Channel 4 meets the Dreamers

First look images for Dreamers have been released by Channel 4…

Produced by Duck Soup Films the company behind Lost Boys & Fairies, the six-part coming-of-age drama series created by Lisa Holdsworth, who also serves as writer and executive producer, alongside writer Gem Copping, will air on Channel 4 later this month.

Rebekah Wray-Rogers, Co-Founder of Duck Soup Films:

“We couldn’t be more thrilled that Dreamers was born and raised in our very own city.  Collaborating with such a phenomenally talented and diverse group of new to the industry creatives has been an unforgettable journey, and we are buzzing to finally bring this exceptional series to the screen.”

Dreamers follows an eclectic group of dance students as they navigate the intense highs and lows of coming of age in today’s complex world – captured through stories which are as joyful and funny as they are raw and truthful, brought viscerally to life via irresistible dance choreography.

Teacher Erica – dynamic, determined, tough but passionate – heads up the Saturday class at the LAH and brings together our core friendship gang and dance ensemble: Puppy, Liam, Koby, Zaki, Zion, Lukas, Theo, Jamal, Liv, Isla and Twilight – each of them unique, emotionally-complicated, independently-minded and trying to make their way in the world.

The drama series champions characters who have been workshopped and were inspired by true stories from Leeds with support from the Young Audiences Content Fund (YACF), which was managed by the BFI and funded by the UK Government.

Dreamers is a celebration of resilience, determination, and spirit which never shies away from relevant and hard-hitting themes. The series will shine a light on the pressures young people face but also provide a dynamic and energising insight into the city of Leeds and its people. The production was shot in and around Leeds and presented a fantastic opportunity for 10 Leeds-based people to break into the broadcast industry.

4Skills fully funded this training initiative working with the National Film and Television School (NFTS) partnered and Duck Soup Films to provide 10 paid full-time placements on the production. It was tailored to people with no previous production experience, providing training, mentoring, one-to-one sessions, career planning and the chance to work on a major production. This opportunity has enabled many of those who worked on the series to further develop their careers in the industry.

Kevin Blacoe, Head of Partnerships & Skills at Channel 4:

“4Skills is proud to fund the 10 full-time training placements on the production of Dreamers. It’s been a brilliant opportunity for these ten trainees with many of those who worked on the series now further developing their careers in the industry. Initiatives like these show the impact Channel 4 and 4Skills can make.”