Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    Banner
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • Shows by Decade
        • 1950s Television
        • 1960s Television
        • 1970s Television
        • 1980s Television
        • 1990s Television
      • Shows by Genre
        • Comedy
        • Drama
        • Kids TV
        • Variety
        • News & Sport
        • Advertisements
      • Shows by Country
        • UK TV
        • USA TV
        • Australia & NZ TV
        • Canada TV
        • Europe TV
        • Japan TV
      • Shows A to K
        • Shows A
        • Shows B
        • Shows C
        • Shows D
        • Shows E
        • Shows F
        • Shows G
        • Shows H
        • Shows I
        • Shows J
        • Shows K
      • Shows L to Z
        • Shows L
        • Shows M
        • Shows N
        • Shows O
        • Shows P
        • Shows Q
        • Shows R
        • Shows S
        • Shows T
        • Shows U
        • Shows V
        • Shows W
        • Shows X
        • Shows Y
        • Shows Z
      • Shows 0 to 9
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • 1950s Music
        • 1960s Music
        • 1970s Music
        • 1980s Music
        • 1990s Music
      • Music A to K
        • Music A
        • Music B
        • Music C
        • Music D
        • Music E
        • Music F
        • Music G
        • Music H
        • Music I
        • Music J
        • Music K
      • Music L to Z
        • Music L
        • Music M
        • Music N
        • Music O
        • Music P
        • Music Q
        • Music R
        • Music S
        • Music T
        • Music U
        • Music V
        • Music W
        • Music X
        • Music Y
        • Music Z
      • Music 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • 1950s Movies
          • Movies 1950
          • Movies 1951
          • Movies 1952
          • Movies 1953
          • Movies 1954
          • Movies 1955
          • Movies 1956
          • Movies 1957
          • Movies 1958
          • Movies 1959
        • 1960s Movies
          • Movies 1960
          • Movies 1961
          • Movies 1962
          • Movies 1963
          • Movies 1964
          • Movies 1965
          • Movies 1966
          • Movies 1967
          • Movies 1968
          • Movies 1969
        • 1970s Movies
          • Movies 1970
          • Movies 1971
          • Movies 1972
          • Movies 1973
          • Movies 1974
          • Movies 1975
          • Movies 1976
          • Movies 1977
          • Movies 1978
          • Movies 1979
        • 1980s Movies
          • Movies 1980
          • Movies 1981
          • Movies 1982
          • Movies 1983
          • Movies 1984
          • Movies 1985
          • Movies 1986
          • Movies 1987
          • Movies 1988
          • Movies 1989
        • 1990s Movies
          • Movies 1990
          • Movies 1991
          • Movies 1992
          • Movies 1993
          • Movies 1994
          • Movies 1995
          • Movies 1996
          • Movies 1997
          • Movies 1998
          • Movies 1999
      • Movies A to K
        • Movies A
        • Movies B
        • Movies C
        • Movies D
        • Movies E
        • Movies F
        • Movies G
        • Movies H
        • Movies I
        • Movies J
        • Movies K
      • Movies L to Z
        • Movies L
        • Movies M
        • Movies N
        • Movies O
        • Movies P
        • Movies Q
        • Movies R
        • Movies S
        • Movies T
        • Movies U
        • Movies V
        • Movies W
        • Movies X
        • Movies Y
        • Movies Z
      • Movies 0 to 9
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Television»Shows by Decade»1980s Television
    1980s Television Kids TV Shows D 3 Mins Read

    Dramarama

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    1 9 8 3 – 1 9 8 9 (UK)
    90 x 30 minute episodes

    An anthology series of short plays that aimed surprisingly dark tales at a young audience and frequently featured supernatural or science fiction elements.

    Dramarama was created by Anna Home, the head of children’s and youth programming at TVS. The dramas themselves were produced by a total of twelve ITV regional companies. Thus, each episode was, in practice, a one-off production with its own cast and crew, up to and including the executive producer.

    Highlights included “The Keeper” (1983) by Alan Garner, “Back to Front” (1989) by Anthony Horowitz, and James Graham’s “The Secret of Croftmore” (1988), which marked the television debut of a young actor called David Tennant. In fact, the series boasted a range of previous Doctor Who’s, from Tennant and Peter Capaldi to Patrick Troughton and Sylvester McCoy.

    The list of actors who worked in Dramarama reads like a casting directory of British acting over the last 70 years, including Earl Cameron, Glenda Jackson, George Cole, Beatrix Lehmann, Peter Cook, Billie Whitelaw, Brian Cox, Sylvia Syms, Leonard Rossiter, Siân Phillips and Edward Woodward.

    One play – Dodger, Bonzo and the Rest – was spun off into its own series. Blackbird Singing in the Dead of Night (1988) was developed into the long-running series Children’s Ward. The original Dramarama story was co-written by Paul Abbott and Kay Mellor – at the time, working as staff writers for Granada.

