, these poems are shown to be relevant to our lives today. Filmed in the style of a mini-drama and set in modern locations, over 35 actors and celebrities recite poems that capture the emotions and passions of love, from the heady days of seduction to the pain of breaking up.
Chronology: Probably in production in middle-to-late 2002. UK television premiere on BBC 2 in five nightly episodes from February 14, 2003, through February 18, 2003. Released on region 2 DVD in the UK on February 2, 2004.
Principal Cast & Crew: Poems Read by Bill Bailey, Sinead Cusack, Julie Delpy, Emilia Fox, Philip Glenister, Bonnie Greer, Tamsin Greig, Ioan Gruffudd, Naomi Harris, Ian Hart, Douglas Henshall, Amanda Holden, Lennie James, Christopher Lee, Damian Lewis, Andrew Lincoln, Ralf Little, Susan Lynch, Matthew MacFadyen, Michael Maloney, Lesley Manville, Anna Massey, Roger McGough, Jimi Mistry, Hermoine Norris, Sarah Parish, Bill Paterson, Rupert Penry-Jones, Stephen Rae, Prunella Scales, John Shrapnel, Alison Steadman, Imogen Stubbs, Liza Tarbuck, Stephen Tomkinson, Samuel West, Timothy West, Jo Whiley, Greg Wise; Presented by Daisy Goodwin; Directed by Alannah Richardson.
Links:
Episode Guide:
Programme 1: First Flush:
Meeting At Night -- written by Robert Browning -- read by Samuel West
Programme 2: Wild Nights
Symptoms Of Love -- written by Robert Graves -- read by Ralf Little
Programme 3: Talking in Bed
This Is Just To Say -- written by William Carlos Williams -- read by Matthew MacFadyen
Programme 4: The Grass is Greener
Ending -- written by Gavin Ewart -- read by Stephen Tomkinson
Programme 5: Love in a Life
Sonnets From The Portuguese: Sonnet XLIII -- written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning -- read by Sinead Cusack
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Performance Details: Fire In The Heart
Project type: Radio recording
Synopsis: John Keats's poems and letters, adapted and reconstructed by Robin Brooks, provide a fascinating and moving insight into the heart and mind of a great poet.
Chronology: Probably recorded in 1999. Presented on BBC 4 radio in the UK in 15 episodes from August 23, 1999, through Sept 10, 1999. (Episodes broadcast on August 23-27, August 30-31, September 1-3, September 6-10).
Principal Cast & Crew: Nigel Cooke as _____; Julie Cox as _____; Kelly Hunter as _____; Damian Lewis as Charles; David Tennant as _____; John Webb as _____; Directed by Clive Brill; Adapted/Reconstructed by Robin Brooks from the Letters and Poems of John Keats.
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Performance Details: Five Gold Rings
Project type: Stage play
Synopsis: Henry has invited his two sons and their wives to his home for Christmas. One son is sexually fertile, one is not. Five Gold Rings sees the conflicting needs of the two couples clash, intertwine and explode.
Chronology: Performed at the Almeida Theatre, London, from December 11, 2003, through January 17, 2004. This was the world premiere of this new play. (Press Night: December 18, 2003.) (A captioned performance was held on December 22, 2003. A sign-language-interpreted performance was held on January 15, 2004. An audio-described performance and touch tour was held on January 17, 2004.)
Principal Cast & Crew: David Calder as Henry; Will Keen as Simon; Damian Lewis as Daniel; Helen McCrory as Miranda; Indira Varma as Freyja; Directed by Michael Attenborough; Designed by Es Devlin; Lighting by Adam Silverman; Music by Adam Cork; Sound by John Leonard; Written by Joanna Laurens.
Links:
| A video of this production, taped at the Almeida Theatre on January 12, 2004, is available for viewing at the National Museum Of The Performing Arts (also known as the Theatre Museum), Russell Street, Covent Garden, London. Appointments are recommended, and the video is available only for on-site viewing. It is not available for loan, rental, duplication or purchase. For information, visit this link:http://www.theatremuseum.org.uk/natvidarc/video.php?vid=841 |
Scene-by-Scene Synopsis:
The play is set in a desert. It is Christmas and Henry is looking forward to seeing his sons, Simon, the eldest and Daniel, with their wives, Miranda and Freya. Henry is obviously a lonely, broken man, who lives to see his offspring; alas this only happens once a year as they both live in the city. Henry has kept the Monopoly board at the same stage of play so that they all may continue the game this year. ...
