Channel 4 has made a double drama commission.
Major new drama adaptation Trespasses, starring Lola Petticrew, Tom Cullen and Gillian Anderson will be produced by double Oscar-nominated Wildgaze Films (Brooklyn, An Education)
The broadcaster has also commissioned Summerwater based on the novel by Sarah Moss. The new six-part drama series will be made by Channel 4’s Indie Growth Fund and Glasgow based production company Freedom Scripted
Four-part series Trespasses, in association with All3Media International, is adapted for the screen in her first lead writing credit by Ailbhe Keogan (Bad Sisters, Run & Jump) and is based on Louise Kennedy’s breakout debut novel, which was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction.
Directed by BAFTA award-winning Dawn Shadforth (Mood, Adult Behaviour), LolaPetticrew (Bloodlands, Tuesday) will play Cushla, a sparky young woman whose hopes and dreams have been frustrated by the grind of daily life. Tom Cullen (The Gold, Weekend) will play Michael, a barrister, alongside Gillian Anderson (Scoop, Sex Education) as Gina, Cushla’s mother, a ‘glorious wreck’ who is constantly sparring with her daughter.
1975, in a town outside Belfast. Whilst working one night behind the bar of her family pub, serving a mixed crowd including the locally stationed soldiers, Catholic schoolteacher Cushla meets Michael, an older Protestant married man, who often defends IRA suspects and is friends with cultured Bohemians who enrage and intrigue Cushla. Worlds apart, Cushla knows a relationship like this spells all kinds of trouble, but they are irresistibly drawn to one another.
In a place where loose lips cost lives and danger lurks in the shadows, amidst the fear and paranoia, this illicit affair between Cushla and Michael ignites and burns bright…
Ailbhe Keogan, Screenwriter says: “I am genuinely excited for the world to meet Cushla and Michael on screen. The whole scripting process has been remarkably pain-free as theteam was guided by their love of Louise’s stunning novel. It remained our creative lodestar throughout. We feel incredibly grateful to have been gifted the chance to bring the world within it to life, especially the unforgettable characters that populate Cushla and Michael’s Belfast. This show will be political, cinematic, sensual, moving, and, despite the heartbreak, ultimately hopeful.”
Gillian Anderson, Executive Producer says: “I fell in love with Louise’s stunning book when I read it in proof. I was immediately drawn to the tragi-comic creation that is Gina and couldn’t resist when Louise asked me to play her. Reading Ailbhe’s brilliant scripts confirmed how vividly this story could translate to screen and with Dawn at the helm and Lola and Tom alongside, I’m delighted to be part of the Trespasses family.”
Louise Kennedy, Novelist and Executive Producer, says: “Watching Amanda Posey and the team develop Trespasses for television has been an utter joy. From Ailbhe Keogan’s ear- perfect, sexy script to director Dawn Shadforth’s gorgeously melancholic aesthetic vision, exceptional care has been taken to bring an authentic and beautiful version of my book to the small screen. I honestly could not have asked for more.”
Amanda Posey, Executive Producer for Wildgaze Films, says: “From the moment I read Louise’s remarkable debut novel, I wanted to bring it to screen. Channel 4 shared my passion and backed us when the book was still in manuscript, later joined by ideal international partners in All3Media International. Our singular director Dawn’s vision and Ailbhe’s subtle and moving scripts are perfect for the dark, sexy, funny and devastating world of Louise’s story. I’m thrilled by our cast, the exciting central pairing of Lola Petticrew and Tom Cullen, and the brilliant Gillian Anderson. Together with our producer Maria & the superb Northern Irish team, we can’t wait to introduce Trespasses to audiences everywhere.”
