Sally Engelbach – What Was Pebble Mill?

Rachel and the Roarettes

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Above is a press release for Rachel and the Roarettes, which was transmitted on 13th June 1985, at 22.10 on BBC2. It was a musical play, set in a pub, with the time period switching between the 18th Century and the present day. It was Josie Lawrence’s first TV appearance.

Below is the entry from the Radio Times, care of the BBC Genome project:

“A musical play by JUDE ALDERSON continues this
Summer Season of new drama.
A rollicking fantasy with songs and robberies, motorbikes and stagecoaches. A story of wild women in the 18th century and where they are now … !
Musicians RICHARD WOLFSON
ANDREW SAUNDERS
DAVID ADAMS. JULIA PALMER
SIANED JONES
Music by JUDE ALDERSON
Choreography by STUART HOPPS Sound IAN RAE
Lighting BOB CHAPLIN
Script editor CAROLINE OULTON Designer SALLY ENGELBACH Producer ROGER GREGORY Director ROB WALKER BBC Pebble Mill”

http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/bc24e3d464f74a429200613ab3f300da

Thanks to Roger Gregory for sharing the press release.

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Under the Skin

This photo is from the 1982 Pebble Mill Play for Today, Under the Skin. Peter Ansorge was the producer and Tony Smith the director. Janey Preger wrote the script, with lighting by Alec Robson and Sally Engelbach as production designer.

The play was about three women involved in different ways in the women’s movement.

The drama starred: Frances Tomelty, Barbara Rosenblatt, Imogen Bickford-Smith, Jacqueline Tong, Bill Nighy, Michael. J. Jackson, George Costigan, and Michele Winstanley.

Janice Rider was the costume designer.

Thanks to Janice Rider for sharing the photograph.

The following information was added on the Pebble Mill Facebook Page:

Peter Ansorge: Janey Preger wrote three wonderful TV dramas for us at Pebble Mill. The other two were Fattening Frogs For Snakes and the glorious Bobby Wants To Meet Me. The latter about a journo meeting his god – Bob Dylan – at Earls Court, also directed by Tony Smith.

Rachel and The Roarettes

‘Rachel and The Roarettes’ was a ‘Summer Season’ drama, produced at Pebble Mill and transmitted in 1985. It was written by Jude Alderson

Also starred Gary Oldman (his 1^st TV and his part was entirely cut), and Josie Lawrence (her 1^st TV). It was directed by Rob Walker, and produced by Roger Gregory. Carol Parks was the Production Associate and David Attwood the Production Manager. Phil Wilson was the camera supervisor, Roger Sutton the vision mixer, Jane Barton and Bobbie Chapman were the production assistants. Vivien Oldham was the make-up designer, Sally Engelbach the production designer and Kathryn Ayerst the costume designer and Tony Fisher the graphic designer.

The drama was recorded in Studio A at Pebble Mill.

Photo includes,L to R: James Grout, Deborah Poplett, Linda Rolan

‘Rachel and the Roarettes’ was a rock musical….lesbian bikers in the present, highway women in the 17^th century, like you did in 1984!

Thanks to John Greening for much of the information and for making the photo available.