The first of their secrets is revealed, when Daniel's wife Freya is the first to arrive ahead of the others: she has bought presents for everyone on Henry's behalf and tells him what he "has got" for everyone. This is their secret. The family are all of the opinion that Henry is a rich man. Freya brings this up, and Henry lets her read letters from his ex-wife, Sarah. Henry has no money, it would appear he has given all to his ex-wife in an attempt to win her back. She left when Simon and Daniel were quite young. Freya promises not to tell the others but thinks that Henry should tell his sons. A desperately unhappy Freya also reveals that she and Daniel are having marital difficulties and pleas with Henry to speak with him. She wants a baby and the only action going on in the bedroom is sleeping. ...
Daniel, Simon and Miranda are next to arrive. They are all of the same mind: Henry must leave his home, since the lake is drying out and he will soon have no water. During the resumption of the Monopoly game the subject is brought up, but Henry will have none of this.
The next two secrets are revealed when Henry and Miranda talk: Miranda is upset that after a year of desperately trying for a baby, Simon told her that he had a vasectomy. In veiled terms Henry mentions her "previous life" and maybe she is the one with the problem. The audience are left thinking, could Miranda have been a prostitute? It is obvious later that Simon believes she was a virgin on their wedding night and is passionately in love with her. The reason why he had a vasectomy will become clear later.
Daniel and Miranda talk, and Daniel states bluntly that Freya "doesn't do it" for him. However he goes on to tell Henry that he is impotent. As far as Daniel is concerned his marriage is a loveless waste of time. Miranda tells Daniel about Simon and the vasectomy. Daniel says that Simon has done that since he believed that his mother left because of her children. Simon thinks he is saving his marriage by not giving any children a chance to split him up from Miranda.
Freya attempts to arouse Daniel, but he rebuffs her.
At night, Daniel and Miranda meet and have sex. They agree to leave together, and make plans. Daniel writes Miranda a cryptic love note -- Freya has woken up and is looking for Daniel, he hears her approach and flees, hastily agreeing with Miranda where they should meet. The note lands on the floor. Freya approaches and asks Miranda if she's seen Daniel. Miranda naturally lies, but Freya sees the note and picks it up. She is crestfallen. Miranda tries to get out of it, but there is no way she can.
Freya leaves the note in Henry's room. Daniel approaches his father and asks for money to see a doctor re his "impotence" Henry cannot tell him he has nothing, but tricks Simon into transferring the money to his account, so that he can write the check for Daniel. The sum is 10,000. Henry finds the note and realizes that Daniel is leaving with Miranda. What a dilemma! What can he do? He speaks with Miranda separately and implores her not to do this thing. Daniel cashes the check and waits for Miranda to leave with him for a new life together, not knowing that Freya has pointed Miranda in the direction of the letters from Sarah. Miranda realizes the lie that Henry has been living and that she cannot leave with Daniel, but hopes with all her heart that their hasty coupling has resulted in a conception. She may at this stage think that Henry will have to tell Daniel he has no money. She also seems to be having second thoughts about leaving.
A distraught Daniel burns the money -- he thinks it is pin money to his father. He gets roaring drunk and reveals as much to his father. Simon is by now aware of what is going on -- Henry has told him that Miranda is not in love with him and he should fight for her. Simon confronts his father with why he wanted the money. Henry does not tell him who her lover is. But Freya does! Poor Freya, still wanting Daniel to love her.
Simon and the still drunk Daniel have a heartbreaking conversation with their father looking on. Daniel accuses Simon of always getting his father's love before Daniel. Reference is made to an incident when they were 12 and 13 respectively. At some stage Simon and Daniel are left to talk alone. Simon had sexually abused Daniel! There is no particular detail about the circumstances of this event but it appears to have been a one-off. Henry apparently had not dealt with the situation very well. Daniel loves his brother but is still bitter. Henry leaves. Simon awkwardly tries to explain how sorry he is for that, but his judgment is possibly clouded by the fact that Daniel has slept with Miranda?
