"Dancing on the Edge" follows the rise of the Louis Lester Band, a black jazz group in 1930s London, navigating societal challenges while gaining support from progressive socialites. This five-part series by Stephen Poliakoff offers a unique perspective on the era's glamour and struggles, culminating in an insightful interview with the band’s leader, Louis Lester.
Heralding a return to the stage for renowned dramatist Stephen Poliakoff, My City is a lyrical exploration of storytelling, interwoven personal and political histories, memory and the ties of the past. Beautifully atmospheric and infused with a sense of yearning nostalgia, the play presents a series of strange, seemingly coincidental encounters with others which evoke momentous trends in the city they live in and the shifts of society throughout history. Two former school friends are reunited with their erstwhile teacher, the glamorous, gracious Miss Lambert who is now engaged in nightly pilgrimages on foot across London as an antidote to her chronic insomnia. In the course of these nocturnal journeys, she witnesses a paradigmatic range of incidents reflecting today's society: the kindness and the violence, the glut of discarded rubbish and the sanctity of that which is carefully preserved, as well as the ghostly vestiges of the past. My City contains all the hallmarks of Poliakoff's best writing: high in style and sustained mood, the play tells stories of the past with melodic descriptions, cinematic scope and aesthetic preciseness.
The story follows Ralph, a university drop-out, who visits his sister Clare in Leicester, leading to a night out that spirals into a complex and intense relationship. Set against the backdrop of urban life filled with commercial radio and fast-food culture, their bond explores themes of vitality and connection amidst a landscape of youthful recklessness and dangerous pranks. The narrative delves into the intricacies of their relationship, raising questions about love and identity.
A series of threehourlong linked plays for Bbc2 plus two shorter playsOswald and Marilyn, played by Timothy Spall and Lindsay Duncan, are the custodians of the collection of 10 million black and white photographs housed in a beautiful period building on the edge of London. Their peaceful old fashioned existence is threatened when some Americans buy the property to turn it into a business school. They have to use their resources and ingenuity to fight the forces of the modern world and as they do so their battle uncovers a mystery from the past, hidden away amongst the photos which has a dramatic effect on the lives of all those involved."A meditation on the nature of photographic images, a celebration of oldworld English eccentricity at threat in a world of hightechnology glossiness, and a reminder that nothing in our heritage is sacred" (Sunday Times)
Two major new screenplays by the inimitable, award-winning Stephen Poliakoff made for the BBC and HBO Films and due to be broadcast in autumn 2007 . A stellar cast led by Michael Gambon and Dame Maggie Smith feature in these exquisite, major new films that are linked by a grand house and memories of the past.
The script of BBC's major 3-part drama for Spring 2001, starring Michael Gambon, Timothy Spall, Lyndsey Duncan and Toby StephensIf you take any family and get them together, and get them to stay up long enough, the stories will come tumbling out ... there are at least three great stories in any family...At an elaborately organised reunion, held in a grand London hotel, Raymond, his wife Esther and their son Daniel are slowly drawn into their ancestors' family tree. Meeting distant - and not so distant - relatives for the first time they begin to establish their positions within this eccentric and eclectic family. Helping them on their way, Stephen, the appointed 'pedigree-hunter' and archivist, unravels their entwined stories with the aid of his extraordinary collection of family photographs. In an attempt to pieces together and make sense of their forgotten or obscured personal histories, the past impacts on the present and they come face to face with the darkest of family secrets.
The story revolves around Al, a mediocre scientist turned brilliant administrator, who is appointed as the head of a university chemistry department. As he attempts to implement changes, he faces resistance from his rival Christopher and former mentor Elinor, both of whom cling to their traditional methods. Tensions rise when Christopher's announcement of a significant breakthrough leads to unexpected and disastrous consequences, impacting both the department and its dynamics among the four men and four women involved.
Set against the backdrop of post-Revolution Russia, this play explores the challenges faced by the Pesiakoff family as they adapt to life in a railway carriage. Inspired by the author's own family history, the story delves into their material and spiritual struggles. The father, ostensibly a Telephone Examiner, becomes preoccupied with recording sound on film, but with Lenin's death, their plans unravel, leading to a desperate flight. The play poignantly captures the intersection of personal ambition and historical upheaval.
The story delves into Leonard's growing disillusionment as a disk jockey, grappling with the superficiality of creating fantasies for his young audience. His frustration culminates in an attempt to confront Nicola, a contestant in a trivial competition, challenging her to see the absurdity of their reality. This confrontation raises questions about the impact of dismantling fantasies and the resulting consequences on relationships and self-awareness, involving a cast of three women and four men.