Dramarama

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

An anthology series of short plays for children which frequently featured supernatural or science fiction elements.

It 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.

Dramarama offered television debuts for Anthony Horowitz, Paul Abbott, Kay Mellor, Janice Hally, Tony Kearney, David Tennant and Ann Marie Di Mambro. It was also one of Dennis Spooner’s last works.

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