Simon can take no more -- his guilt over his mother leaving, guilt over abusing Daniel, his shattered love for Miranda, her affair with Daniel, his father's betrayal and lies about how much money he has, and the fact that his father tricked him to give the 10,000 to Daniel. It is too much for him to cope with.
Simon hangs himself and his father finds him.
A mournful monologue by Henry follows, lamenting the loss of his son, about the mess between Daniel and Miranda, the loss of his wife. He still believes she may come back to him. ... ?
Daniel, Miranda and Freya try again to encourage Henry to leave with them for the city.
Henry refuses and they leave without him.
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Performance Details: The Forest
Project type: Stage play
Synopsis: Two down-and-out actors, the tragedian Neshchaslivtsev ("Unlucky") and the comedian Shchaslivtsev ("Lucky"), travel by foot to the estate of the former's rich aunt, Raisa. Raisa is gradually selling the family-owned forest to support her hobby, keeping young men. Now in her mid-fifties, she likes the men increasingly younger; her current beau is a high-school dropout. To preserve appearances, she intends to marry the boy to Neshchaslivtsev's young cousin, Aksiusha.
Neshchaslivtsev is at first well received by his aunt Raisa, who thinks he is a military man on leave. But then they discover each other's secrets: Raisa learns he is only a provincial actor and he discovers her affair with the teenager.
Raisa now wants her disgraceful nephew to leave, so she bribes him with 1,000 rubles (less than what she owes him for his share in her sales of woodland). Aksiusha is in love with a merchant's son, but his father won't have her unless she brings 1,000 rubles for her dowry. Everyone begs rich Raisa to provide the dowry.
Raisa cannot; her lover will marry her only if she gives him her entire fortune. So that Aksiusha can marry the one she loves, Neshchaslivtsev gives his bribe to her. As the preparations begin for the two weddings -- one promising, the other ominous -- the two actors leave the estate as broke as they came.
Chronology: Performed at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, most likely sometime between 1989 and 1993.
Principal Cast & Crew: Damian Lewis as Neshchaslivtsev; other cast members unidentified; Written by Alexander Ostrovsky.
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Performance Details: The Forsyte Saga: Series I
Project type: Television mini-series
Synopsis: Soames Forsyte is a successful London solicitor and wealthy scion of a respectable upper-middle-class Victorian family. Soames marries the beautiful Irene -- all he needs to complete his golden existence -- but finds that he can never truly possess her. This sweeping drama follows the family through two tumultuous decades that reflect the pivotal times in which they live.
Chronology: In production during the autumn of 2001, and production took approximately six months. UK television premiere on ITV 1 on April 7, 2002, with episodes airing on six consecutive Sundays through May 12, 2002. US television premiere on PBS on October 6, 2002, with episodes airing on seven consecutive Sundays through November 17, 2002. Rebroadcast in the US on PBS in seven weekly episodes from December 21, 2003, through February 1, 2004. Released on region 2 DVD in the UK on May 13, 2002, and on region 1 DVD in the US on October 8, 2002. Presented on television (networks unknown) in Hungary beginning September 10, 2004, and Sweden beginning July 9, 2005.