    Episodes

    Mighty Mum and the Petnappers | Rip It Up | The Venchie | Jack and the Computer | Because I Say So | Bully for Cosmo | Messages | The Young Person’s Guide to Getting Their Ball Back | Sweet Revenge

    Night of the Narrow Boats | Fowl Pest | Dodger, Bonzo and the Rest | Que Sera | Stalemate | Snoop! | Mr Stabs | Josephine Jo |The Purple People Eater | On Your Tod | The Old Firm: Two for Starters | Rachel and Rosie

    Easy | The Coal Princess | Look at Me | The Young Person’s Guide to Going Backwards in the World | The Audition | The Universe Downstairs | A Proper Little Nooryeff | Frog | Private Eye | Emily | Silver | The Golden Conch | Purple Passion Video

    The comeuppance of Captain Katt | A Couple of Charlies | Wayfarers | Play Acting | Last Days of Black Berts | Maureen Reid, Where Are You? | Flashback | Direct Action | Waiting for Elvis | Just a Game | Flyaway Friend | Pig Ignorance | Jessie’s Place | Frankie’s Hat

    Cannondrum | Snap | The Horrible Story | My Friend Julie | The Creature Beyond Torches End | My Mum’s a Courgette | Brainwaves | Undertow of the Armada | Stan’s First Night | Living Doll | Tam | Peter | The Halt | A Spirited Performance | Badger on the Barge

    Forever Young | The Macrame Man | The Wrong Button | Bubbles | Blackbird Singing in the Dead of Night | Big T for Trouble | Room for One More | Making Waves | Just a Normal Girl | Now You See Them | Bogeymen | The Alien | The Secret of Croftmore | The Bubblegum Brigade | Playing for Wales | Snap Decision

    Codzmorf | Ghost Story | Badger | Back to Front | Monstrous | The Pisces Connection | Rosie the Great | Snakes & Loofahs | Just Wild About Harry | Mitchin’ | In the Pink

    Video

    Related Posts

    • Ruth Rendell Mysteries
      Ruth Rendell Mysteries
      1 9 8 7 - 2 0 0 0 (UK) 86 x 60 minute episodes Inspector Wexford first appeared in the…
    • Judy Jack Show, The
      Judy Jack Show, The
      1 9 5 6 - 1 9 5 7 (Australia) 30 minute episodes The first children's television programme broadcast in Melbourne…
    • Club X
      Club X
      1 9 8 9 (UK) 23 x 90 minute episodes This live 90-minute late-night magazine programme with a cultural/arts agenda from…
    • Off The Dish
      Off The Dish
      1 9 8 6 (Australia) 30 minute episodes Debuting in January 1986, this kid's afternoon magazine-style TV series was produced by…
    • Five Alive
      Five Alive
      1 9 8 6 (UK) 1 x 45 minute episode 1 9 8 7 - 1 9 8 8 (UK) 14…
    • Dodger, Bonzo and the Rest
      Dodger, Bonzo and the Rest
      1 9 8 5 - 1 9 8 7 (UK) 13 x 30 minute episodes This children's drama from Thames Television…
    • Edison Twins, The
      Edison Twins, The
      1 9 8 2 - 1 9 8 6 (Canada) 78 x 30 minute episodes Debuting in March 1984 and aimed…
    • Ray Bradbury Theater, The (A Twist In The Tale)
      Ray Bradbury Theater, The (A Twist In The Tale)
      1 9 8 5 - 1 9 9 2 (UK/France/Canada) One of the most prolific novelists of the late 20th…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleEnd of Part One
    Next Article Ravelled Thread, The

    Comments are closed.

    NC Radio Player
    Search the site
    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love since 1998. The site carries no advertising, and I rely on donations to help with running costs and to keep the site running for your entertainment and education.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small.
    Thank you so much. Enjoy your trip in the time machine!
    You may also like

    • ITV Playhouse
      ITV Playhouse
      1 9 6 7 - 1 9 8 3 (UK) 254 x 90 minute/60 minute episodes ITV Playhouse debuted on…
    • Dodger, Bonzo and the Rest
      Dodger, Bonzo and the Rest
      1 9 8 5 - 1 9 8 7 (UK) 13 x 30 minute episodes This children's drama from Thames Television…
    • Leap in the Dark
      Leap in the Dark
      1 9 7 3 (UK) 7 x 30/40 minute episodes 1 9 7 5 (UK) 4 x 30/40 minute episodes 1…
    • Shades of Darkness
      Shades of Darkness
      1 9 8 3 (UK) 7 x 60 minute episodes 1 9 8 6 (UK) 2 x 90 minute episodes This occasional…


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.