‘A vibrant, entertaining and important show, bolstered by outstanding performances’
The judges were captivated by this true story about the struggle for disability civil rights, told for the first time by Jack Thorne and Genevieve Barr.
A joint project from the BBC and Netflix, the single drama begins in the early ’90s, when many disabled people faced huge barriers in the workplace, lived in poor-quality housing and had poor access to public transport.
The uplifting and irreverent story charts the tale of its two protagonists - cabaret performers who fall in love and go on to become the driving force behind a disability pressure group and a campaign of action that ultimately leads to the passing of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
Directors Bruce Goodison and Amit Sharma blend archive protest footage with vibrant performances from a cast that includes 17 disabled actors, led by Ruth Madeley and Arthur Hughes.
Co-producers Dragonfly and One Shoe Films also employed 16 on-screen team members with disabilities, including writers, exec producers, directors, producers and production managers.
The results of such an inclusive approach were clear to the judging panel, who described it as “a vibrant, entertaining and important show, bolstered by outstanding performances”.
“Dynamic, with plenty of light and shade, this challenged me,” said one.
SHORTLISTED
Death Of England: Face To Face
National Theatre in association with Sabel Productions and Cuba Pictures for Sky Arts
Captured with a single camera, this bold, stylised, two-person show tackles themes including prejudice, friendship and love. Shot in 14 days and edited in four weeks, it is underpinned by highly inventi ve production design.
Life And Death In The Warehouse
BBC Studios Productions for BBC and BBC Wales
This single drama shines a light on the conditi ons faced by those who are barred from joining unions. The predominantly working-class Welsh cast and crew, supported by under-represented ethnic groups including Poles, have produced a devastati ng story about the e-commerce industry.
My Name Is Leon
Douglas Road Productions, Tiger Aspect, Ringside Studios & Vicarious Productions for BBC
Shola Amoo’s adaptation of Kit De Waal’s novel was honed over a lengthy development period. First-time screen director Lynette Linton draws out a stunning lead performance from debutante Cole Martin, who was cast from a pool of more than 100 hopefuls.
On The Edge: Cradled
BlackLight Television for Channel 4
A gut-wrenching drama exploring the post-partum mental health crisis. New writer Nessah Muthy’s screenplay, based on her own experiences, reveals the pressures of modern motherhood and exposes the shame that can come with the taboo conditi on.
The House
Nexus Studios for Netflix
An eccentric stop-motion comedy anthology about a house and the individuals who live there. Leading stop motion artists Emma de Swaef, Marc Roels, Niki Lindroth von Bahr and Paloma Baeza transport viewers through the history of the property.
Award sponsored by Garden Studios
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