Awards & Nominations:
Damian received the following nomination:
This production also received the following awards:
This production also received the following nominations:
Principal Cast & Crew: Jenifer Armitage as Mlle. Beauce; Beatriz Batarda as Annette Forsyte née Lamotte; Ann Bell as Aunt Hester Forsyte; Patrick Bridgman as Vicar; Judy Campbell as Aunt Ann Forsyte; Emily Canfor-Dumas as Holly Forsyte, age 11; John Carlisle as James Forsyte; Mark Chatterton as Porter, Hotch Potch Club; Christian Coulson as Jolly Forsyte; Wendy Craig as Aunt Juley Small née Forsyte; Joanna David as Mrs. Heron; Barbara Flynn as Emily Forsyte née Golding; Jessica Fox as June Forsyte, age 14; Maggie Fox as Bilson; Rupert Graves as Young Jolyon Forsyte; Ioan Gruffudd as Phillip Bosinney; Toby Hadoke as George Liversedge; Bella Hamblin as Clara; Graeme Hawley as Gradman; Gillian Kearney as June Forsyte; Gordon Langford-Rowe as Herring; Robert Lang as Swithin Forsyte; Jack Langham as Jolly Forsyte, age 7; Damian Lewis as Soames Forsyte; Gina McKee as Irene Forsyte née Heron; Ben Miles as Montague Dartie; Amanda Ooms as Helene Forsyte née Hillmer; Julian Ovenden as Val Dartie; Alice Patten as Imogen Dartie; Alistair Petrie as George Forsyte; Andy Quine as Pendicoat; Malcolm Raeburn as Parfitt; Corin Redgrave as Old Jolyon Forsyte; Stuart Richman as Priest; Amanda Root as Winifred Dartie née Forsyte; Jowanna Rose as Smither; Philip Rowson as Thripp; Amanda Ryan as Holly Forsyte; Terence Wilton as Mr. Beech; Sarah Winman as Frances Forsyte née Crisson; Screenplay adaptation by Stephen Mallatrat (episodes 1-3, 6) and Jan McVerry (episodes 4-5); Directed by Christopher Menaul (episodes 1-3) and David Moore (episodes 4-6); Based on the novels of John Galsworthy.
Links:
Episode Guide:
Episode 1: At a Forsyte family gathering, Winifred announces her engagement to Montague Dartie. Young Jolyon, distracted by the illness of his daughter, June, reveals his feelings for the child's governess, forcing a showdown with his wife. Deciding to follow his heart, Young Jolyon is disowned by his father. Four years later, Soames Forsyte's search for a suitable wife leads him to Irene, a beautiful young woman dependent on her avaricious stepmother. Though she makes no secret of her lack of feelings for Soames, Irene agrees in desperation to marry him. June, now grown into a spirited beauty, introduces young architect Phillip Bosinney to the family as her husband-to-be. In the church soon after, Bosinney and Irene have eyes only for each other.
Episode 2: Soames enlists Bosinney to design a grand country retreat that he hopes will salvage his marriage. But the project makes Irene more desperate than ever to break away and provides new opportunities for Irene and Bosinney to cross paths. Tempered by advancing age, Old Jolyon reconciles with his son's new family. Winifred's marriage has soured owing to Dartie's profligate ways. Soames's dream house, Robin Hill, materializes nicely, but his marriage deteriorates further. Bosinney and Irene find it harder and harder to hide their feelings for each other. After a scene at a Forsyte ball, Soames confronts Irene with his suspicions.
Episode 3: Though Soames tries desperately to keep her, Irene recoils from his entreaties. Enraged, he challenges Bosinney over the bill for the now-completed house and instigates legal action that taints the architect's reputation. Irene and Bosinney defy Soames and continue to meet secretly. June returns from a therapeutic holiday abroad and is horrified at news of the lawsuit, knowing it will just deepen the lovers' bond. Old Jolyon is disgusted by Soames's vindictiveness and withdraws his business from the family firm. After a night when Soames turns violent, Irene and Bosinney determine to run off together.
Episode 4: Irene cannot return to her old life and leaves Montpelier square forever. June confronts Soames with the truth about his marriage, and Soames briefly lets his feelings overwhelm him. Robin Hill becomes the happy family home it was always meant to be after Old Jolyon buys it from Soames for Young Jolyon and Helene. Five years pass. Helene has died and Young Jolyon and June are away when Irene returns and visits Robin Hill to see Bosinney's creation. Old Jolyon discovers her there and the two begin an affectionate friendship, making Irene once again grist for the family gossip mill. When Old Jolyon dies, his son delivers a pointed eulogy that distinguishes his father from the rest of the Forsyte clan.
Episode 5: Seven years pass and Soames, at 45, has found some hope of happiness in Annette, a young French girl. But he cannot marry again because he is still married to Irene. After a terrible row with Dartie, who has begun stealing her jewelry to give to his girlfriends, Winifred takes Soames's advice to seek a divorce as quickly and quietly as possible. Soames pursues his own divorce, but a visit to Irene at her Chelsea flat leaves him desperate to have her back again. Alarmed, she flees to Paris, followed by Soames's hated cousin Jolyon, who is falling in love with Irene himself. In the younger generation, love stirs between the opposing sides of the family. The boys, Val and Jolly, impulsively enlist to fight in the Boer War.
