Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission
Special screening card for two television plays by Edward Bond made by Pebble Mill in 1993.
Richard Langridge was the producer of the plays.
Thanks to Ann Chancellor-Davies for sharing this screening card. Ann’s husband, Gavin Davies would have been the production designer on Olly’s Prison.
Barry Hanson
A memorial is going to be held for Barry Hanson, who died in June 2016, at Channel 4 on 29th September at 6.30pm. If anyone is interested in attending please contact Peter Ansorge (message me for details if necessary).
Here is a list of Barry Hanson’s numerous Pebble Mill credits:
1970s
You and Me and Him – Director, 1973, Thirty Minute Theatre
The Medium – Producer, 1973, Second City Firsts
Mrs Pool’s Preserves – Producer, 1973, Second City Firsts
If a Man Answers – Producer, 1973, Second City Firsts
The Movers – Producer, 1973, Second City Firsts
King of the Castle – Producer, 1973, Second City Firsts
Patrons – Producer, 1973, Second City Firsts
Humbug, Finger or Thumb – Producer, 1974, Second City Firsts
Girl – Producer, 1974, Second City Firsts
Bold Faced Condensed – Producer, 1974, Second City Firsts
The Actual Woman – Producer, 1974, Second City Firsts
Match of the Day – Producer, 1974, Second City Firsts
Lunch Duty – Producer, 1974, Second City Firsts
Pig Bin – Producer, 1974, Second City Firsts
Too Hot to Handle – Producer, 1974, Second City Firsts
Sunday Tea – Producer, 1974, Second City Firsts
Fight for Shelton Bar – Producer, 1974, Second City Firsts
Squire – Producer, 1974, Second City Firsts
Silence – Producer, 1974, Second City Firsts
Match of the Day – Producer, 1974, Second City Firsts
The Festive Poacher – Producer, 1974, Second City Firsts
Gangsters – Producer, 1975, Play for Today
Early to Bed – Producer, 1975, Second City Firsts
Swallows – Producer, 1975, Second City Firsts
Waiting at the Field Gate – Producer, 1975, Second City Firsts
The Permissive Society – Producer, 1975, Second City Firsts
Released – Producer, 1975, Second City Firsts
1990s
Broke – Producer, 1991
Out of the Blue – Producer 1991
Olly’s Prison Part 1 – Producer 1991
Olly’s Prison Part 2 – Producer 1991
Olly’s Prison Part 3 – Producer 1991
Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.
This copy of the BBC internal newletter – ‘Midlands News’ from 1992 makes mention of the successful second series of ‘Kinsey’ produced by Carol Parks, and looks forward to the transmission of ‘Witchcraft’. ‘Witchcraft’ was written by Nigel Williams. Both productions were had Barry Hanson as executive producer. ‘Olly’s Prison’ and ‘Dead Romantic’ are also mentioned.
Thanks to Marie Phillips for making this copy of ‘Midlands News’ available.
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.
