First Look: ‘Peaky Blinders’ Dance Theater Adaptation – Global Bulletin

K.J. Yossman
·5 min read
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THEATER

“Peaky Blinders” is getting a theatrical adaptation with “Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby.”

“Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight has written the theatrical dance show, which is set to be directed and choreographed by Benoit Swan Pouffer, artistic director of Rambert.

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It is set to premiere on Sept. 27 at the Birmingham Hippodrome, which is co-producing the show, before transferring to Troubadour Wembley Park in London and then a U.K. tour in 2023.

Thomas Shelby will be played by Guillaume Quéau and Prince Lyons, who will alternate, while the role of Grace will be rotated between Naya Lovell and Seren Williams.

Simon Sinek and Robin Saunders are executive producing.

“Through dance theatre ‘Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby’ picks up the story of the Peaky Blinders at the end of World War One, following Tommy Shelby and Grace Burgess through their passionate love affair,” reads the logline. “While Tommy is building his empire, Grace is operating as an undercover agent for Special Branch on a mission to get close to the heart of Tommy’s gang. As the story unfolds, many hearts are broken.”

STREAMING

New streamer SkyShowtime has begun its European rollout, starting with Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The service will go live in Netherlands and Portugal on Oct. 25.

As well as feature films from Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures, it will also feature long form content from Showtime, Peacock and Sky Originals and local original programming.

In the Nordics, SkyShowtime replaces Paramount+.

“We are so excited that customers in the Nordics will have exclusive access to the latest series and movie premieres from our iconic and world-renowned studios,” said SkyShowtime CEO Monty Sarhan. “We are also excited to announce that next month, audiences in the Netherlands and Portugal will be able to experience SkyShowtime as we continue our expansion across Europe.”

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Meanwhile, the Tamil-language service of Indian streamer Aha has launched in Malaysia with several blockbuster films and exclusive originals, including “Vikram,” “Viruman,” “Koogle Kutappa,” “Manmadhaleelai,” “AkashVani,” “Ammuchi 2,” “Kuthukku Pathu,” “Emoji” and “Sarkaar.” And, Aha’s Telugu-language service has partnered with Hong Kong-based global content distributor 04 Media to stream 100 hours of Telugu-dubbed Korean content from KBS onto the platform starting the last quarter of this year.

APPOINTMENT

Dawn Beresford, previously with independent producers CPL Productions and Arrow International Media, will be joining the BBC as director of talent, commissioning, in October. Beresford will develop and lead plans which drive the strategy for commissioning roles at the BBC, working closely with the senior creative team, along with indie relations, resourcing and creative diversity to support a holistic approach to off-screen talent across the content group. Beresford will also work with external partners to support the short and long-term health of skills and culture across the U.K.’s creative industries.

SALES

ZDF Studios has scored a raft of sales on thriller series “Unbroken” (6 x 45′), a ZDFneo Original produced by Network Movie, an affiliate wholly owned by ZDF Studios. Streaming services who have acquired the series are Turkcell in Turkey and Poland’s OTT platform CDA Polska. Sales to broadcasters include SBS (Australia), Brazil’s Globo TV, Polar+ France and the three Baltic channels (LTV, LRT and EER) and GSN U.K. and U.S. where it will be featured on Walter Presents. Spafax, the travel media network, has licensed the drama for Germany, Qatar and Oman and French production company Newen has secured the format rights.

Aylin Tezel stars as a police detective on a search to find her newborn baby after she is kidnapped while pregnant. A week after her sudden disappearance she wakes up, bloodied. Her baby is gone and she has no memory of the birth. When her colleagues make no headway in the investigation, she takes over and gets entangled in a web of suspicions and lies risking everything to get her child back.

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Feature documentary “Quintessentially British,” directed by Frank Mannion (“Sparkling: The Story of Champagne”) and produced by his Swipe Films, has sold to Rialto Films for Australia and New Zealand, Signature Films for the U.K. and Ireland and Vision Films for North America. It features actors Ian McKellen and Judi Dench and speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle, amongst others discussing what they consider quintessentially British. The film will be released by Vision in U.S. cinemas and on VOD on Oct. 12.

OPTION

Content producer Media Netherlands has secured an option deal for the format rights to Nippon TV’s hit entertainment show “Old Enough!” with the aim of producing a Dutch version. Currently airing bi-annually on Nippon TV to stellar ratings, the show centers on the adventures of adorable children running errands on their own for the very first time – all while being filmed in shadow by an incognito camera crew. Netflix has streamed 20 episodes of the show.

TALENT INITIATIVE

Irish Film London has launched the Beginnings Narrative Lab, a new talent development initiative with industry development agency Stowe Story Labs.

Aimed at emerging screenwriters and filmmakers working on their debut or sophomore project, it is set to take place in London in November as part of the Irish Film Festival London. Those selected for the initiative will participate in industry mentorship, script note sessions, panel discussions and screenwriting sessions with industry leaders.

“We’ve worked hard to position IFL as more of an industry-facing organisation over the last 18 months, and the launch of this program with the Stowe team represents a major goal for this strategy,” said Gerry Maguire, head of Irish Film London.

Applicants can register their interest here.

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