Episode 6: With the war preparations looming, Winifred takes Dartie back, but he soon returns to his old habits. Winifred goes to her mother for comfort, and Emily responds in the only way she knows. When the Forsytes all gather to see Val and Jolly off to South Africa, only Jolyon manages an honest display of emotion. Soames continues to employ detectives to follow Irene, but even his employees no longer believe that he is only interested in evidence for a divorce. He tracks Irene down in Paris and makes another futile attempt to bring her home. As Irene and Jolyon begin to build a future together, Soames lets go of his obsession with Irene and moves on. With Annette, his dream of a son and heir seems finally within his grasp.
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Performance Details: The Forsyte Saga: Series II
Project type: Television mini-series
Synopsis: Fleur Forsyte, daughter of Soames and Annette, and Jon Forsyte, son of Irene and Jolyon, meet by chance as youngsters and make an indelible impression on each other. A decade later, they meet again and fall instantly -- and disastrously -- in love. This era in the saga of the privileged Forsytes unfolds amid the gaiety and social upheaval of the 1920s, the dawn of the modern age.
Chronology: In production during the autumn of 2002. UK television premiere on ITV 1 on May 25, 2003, with episodes airing on four consecutive Sundays through June 16, 2003. US television premiere on PBS on February 8, 2004, with episodes airing on three consecutive Sundays through February 22, 2004. Released on region 2 DVD in the UK on June 30, 2003, and on region 1 DVD in the US on February 24, 2004. Presented on television (networks unknown) in Sweden beginning September 3, 2005, and in Finland in July 2006.
Awards & Nominations:
This production received the following award:
This production received the following nominations:
Principal Cast & Crew: Beatriz Batarda as Annette Forsyte née Lamotte; Rupert Graves as Jolyon Forsyte; Emma Griffiths Malin as Fleur Forsyte; Gillian Kearney as June Forsyte; Damian Lewis - Soames Forsyte; Michael Maloney as Prosper Profond; Gina McKee as Irene Forsyte née Heron; Oliver Milburn as Michael Mont; Ben Miles as Montague Dartie; Amanda Root as Winifred Dartie née Forsyte; Amanda Ryan as Holly Forsyte; Lee Williams as Jon Forsyte; Screenplay adaptation by Kate Brooke and Phil Woods; Directed by Andy Wilson; Based on the novels of John Galsworthy.
Links:
Episode Guide:
Episode 1: With their families bitterly estranged, Fleur Forsyte and her cousin Jon know nothing of each other until they accidentally meet as children and cause a puzzling uproar among the adults. By the next time they meet, at June's gallery, Fleur has grown into a spirited and ravishing young woman and Jon a sensitive and attractive young man. They are drawn to each other, though their families recoil at the idea of any contact between them. Accustomed to getting anything she wants, Fleur cleverly evades her father's dictate and pursues Jon to the country, where he is trying his hand at farming.
Episode 2: Having already declared their love for each other, Fleur and Jon wonder about the secret that divides their families. Soames arranges a house party to distract Fleur and pairs her with the dashing Michael Mont for tennis. To please his father, Jon reluctantly agrees to accompany his mother on a three-month holiday abroad, but Irene cuts the trip short when she realizes that the separation from Fleur has only strengthened Jon's feelings for her. Crushed to discover that the flirtatious Profond has turned his attentions to another married woman, Winifred berates Dartie for his years of drinking and gambling.
Episode 3: Determined to be with Fleur and furious at his parents' objections, Jon moves into a cottage near the farm. Fleur joins him for a few idyllic days, and they vow to elope to Scotland. The plan goes smoothly until Jolyon's illness and a chance encounter with Soames forces the families' ugly secret out into the open. Mont presses his suit with Fleur, but she remains steadfastly attached to Jon. As he grieves, Jon begins to feel torn between Fleur and his mother.
Episode 4: Fleur begs her father to go to Robin Hill and intercede on her behalf. Once in Irene's company, Soames becomes overcome with feelings about the past. Defending his mother, Jon turns against Soames and shuns Fleur. Heartsick and blaming her father, Fleur shuts herself away until her mother returns home and counsels her to be more practical about marriage.
