Adventures of Stephen Brown

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Opening title from the series (c)Beacon Productions
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Opening title from the series (c)Beacon Productions
Algy, Stephen and Harri from the episode Jigsaw (c)Beacon Productions
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Algy, Stephen and Harri from the episode Jigsaw (c)Beacon Productions

The Adventures of Stephen Brown is a science fiction series that is broadcast weekly on Southampton Television and Six TV, both free-to-view terrestrial RSL channels. New episodes appear each Tuesday, that episode being repeated three times each day for a week. Six or seven new stories appear each year and due to its tongue-in-cheek nature and lack of pretentiousness the show has built up a small cult following.

Usually consisting of 15 episodes per year, the series centres around the adventures of an alien being called Stephen Brown, played by Chris Wilkes from 2000. He is accompanied on his travels on his spacecraft The Venturer by his loyal companions Harri (Sarah Wright), and the primitive Algy (Ben Johnson). They are joined by their faithful robot, Robo. Stephen's arch-nemesis is the criminal known as The Death, dressed entirely in black and sometimes accompanied by his thuggish follower Blocklon.

The current run of episodes has ended with the cliffhanger Kaos Theory Episode Two. Six TV is now screening a three part documentary going behind the scenes on the show. Episode Three of Kaos Theory is planned to open the new series which is currently being filmed, with a tentative release date of Spring 2007.

Contents

[edit] Overview

Stephen Brown in The Venturer's control room, Robo visible in background upper right (c) Beacon Productions
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Stephen Brown in The Venturer's control room, Robo visible in background upper right (c) Beacon Productions

Stephen Brown was born on the planet Rubart, home of the Melastones. As a child he was framed for the murder of his brother, an event he blames on The Death. Stephen's father took him to Earth in his spacecraft The Venturer and re-married there, having a daughter called Lizzie. Stephen and Lizzie eventually recovered The Venturer and set off on their own adventures.

The Venturer is an advanced spacecraft run by an intelligent computer called Robo. Venturer normally travels in subspace but is capable of travelling through time. The ship is also equipped with a teleport system, which forms the method by which Stephen and his companions travel back and forth between The Venturer and the planets they visit.

Amongst the many adversaries that Stephen Brown has faced there are the Tubcons, a robotic army created by the maniac Savdro, and the Terricins.

As of writing (late August 2006) there are currently 360+ episodes, the latest being 'Kaos Theory', a multi-part adventure in which The Death returns to Earth to summon the demon Kaos to destroy Stephen Brown and his companions.

[edit] Cast and characters

The Death swings into action (c) Beacon Productions
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The Death swings into action (c) Beacon Productions
  • Stephen Brown - Chris Wilkes
  • Harri - Sarah Wright
  • Algy - Ben Johnson
  • The Death - Robert Hampton
  • Blocklon - Matthew Hampton
  • Robo - voice of Jeremy Field

There are often also various other characters in episodes. These are usually one-off characters who don't appear again. However they are often played by crew members or actors who have appeared in previous episodes as different characters. For example, Paula Cartwright has played many different characters and is also a script editor.

[edit] Cast notes

Between 1987 and 1999 four different actors played the role of Stephen Brown. Chris Wilkes has played the part for the last six years up to 2006. Wilkes took a brief break from his role in 2004, with Matthew Lambourne playing Brown in his absence.

[edit] Companions

Lizzie travelled with Stephen on The Venturer for many years. Emma fell in love with Stephen before breaking his heart. Other companions include Sarah, Jimmy (rescued from London during the Blitz), and Astradis Kanasis aka Astra. Stephen's current companions are Harri and Algy is a loyal primitive from a tribal race.

[edit] Production

[edit] Production credits

  • Title Music - Jonathan Leech
  • Title Sequence - Matthew Hampton and Chris Wilkes
  • Camera Operators - Stephen Launay and Matthew Hampton
  • Boom Operators - Jonathan Leech and Ryan Brady
  • Editor - Matthew Hampton and Stephen Launay
  • Production Assistant - Jo Merritt
  • Financial Advisor - Warren Pike
  • Designer - Stephen Launay
  • Incidental Music - Mat Hasker
  • Script Editor - Paula Cartwright
  • Story Editor - Neil Miller
  • Executive Producer - Stephen Launay
  • Producer - Chris Wilkes
  • Director - Matthew Hampton

[edit] Production notes

Southampton-based Beacon Productions, a voluntary based video group which started up in 1987, produce the series on a very low budget. The series was created by Stephen Launay.

Beacon Productions has a membership of around 60, with an age-range of 16-mid 60s. The members take turns appearing in productions. Some of the members have acting experience, mainly on the amateur dramatics circuit, while most of the crew have at some point worked in local television.

The Adventures of Stephen Brown began as an audio tape serial in 1987. From 1990 onwards the series became transferred from audio to video, the last audio story being produced in 1999 when the audio stories were finally phased out.

[edit] Locations

The Tubcons aboard their ship (c) Beacon Productions
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The Tubcons aboard their ship (c) Beacon Productions

The series is filmed mainly in the Locks Heath area, near Southampton. The club owns a small studio for interior scenes. The show has used many locations, including the New Forest, Lee-on-Solent, Portsmouth and longer trips out to Blackgang Chine on the Isle of Wight, St Malo in France and London.

The club has been fortunate to enjoy cameo appearances from celebrities over the years when they have been appearing in panto at the Kings Theatre, Portsmouth. Celebrities who have popped up in Stephen Brown over the years include Spencer Kelly (2001), Mark Raffety from Neighbours (2002), EastEnders' Leila Birch (2002), Tony Adams from Crossroads (2002) and Jansen Spencer from Neighbours (2003).

[edit] External links