First look images for Dreamers have been released by Channel 4. Produced by the award-winning Duck Soup Films (Lost Boys & Fairies), the 6×30’ coming-of-age drama series created by Lisa Holdsworth, who also serves as writer and executive producer, alongside writer Gem Copping, will air on Channel 4 later this month.
Dreamers follows an eclectic group of dance students as they navigate the intense highs and lows of coming of age in today’s complex world – captured through stories which are as joyful and funny as they are raw and truthful, brought viscerally to life via irresistible dance choreography.
Teacher Erica – dynamic, determined, tough but passionate – heads up the Saturday class at the LAH and brings together our core friendship gang and dance ensemble: Puppy, Liam, Koby, Zaki, Zion, Lukas, Theo, Jamal, Liv, Isla and Twilight – each of them unique, emotionally-complicated, independently-minded and trying to make their way in the world.
The drama series champions characters who have been workshopped and were inspired by true stories from Leeds with support from the Young Audiences Content Fund (YACF), which was managed by the BFI and funded by the UK Government.
Dreamers is a celebration of resilience, determination, and spirit which never shies away from relevant and hard-hitting themes. The series will shine a light on the pressures young people face but also provide a dynamic and energising insight into the city of Leeds and its people.
The production was shot in and around Leeds and presented a fantastic opportunity for 10 Leeds-based people to break into the broadcast industry.
4Skills fully funded this training initiative working with the National Film and Television School (NFTS) partnered and Duck Soup Films to provide 10 paid full-time placements on the production. It was tailored to people with no previous production experience, providing training, mentoring, one-to-one sessions, career planning and the chance to work on a major production. This opportunity has enabled many of those who worked on the series to further develop their careers in the industry.
Rebekah Wray-Rogers, Co-Founder of Duck Soup Films says: “We couldn’t be more thrilled that Dreamers was born and raised in our very own city. Collaborating with such a phenomenally talented and diverse group of new to the industry creatives has been an unforgettable journey, and we are buzzing to finally bring this exceptional series to the screen.”
Kevin Blacoe, Head of Partnerships & Skills at Channel 4 says: “4Skills is proud to fund the 10 full-time training placements on the production of Dreamers. It’s been a brilliant opportunity for these ten trainees with many of those who worked on the series now further developing their careers in the industry. Initiatives like these show the impact Channel 4 and 4Skills can make.”
Jackie Edwards, Head of the Young Audiences Content Fund said: “The Young Audiences Content Fund were delighted to support both the development and production of Dreamers. We were drawn to the inclusive and authentic approach, one that will beautifully reflect an under-represented community in the UK – it is exactly the sort of production that the Fund set out to support.”
Caroline Cooper Charles, Chief Executive and Executive Producer for Screen Yorkshire said: “It’s a joy to join forces with such fantastic partners to support Duck Soup Films and to bring audiences a story whose heart and soul is rooted in one of our region’s most vibrant cities.”
Meabh O’Donovan, Head of NFTS Leeds, said: “The NFTS is renowned for offering world class training and we were excited to bring that expertise to making the series of Dreamers a success.”
Dreamers is a Duck Soup Films production, supported by the UK Government funded Young Audiences Content Fund (YACF), which was managed by the BFI to bring new material to audiences 18 and under for regulated TV channels and online platforms; All3Media International; Screen Yorkshire through the Yorkshire Content Fund and The Northern School of Contemporary Dance.
The series is created by Lisa Holdsworth (Discovery of Witches, Call The Midwife) and executive produced by Rebekah Wray-Rogers, Jessica Brown Meek and Libby Durdy for Duck Soup Films, Lisa Holdsworth, and Jessica Straker. It is written by Lisa Holdsworth and Gem Copping and directed by Sara Dunlop. Producers were Abi Bach and Betsan Morris-Evans. Choreography is led by Sharon Watson and Dawn Holgate.