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Performance Details: Friends & Crocodiles
Project type: Television film
Synopsis: This is a story of the shifting power between a boss and his secretary as their careers rise and fall through the dramatic changes in the workplace in Britain during the 1980s and 1990s. Paul Reynolds is a Gatsby-like figure: owner of a magnificent house, a host of great parties, and a collector of interesting people. He persuades Lizzie Thomas, a secretary in a local estate agent, to come and work for him as his assistant, to bring some order to his chaos. He inspires her with his enthusiasm and imagination, and frustrates her with his apparent carelessness and destructiveness, which culminates in her calling the police as a great party is turned over by local troublemakers, seemingly with Paul's tacit approval. But their paths are destined to cross again and again as Lizzie, with the help of some of those she met at Paul's house, rises through the changing landscape of corporate Britain. She prospers after leaving Paul's employ, while Paul's fortunes decline. This is a story of a meaningful and powerful relationship that isn't a love story; it's about those rare people who profoundly influence and shape our lives. This film was the first of what originally was to be a three-part anthology. (Damian is not part of the second film, Gideon's Daughter. The third film has not been announced for development.)
Chronology: In production during July and August of 2004. UK television premiere on BBC 1 on January 15, 2006. US television premiere on BBC America on February 25, 2006. Released on region 2 DVD in the UK on January 9, 2006. Released on region 1 DVD in the US on May 30, 2006. Presented on television (networks unknown) in Finland on August 29, 2006; Sweden on December 26, 2006; Australia on February 27, 2007; Argentina on May 28, 2007; Denmark on June 8, 2008.
Film Festivals & Other Special Screenings:
Awards & Nominations:
This production received the following nomination:
Principal Cast & Crew: Rod Arthur as Mr. Zack; Philip Battley as Lizzie's Husband; Jake Broder as Management Consultant; Isabel Brook as Angela; Allan Corduner as Marcus; Sam Friend as Paul's Son; Sasha Hardway as Young Rachel; Paul Hickey as one of the Albert Brothers; Sophie Hunter as Christine; Chris Larkin as Redfern; Damian Lewis as Paul Reynolds; Robert Lindsay as William Sneath; Patrick Malahide as Anders; Eddie Marsan as Butterworth; Jodhi May as Lizzie Thomas; Murray McArthur as Soup Man 1; Harry Melling as Young Oliver; Ruth Millar as Simone; Shannon Murray as Older Rachel; Steven O'Neill as Virtual Reality Man; Tim Plester as one of the Albert Brothers; Olivia Poulet as Carol; Stewart C. Scudamore as Seafood Surprise Man; Karen Staples as Diana; Giles Taylor as Graham; Will Thorp as Soup Man 2; Ed Tolputt as Older Oliver; John Warnaby as Coyle; Robert Wilfort as Electric Books Man. Directed by Stephen Poliakoff. Written by Stephen Poliakoff.
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Performance Details: Giovanni's Room
Project type: Radio recording
Synopsis: Set in 1954 in a Paris of American expatriates, liaisons, and violence, a young man finds himself caught between desire and conventional morality. Handsome young American David meets the stunning Giovanni in a "bohemian" bar and finds himself swept into a passionate love affair -- all while his girlfriend, Hella, has gone off to Spain to contemplate David's marriage proposal. Drawn to both of them, David grapples with his feelings and frustrations with his relationships, and with his sexual identity. When Hella returns to Paris, David is unable to admit the truth and pretends the liaison never happened, bringing calamitous results for all three -- especially for Giovanni, whose life descends into murderous tragedy. The story delves into the mystery of loving and creates a moving, highly controversial story of death and passion that reveals the unspoken complexities of the human heart.
Chronology: Recorded in June 2010. Presented on BBC Radio 3 in the UK on September 5, 2010.
Principal Cast & Crew: Michael Feast as Jacques; Derek Jacobi as Guillaume; Damian Lewis as David; John Lithgow as Father; Antonio Magro as Giovanni; Greta Scacchi as Hella; Adaptation Written by Neil Bartlett, based on the novel by James Baldwin; Directed by Neil Bartlett.
