Dancing on the Edge (TV series)

Dancing on the Edge

Dancing On The Edge screenplay cover

Cover for the published screenplay
Genre Drama
Created by Stephen Poliakoff
Written by Stephen Poliakoff
Directed by Stephen Poliakoff
Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor
Matthew Goode
Angel Coulby
John Goodman
Anthony Head
Jacqueline Bisset
Composer(s) Adrian Johnston
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
Broadcast
Original channel BBC Two
BBC HD
Original run 4 February 2013 – 10 March 2013
Chronology
Preceded by Glorious 39
External links
Website

Dancing on the Edge is a British television drama written and directed by Stephen Poliakoff and produced by the BBC, it is about a black jazz band in London in the early 1930s. The series aired on BBC Two between 4 February and 10 March 2013. It was nominated for three awards at the 71st Golden Globe Awards.[1]

Plot

The series follows a black jazz band's experiences in London in the 1930s. Made up of talented musicians and managed by the compassionate yet short-tempered Wesley Holt, the band gets a gig at the Imperial Hotel, by way of cunning journalist Stanley Mitchell. They prove to be a hit, and become a success at the hotel. Countless aristocrats—and the Royal Family—ask the band to play at parties. The media rush to interview and photograph the band—including the ambitious American businessman Walter Masterson and his enthusiastic employee Julian. The band's success spirals, being offered record deals. But tragedy strikes, setting off a chain of events that may wreck the band's career.

Cast

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date UK viewers inc.HD
(million)[2]
1"Episode 1"Stephen PoliakoffStephen Poliakoff4 February 20133.00
Music journalist Stanley Mitchell befriends The Louis Lester Band and helps its rise to fame from playing in a basement jazz club to the illustrious Imperial Hotel. At first, the band is treated with hostility by the hotel's elderly audience, most of whom have never heard jazz music nor seen black musicians before. However, one table of young aristocrats love their new music and invite them to play at a garden party.
2"Episode 2"Stephen PoliakoffStephen Poliakoff5 February 20132.48
The Louis Lester Band has yet to reach the fame it so desires, and is stuck playing children's birthday parties at the Imperial Ballroom. Louis is frustrated. However, the band is introduced to wealthy recluse Lady Lavinia Cremone and she may be able to change its fortunes.
3"Episode 3"Stephen PoliakoffStephen Poliakoff11 February 20132.35
The band and their friends are devastated by Jessie's (Angel Coulby) hospitalisation, and take turns to visit her. Louis is interviewed by police about events on the night of Jessie's attack, and he tells them that he saw Julian when he should have been on a train to Paris. The band have to be persuaded to play without Jessie for the Imperial Hotel's Christmas lunch and they are unsettled when a table of racist Germans walks out during the performance. But the mood is lifted when news arrives that Jessie has woken from her coma. For New Year's Eve, Lady Cremone holds a party on her estate. Everybody is surprised when Julian turns up, announcing he has been in France exploring a new business idea. The group goes into the village to hear the New Year announced on a loudspeaker, and there is a joyous and romantic mood. In the middle of the party, Louis confides to Sarah that he saw Julian at the hotel the night of Jessie's attack. Stanley exacts revenge on the racists by smuggling in Louis to play at a German Embassy party. The prank goes brilliantly, but the friends' joy soon turns to tears when tragedy strikes.
4"Episode 4"Stephen PoliakoffStephen Poliakoff18 February 20132.52
The Band plays for the Freemasons dinner and Louis notices the close ties between Julian, who he believes is the killer, and a powerful elite. Everyone is shocked by events in America where an attempt has been made on the President's life. Masterson reveals his plan to build a news empire around the New Music Express Magazine. Stanley warns Louis that the police believe him to be the killer; he tries to see a lawyer, but others seem to be conspiring to hand him over to the police.
5"Episode 5"Stephen PoliakoffStephen Poliakoff25 February 20132.61
Louis can no longer hide out at the Music Express Office so Stanley takes him to a suburban flat to escape the manhunt. He is to wait until nightfall, whilst Stanley goes to find his passport as they plan his escape out of the country. Stanley returns to the Imperial Hotel, to find that its reputation has been badly affected by the murder there. Masterson takes over the new Music Express magazine, and surprises Stanley by announcing he has offered a large reward for the capture of Louis Lester.
6"Interviewing Louis"Stephen PoliakoffStephen Poliakoff10 March 20130.39 (overnight)
Presented as a series of interviews undertaken by Stanley for his Music Express magazine and taking place at the peak of fame for the Louis Lester band, Louis, Jessie and Carla give an insight into their thoughts about fame as well as their personal stories. Louis and Stanley remember the First World War, in which Louis's father fought. Louis talks about what it is like to be a black musician in London, and they discuss the band's exotic attraction to the aristocracy. Stanley talks to Carla and Jessie, who open up about their upbringings and their feelings on becoming famous. And Louis describes a chilling story about a female fan, when what started as a prank phone call became something much more sinister.

Locations

Filming took place on location at the Grand Hotel and Council House in Birmingham, where the hotel scenes were shot, the Black Country Living Museum was used to shoot a scene set in a mining village and Ragley Hall in Warwickshire was used as Lady Cremone's home.[3] The headquarters of Music Express are located at No. 4 Princelet Street, Spitalfields[4] and later at Somerset House. The railway scenes in the first episode were shot on the preserved Bluebell Railway. Wilton's Music Hall was used as the club. Fenton House, Hampstead, stands for the house of Donaldson. Some scenes for Donaldson's house were also shot at Upton House, Warwickshire. Kidderminster, on the Severn Valley Railway, was used as "Folkestone" in the fifth episode. Manze's Eel, Pie and Mash shop in Walthamstow also makes an appearance in that episode.

International broadcast

Country Channel Premiere date Timeslot
 GreeceNET1 March 2013[5] Friday 22:05
 United StatesStarz 19 October 2013[6]Saturday 22:00
 SwedenSVT1 4 January 2014Saturday 22:00
 IcelandRUV 11 May 2014Sunday 21:00
 FinlandYLE TV1 24 June 2014Tuesday 21:00
 MexicoCanal 22 27 July 2014Sunday 21:00
 FranceFrance Ô 7 November 2014Friday 20:45

Accolades

Award Category Nominee(s) Result
Satellite Awards Best Miniseries or Television Film Dancing on the Edge Won
Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Matthew Goode Nominated
Chiwetel Ejiofor Nominated
Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Television Film Dancing on the Edge Nominated
Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Chiwetel Ejiofor Nominated
Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries, or Television Film Jacqueline Bisset Won
Black Reel Award Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series Chiwetel Ejiofor Won
Broadcasting Press Guild Award Best Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor Won
Image Award Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series, or Dramatic Special Chiwetel Ejiofor Nominated

References

  1. Messer, Lesley (Dec 12, 2013). "Golden Globe Nominees 2014, the Complete List". Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  2. "Weekly Viewing Summary (see relevant week)". BARB.
  3. "Birmingham is the star of major new TV drama". Birmingham Mail. 2013-02-03. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  4. "4 Princelet Street". Retrieved 2014-12-03.
  5. Viewing Summary of the program, 2013-03-01
  6. Munn, Patrick (July 27, 2013). "Starz Picks Up US Rights To Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Dancing On The Edge’, Sets October Premiere". TVWise. Retrieved August 5, 2013.

External links