Ollie Madden, Director of Film4 and Head of Channel 4 Drama, adds: “Trespasses is a beautifully observed, tense and deeply romantic love story that we were all captivated by. We are thrilled to be working with Ailbhe in her first lead writing role for television, as well Dawn Shadforth, Amanda Posey and the expert team at Wildgaze Films. Lola is an amazing new talent, accompanied by the peerless Gillian Anderson and Tom Cullen, and we can’t wait to bring this adaptation of Louise Kennedy’s excellent novel to Channel 4.”
Trespasses (4×60’) was commissioned by Ollie Madden, Director of Film4 and Head of Drama and Gwawr Lloyd, Senior Commissioning Editor for Channel 4. Amanda Posey (Brooklyn, An Education) executive produces for Wildgaze Films. Gillian Anderson, Dawn Shadforth, Louise Kennedy and Finola Dwyer also executive produce. The producer is Maria Mulhall (The Night Caller, The Dry).
All3Media International are the global partner with funding from Northern Ireland Screen.
Based on the Sunday Times Top Ten book by novelist Sarah Moss, Channel 4 has also commissioned Summerwater, a new six-part drama series from Channel 4’s Indie Growth Fund and Glasgow based production company Freedom Scripted, which has been adapted by screenwriter John Donnelly (The Assessment, Utopia, The Pass) and will be directed by Robert McKillop (The Following Events Are Based on a Pack of Lies, Then You Run, Guilt).
Set against the backdrop of a remote loch-side Scottish holiday cabin park and set over the course of one single rainy summer’s day, Summerwater looks at the simmering tensions between holidaymakers that eventually erupt into a devastating climax. Weaving together the lives of several families as they navigate unspoken conflicts, private dilemmas, and fleeting moments of beauty from their disparate cabins, the series will take an unflinching but empathetic look at human nature across generations. Each episode will spotlight one or two of the ensemble of characters, spanning from young children to young lovers to reminiscing pensioners, to build a subversive, often witty, and always riveting portrait of the nation on edge that is modern Britain.
John Donnelly, Screenwriter, says: “Sarah Moss writes with perception, compassion and wit about sex, love, and the dark impulses of the human heart. She is one of our most brilliant chroniclers of modern life. In Summerwater, Sarah has found the perfect environment to explore our secrets and desires – a rain-drenched holiday park in Scotland. Summerwater is at once an atmospheric mystery, a hilarious and heartbreaking exploration of identity and an existential thriller. I am delighted to be working with the brilliant team at Freedom Scripted to adapt Sarah’s wonderful novel for a broadcaster with such a pedigree for bold, ambitious drama.”
Mike Ellen, Executive Producer for Freedom Scripted, says: “Very few books come along as evocative, relevant and brilliantly drawn as Summerwater by Sarah Moss, let alone set a stone’s throw away from where I grew up! We were thrilled to attach John Donnelly as screenwriter and true to form, he has delivered amazing scripts. I’m really excited to be working with such a talented producer as Jules and can’t wait to see what Robbie does with this. We all feel there couldn’t be a better home for the show than with Ollie Madden, Sarah Stack and the team at Channel 4 Drama.”
Ollie Madden, Director of Film4 and Head of Channel 4 Drama, adds: “Summerwater is both a subversive, compulsive, brilliantly characterized thriller, and a witty, dark exploration of modern British life – cleverly adapted from Sarah Moss’ excellent novel. We’ve loved working with John on the film side and are now very excited to be working with him, Robert and the brilliant team at Freedom Scripted on this unique show.”
Summerwater (6×60’) was commissioned by Ollie Madden, Director of Film4 and Head of Channel 4 Drama and Sarah Stack, Commissioning Editor, Channel 4 Drama. Mike Ellen isthe Executive Producer for Freedom Scripted and Jules Hussey (Ralph & Katie, You Don’t Know Me, Guilt) is the Series Producer. Summerwater is produced in association with
All3Media International who will be the show’s global partner.
Headshot Credits:
Gillian Anderson – courtesy of Andreas Ortner
Tom Cullen – courtesy of John Russo
Lola Petticrew – courtesy of Nathan Magee
Jon Creamer
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