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Performance Details: Glastonbury The Play
Project type: Stage play reading
Synopsis: The play tells the story of seven very different visitors to the annual music festival at Glastonbury. Seline Prima is the primadonna starlet trying to gain credibility while winding up everyone around her. Freddie went to public school, dropped out, and now he's jumped the fence with his circus troupe, intent on performing and having a good time. Marie hates being so young, wants experience, and soaks it up like a sponge. Champion, Seline's publicist, hates the mud but loves his client. He's got her to himself (and a couple of hundred thousand fans) for the weekend, but he's also got a girlfriend, Babe, a model, who has pursuaded her boyfriend to camp. Babe knows about being loved but can't remember liking herself. Nevin, a drunken Essex unemployed builder, hates anything that resembles Freddie and everything Freddie represents.
Chronology: Extracts from Glastonbury The Play were read at China White in London on October 10, 2003, during an investment-and-sponsorship gala reception for the London production of the play (at The Venue in Leicester Square).
Principal Cast & Crew: Susie Amie as reader; Damian Lewis as reader; (names of other participants, if any, have not been announced); Directed by (probably) Keith Allen (who directed the play); Written by Zoe Lewis.
Links:
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Performance Details: The Glittering Prizes
Project type: Radio recording
Synopsis: A classic of the 1970s and a timeless novel, the story follows the fortunes of a group of young people from their time as students at Cambridge in the 1950s through to what was then the present day, charting the way each one's individual professional and personal promise was fulfilled ... or not. This radio production was an abridged version of Frederic Raphael's novel.
Chronology: Recorded from July 29, 2005, probably through August 2005. Presented on BBC 4 Radio in the UK in four weekly, 60-minute episodes from November 20, 2005, through December 11, 2005.
Principal Cast & Crew: Robert Bathurst as Alan Parks; Lynsey Baxter as Lady Frances; Lachele Carl as JoAnn Case; Elaine Claxton as Estelle Morris / Ursula Denny / Mrs. Hersh / Carol; Benedict Cumberbatch as Dan Bradley; Rupert Degas as Prof / Ken / Denis / Cadman / Bryan / Henry; Serena Evans as Joyce Hadleigh; Julian Firth as Gavin Pope; Isaac Freeth as Graham; Jamie Glover as Adam Morris; Henry Goodman as Lionel Morris; Simon Greenal as Bruno / Frank / Derek / Sid / Tim / Michael; Roger Hammond as Ronald; Dominic Hawksley as Mike Clode; Anton Lesser as Bill Bourne; Damian Lewis as Donald Davidson; Alex Mansuroglu as Tom Morris; Poppy Miller as Anna Cunningham; Flora Montgomery as Sheila / Helga; Geoffrey Palmer as Stephen Taylor; Alison Pettitt as Shirley; Leo Potter as Peter Bradley; Jemma Redgrave as Barbara Morris; Malcolm Sinclair as Kenneth; Malcolm Stoddard as Austin Denny; Tara Summers as Denise / Christine; Directed by Pete Atkin; Executive Producers Helen Chattwell and Bruce Hyman; Written by Frederic Raphael.
Links:
Detailed Synopsis:
It begins in 1952, when Adam Morris visits his Jewish girlfriend to tell her of his scholarship to Cambridge. He recalls an unhappy incident in the sixth form, when he was offended by what he perceived as a slur on Jews during a sermon by a visiting provost; his subsequent written attack on the man earns him the headmaster's wrath. His attempts to sleep with his girlfriend are rebuffed.
When Adam arrives at his college rooms, he finds that his roommate Donald Davidson is already ensconced and taking tea with his parents. The family is both upper-class and Catholic; Donald admits to a "vice" -- he prays. He also puts up a crucifix. Adam is witty and sharp at Donald's expense.
Adam makes several new friends, and they meet to play cards in his rooms. Although Donald joins in, he is clearly uncomfortable with their talk of sexual conquests, real or imaginary. He confounds the group by saying that his uncle once met Nazi leader Goering socially and liked him.
Adam's girlfriend comes to visit. Eating out that evening, they encounter students from the university dramatic society, including the flamboyantly gay Denis Porson. Adam's girlfriend still won't sleep with Adam.
