Janice Rider – Page 17 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Drama Production in the 1970s & 80s – Janice Rider

Specially shot video interview with costume designer, Janice Rider. No reproduction without permission.

In this interview Janice talks about television drama production in the 1970s and 80s, and compares the timescales to contemporary productions.

Here are a couple of comments from the Facebook page:

Paul Taylor: ‘Ahhh….. that mythical term in modern TV… Production Values. Unless the value is in ££s, the accountants don’t care!’

Kevin Lakin: ‘Agreed, very much so Paul, creative people were moved out of management, and replaced with penny pinching accountants.’

The Sheik of Pickersgill – Janice Rider

Specially shot video with costume designer, Janice Rider, talking about the 1978 Pebble Mill drama, ‘The Sheik of Pickersgill’.

‘The Sheik of Pickersgill’ was written by Mike Stott. ‘Sheik Fahmi wants to learn to speak English in three weeks in the soccer centre of the world. When he arrives at the Academy, with his supply of banknotes, the residents of Pickersgill cannot believe their luck.’ http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/345272.

The play was directed by Alan Dosser. It starred Anthony Sher, Richard Wilson, Diana Davies, and Eileen O’Brien.

Macbeth on the Estate – Janice Rider

Specially shot interview with costume designer, Janice Rider, about the 1997 BBC Pebble Mill drama, ‘Macbeth on the Estate’. This was a contemporary telling of the Shakespearian tragedy, set on a modern housing estate. The drama was shot on the Ladywood estate in Birmingham. Penny Woolcock was the writer and director, Simon Curtis and Julian Murphy the executive producers, and Alison Gilby the producer. John Ellis was the production designer.

James Frain played Macbeth; Susan Vidler, Lady Macbeth; Ray Winstone, Duncan; and David Harewood, Macduff.

Costume Department Reunion 1999 – photo from Ruth Kiosses

Photo from Ruth Kiosses, no reproduction without permission.

This photo was taken at a reunion of the Costume Department in 1999. It was held at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Included in the photo are: Muriel Hewitt (front, red hair) Anne Mills (behind Muriel), Anne-Marie Morrell (on left in red, back row), next to Russell Barnett (senior costume designer), Lesley Thomas (mustard scarf), Maria Hurley, Annie Doling, Hilary Anne Hughes, Eileen Hubble, Pat Hadley, Linda Hill, Dawn Booth Brent Fulwood, Karen Bevins, Clive Ashman, Rossie Russon, Janice Rider (senior costume designer, back row in black), Liz Fahy, Wendy Schofield, Mark Ridley (dresser), Patricia Hodge Robinson (in blue on back row), Colin Jones (dresser, back row, black top), next to Sally Pearson (designer, fuchsia cardigan), Rachel Selby (2nd row extreme right). From left next to Muriel: Joyce Hawkins (senior costume designer); Bobby Gale (former dresser, now deceased); Gill Hardie (designer). Behind Bobby Gale – Vee Layton (designer, now deceased); to the left of Rachel Selby, in turquoise – Christine Grainger (costume assistant); to the left of Mark Ridley – Alison Mitchell. To the right of Janice Rider is Terry Patterson (designer). To Ann Doling’s left is Paul Patterson (MFS); Ginnie Hardy (designer); next to Ginnie – Al Barnett (senior costume designer); next to Al – Stephanie Hazeldine (designer). Tessa Wyatt ? – behind Paul Patterson.

Please add a comment if you can identify others, or can add more information

‘Boogie Outlaws’ – interview with costume designer, Janice Rider

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Specially shot interview with costume designer, Janice Rider about designing the 1987 Pebble Mill drama, ‘Boogie Outlaws’. The director was Keith Godman, the producer, Carol Parks, and the script was written by Leslie Stewart. The drama starred Ian Hogg, David Schofield, Isla Blair, John Judd and Francesca Brill.