Anna of the Five Towns was transmitted from 9 Jan 1985 on BBC 2.
Copyright resides with the original holders, no reproduction without permission
Promo card inside cover
Promo card inside
Promo card back page
Anna of the Five Towns – Publicity Card
Tag: Colin Rogers
The Groundling and the Kite – Jenny Brewer
‘The Groundling and the Kite’ was a drama in the Play for Today anthology.
Crew photograph from 1983
This was the last Play For Today made out of Pebble Mill. Shot during the very hot summer of 1983 in and around Hampstead in London and transmitted on BBC1 in 24 July 1984. This was the last show I worked on as a Production Assistant before becoming a Production Associate. I have discovered the full play is available on You Tube should you wish to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4clkwmzOHlE
The Groundling and the Kite crew. Thanks to Jenny Brewer for sharing the photo.
From front row R to L Keith Froggatt, Cameras; Charles Bond, Designer; Alan Miller (with the bald head) Gaffer Spark from Lee Electric with 3 sparks alongside him
Next row Colin Rogers, Producer; Graham ??; Prop and Support Vehicles
Next row Ian MacNulty; Grip; Jenny Brewer, Production Assistant; John Duttine, Actor; Peter Jefferies, Director; Carol Parks, Production Associate
Next Row William Hartley, Production Manager; Lenny Preston, Writer and Actor; John Kenway, DOP; Liddy Bennett, Assistant Floor Manager; Geoff Nawn, Design; John Parker, Sound Recordist
Next Row John Cole, Sound; Chap from Costume ?; Gwen Arthy, Make Up Designer; Trevor Elwell, Scene Crew Supervisor; alongside Nigel ?? and others on the scene crew; Tom Beech, Props Buyer; Nigel Roberts next to Tom Beech, Ray Clulow, carpenter, behind Nigel & one of the painters behind Ray. Hiding behind the pillar might be Phil Hawkins, scene crew supervisor.
Back Row Mark Thompson Unit Driver; Lesley Weaver, Make Up; Sue Peck, Costume Designer; and ?? from Costume
Space Station Milton Keynes – photos by Willoughby Gullachsen
Photographs by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission
Photos by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission.
‘Space Station Milton Keynes’ was a Screen Two drama written and directed by Leslie Stewart. It went out in 1985. Colin Rogers was the producer, John Williams the DOP, and Steve Saunderson cameraman.
The drama tells the story of a young girl fostered in a magical city. It starred Penny Murray, Patricia Garwood, Peter Jonfield, Judy Gridley, Gian Sammarco, Nigel Baguley, and Robert Walker.
The first photo shows (l to r) Ian McNulty (grips), Leslie Stewart (writer/director), Steve Saunderson (camera), Colin Rogers (producer), John Williams (DOP). The second tracking shot photo, shows Leslie Stewart and Colin Rogers running, and Steve Saunderson on camera. The final photo includes John Cole (sound), Steve Saunderson (camera), with John Williams (DOP) foreground left, with probably Leslie Stewart and Colin Rogers (producer).
Anna of the Five Towns – photos by Willoughby Gullachsen
Photos by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission.
This 1985, 4 part drama series was directed at Pebble Mill by Martyn Friend, and produced by Colin Rogers. John Harvey wrote the adaptation of Arnold Bennett’s novel, set in the potteries in the 1890s. Bob Chaplin was the lighting director and Michael Edwards the production designer. Dave Baumber recorded sound (Dave is the one with the moustache and not a lot of hair in the close up photo). Sue Bennett-Urwin was the 1st A.D., and can be seen directing in the last black and white photo. Filming took place in the Isle of Man in 1984, amongst other places. This is where the photo of the cast and crew was taken. The black and white photos were taken at the Black Country Museum near Dudley.
The series starred Linsey Beauchamp as Anna Tellwright, Emrys James as Ephraim Tellwright, Peter Davison as Henry Mynors, Anton Lesser as Willie Price and Anna Cropper as Mrs Sutton.
I believe that Anna of the Five Towns was the first location drama at Pebble Mill to be recorded single camera on video tape. Please add a comment if you can confirm this, or can identify people in the photo of the cast and crew.
Group picture – either side of Jim Clelland (2nd on the left) are Dick Bentley (OB Lighting) and Ray Sperry (Engineer). Joyce Hawkins (Costume), Sally Englebach (Design) and Lesley Perry (Make-up) in the centre amongst others. Paul Woolston (Senior Cameraman) on right and also on camera in the tracking shot. From costume Terry Powell, Mark Ridley, Sally Pearson who sadly is not with us any more, Rachel Selby. The chap with the bald head and the moustache is Dave Baumber (sound), next to him is editor Ivor Williams and Steve Neilsen. Infront of Dave, I think is P.A. Sally Daniels.
(Thanks to Dave Bushell, Terry Powell, Stuart Gandy, Jane Clement, Annie Gumbley and Russell Parker for their help in identifying people).
Sophia & Constance – Maggie Thomas’s photos
These photos were taken by Makeup Artist, Maggie Thomas, on location in France (Paris and Rouen), in the Black Country Museum in Dudley, and in Studio A at BBC Pebble Mill. ‘Sophia & Constance’ was a 6 part period drama, transmitted by the BBC in 1988. It was an adaptation of Arnold Bennett’s novel: ‘The Old Wives’ Tale’. It is set in 1964 in the town of Bursley in the potteries. It is the tale of 2 sisters: Sophia and Constance. Constance is the older and quieter sister, and is content to live and work in the family’s draper’s shop, whilst Sophia is more adventurous and outrages the family by becoming a schoolteacher. The series was directed by Allison Romey and David Hugh, and produced by John Harris. The Executive Producer was Colin Rogers. The cast included: Catherine Cusack, Melissa Greenwood, Patricia Routledge, Alfred Burke, Nigel Bradshaw, Freda Davies and John Scott Martin.