Adam has no interest in practising his Jewish faith; he constantly questions and criticises it, and yet it dominates his life. His girlfriend marries someone else.
Every Sunday, Donald has gone to Mass, but one day he declares he feels too tired to attend. He also announces he is thinking of changing his degree and studying classics and philosophy with Adam.
Adam goes home for the Christmas holidays. He angers his father by arranging to go out on Sabbath evening and disappoints his mother by saying he is meeting a Gentile girl, Barbara. He finds this new relationship much more satisfying, especially as she will sleep with him.
At the beginning of the new term Adam is alarmed when Donald passes out in their room. When it happens again, Adam writes to Donald's parents and he goes home for the weekend. Lady Frances, Donald's mother, subsequently informs Adam that Donald is undergoing hospital tests and will not be returning to college for the rest of the term. She invites Adam to stay with the family during the Easter vacation. The house is very grand. During supper Lady Frances makes a remark about "Hebrews" to which Adam takes exception, and he prepares to leave. Donald's father tells him that Donald has leukaemia. Adam stays.
Donald's sister tells Adam that she hates him for seducing her brother away from his family and his faith. For her, "Jew" is a term of abuse. Adam feels the family only tolerate his presence because Donald likes him. One day Donald insists they race an old cart down the hill, against the clock, a game from his childhood. Adam takes his leave of Lady Frances; she tells him that Donald wants to return to Cambridge next term. He is infatuated with a fellow student, Helga, who does not return his feelings. But Lady Frances wants Adam to persuade her to be kind to her son, and bribes him with the offer of a flat in town where both men can meet their girlfriends. She only gives vent to her sorrow when Adam has left the room.
Back at Cambridge, the quartet go punting on the river and Adam tries to persuade Helga to sleep with Donald, but she makes it clear she is not interested. Donald passes out again.
Donald wants to take Helga on a trip to Italy in the summer, with Adam and Barbara. Adam meets Lady Frances for tea at a hotel. She explains that Donald will not be well enough to go to Italy; he has also left the Catholic church. Adam expects her to be angry and is surprised by her understanding.
Donald's health deteriorates. Adam and Barbara go to Italy. In Rome they buy an English newspaper and see a notice of Donald's death. He was 23.
The Glittering Prizes was originally written as six plays. In the first, "An Early Life," many of Adam's views on class and religion are challenged by the short life of his college roommate, Donald Davidson, and he learns a useful lesson in self-denial. In the third, "Past Life," Adam has already published one novel to acclaim and begun to write screenplays. At the start of the 1960s, he is asked by an old Cambridge chum, now a TV producer, to interview Stephen Taylor, one of Britain's leading fascists in the 1930s, only to find he has become a ranting madman. In the final play, "Double Life," Adam is discontent despite his success, his marriage breaks down and he discovers that one of the brightest stars in his Cambridge firmament is now a helpless alcoholic. The remaining plays chart the love lives of Adam's circle, the rise of the media, and disillusion with university education in the 1960s.
The six 75-minute play format enabled Raphael to explore a range of contemporary issues, such as sexual politics, abortion, class, religion, racism, homosexuality, the ascendancy of the media, yob culture, the erosion of prewar values and the legacy of fascism.
Episode Guide:
Episode 1: A tale following the fortunes of a group of people who were at Cambridge University together in the early 1950s.
Episode 2: The friends reach the end of their Cambridge careers, and have to face up to life in the real world where undergraduate promise guarantees nothing. Adam's apparent denial of his Jewishness, not least by moving in with Barbara, upsets his family, but it doesn't prevent him from confronting the 'fascistic brontosaurus', Stephen Taylor.
Episode 3: By the late 1960s, Dan Bradley has long given up all thoughts of acting and has committed himself almost puritanically to teaching. He has married Joyce, and has brought up her son as his own, but a visit from the mega-successful Alan Parks changes everything. Meanwhile, Bill Bourne has returned from America with an American wife to take up a post at one of the new universities, where student politics seem to take precedence over everything ... or almost everything.
Episode 4: The building of the new Media Complex at the University of Staunton brings political and private matters to a head for Bill and Joann. Meanwhile, although Adam has become an established literary figure by the 1970s, he is still capable of being surprised by his old friends, and by his own insecurities.
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