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Four brand new web-dramas launched by RTÉ and Northern Ireland Screen for the new season of Storyland 2017

RTÉ and Northern Ireland Screen have launched four brand new 20 minute dramas from Storyland 2017 on RTÉ Player. Currently in its seventh season, Storyland 2017 brings original stories to a national and a global audience, showcasing a great breadth of Ireland’s creative talent across writing, acting, producing and directing.

This season features four brand new dramas telling diverse, contemporary Irish stories.  From the tale of a Kurdish refugee arriving by truck to Ireland in Leave to Remain, a story about the real hardships facing anyone trying to get back to work in On the Hemline, insight into post BREXIT uncertainty in Northern Ireland in A Sign of Things to a mixed-race girl struggling with her identity in 1980’s Belfast in Cry Rosa, each drama telling a different story about contemporary life.

New and emerging talent featured includes the screen debut of eleven year old Cork schoolgirl Kaci Power O’Driscoll who plays the spirited daughter of the main character, Martha in On the Hemline and 11 year old Grace Fleming taking the lead in Cry Rosa.  The four Storyland 2017 dramas also feature established actors including IFTA Award Winners Martin McCann (Maze) in Cry Rosa and Eileen Walsh (Pure Mule) in On the Hemline, along with Cathy Belton (Nowhere Fast) and Nigel O’Neill (Game of Thrones) in A Sign of Things.

David Crean, Executive Producer for RTÉ Television said “This year Storyland is bringing four original Irish dramas to audiences in Ireland and around the world. As well as introducing great new stories from new voices to the audience, Storylandis a significant part of RTE’s commitment to developing creative talent on the island of Ireland”.

Richard Williams, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Screen, said; “We are delighted to be working in partnership with RTÉ once again to develop local storytelling skills through Storyland. This is Northern Ireland Screen’s third year to be involved with this fantastic initiative, which allows us to create opportunities for, and invest in, a new generation of creative talent.”

Previous Storyland commissions have gone on to be commissioned for RTÉ comedy and drama series, developed in a feature film and have won numerous international awards as well as  generating additional opportunities, both within and outside RTÉ for the writers, directors, producers and actors.

The four production companies awarded the commissions are Afro-Mic Productions, Tyrella Film Productions, Lacada Entertainment and Treasure Entertainment.

The four Storyland dramas are available exclusively on RTÉ Player

 

The dramas commissioned for the seventh season of Storyland are:

Cry Rosa’ by Afro-Mic Productions

A music obsessed mixed-race girl questions her identity when she becomes the victim of bullying in 1980s Belfast.  Cry Rosa stars Kelly Gough as Marie, Martin McCann as Mr McNally and Grace Fleming as Rosa.  Filmed in Belfast and written by David McCrea, Cry Rosa was directed by Imogen Murphy and produced by Emma-Rosa Dias for Afro-Mic Productions.

Leave To Remain’ by Treasure Entertainment

A Kurdish political activist flees Iran and arrives by truck in Ireland. But the asylum system overwhelms him and he resorts to desperate measures to have his voice heard.  Starring Bamshad Abedi-Amin as Anwer, Karim Kadjar as Bahman Tehrani and Orla Fitzgerald as Ruth Walsh.  Leave To Remain was written by Colin Murphy, directed by Vincent Gallagher and produced by Claire McCaughley for Treasure Entertainment.

On The Hemline’ by Tyrella Films

Set in Cork, long-term unemployed northsider Martha needs to support her daughter Dawn’s acceptance into a STEM programme in secondary school. Through the charity Hemline she meets recently widowed southsider Sheenagh. Their different worlds collide, but together they embark on a journey of self development that prepares Martha for her first job interview in years.  Starring Eileen Walsh as Martha and Cathy Belton as Sheenagh, On The Hemline is written and directed by Oonagh Kearney and produced by Barbara Healy for Tyrella Films.  Filming mainly takes place in the Hollyhill and Knocknaheeny areas of Cork along with Terence MacSwiney Community College, Hollyhill. 

A Sign of Things’ – by Lacada Entertainment

Having lost his job after his factory closed, Dad, Daniel, is now seemingly devoting himself to the church. When his wife Zara agrees to let a night club pay to advertise on the side of their house a family showdown ensues.  Starring Nigel O’Neill as Daniel, Mary Lindsey as Zara, Jenny Walsh as Rebecca, A Sign of Things is written by Ewen Glass, directed by Aidan Largey, produced by Julie Gardner for Lacada Entertainment and filmed mainly in Belfast and Carrickfergus.