made in manchester

Made in Manchester/Tim Fountain drama nominated for Top Award

One of Made in Manchester’s ground-breaking audio dramas for the Independent online is up for a top new award.

Rock, the company’s production about legendary Hollywood movie star Rock Hudson has been nominated for Best Online Drama in the BBC’s Inaugural Audio Drama Awards which will be hosted by former Dr Who star David Tennant later this month.

Tim Fountain’s critically acclaimed drama examines how the Rock Hudson name and image was manufactured by 1950’s Hollywood.  Veteran character actor Bette Bourne stars as agent Henry Willson with Rock Hudson played by West End leading man Michael Xavier.

Made in Manchester’s Creative Director Ashley Byrne says: “We’re delighted to be shortlisted for this award.

“When we set out on this project we were determined to introduce radio drama to fresh new audiences and we’ve certainly succeeded in that.
Thousands of people have been listening to our productions from all around the world.

Ashley adds: “Radio drama is a brilliant way to break new writing and new talent and we’ve been delighted to have the support of such big names too.
Rock is brilliantly written and directed by Tim Fountain, the actors are excellent and producer Iain Mackness has done a fantastic job. It’s a quality piece.”

You can still listen to Rock online at www.independent.co.uk/drama

Among the actors who have starred in MIM’s dramas for The Independent on line – Simon Callow, the History Boys’ and Desperate Romantics’ Samuel Barnett – and Coronation Street and Emmerdale star Vicky Binns.

The dramas have included As We Forgive Them (about death row in the United States), Dreaming of Foxes (about Ted Hughes), Turing’s Test (about enigma code breaker Alan Turing) and Death In Genoa (about the latter days of Oscar Wilde’s life).

The projects have also been supported by theatre director Joyce Branagh, poet Ian McMillan and Reggie Perrin creator David Nobbs.

The BBC’s Inaugural Audio Drama Awards’ winners will be announced on Sunday 29th January during a ceremony hosted by David Tennant at the BBC Radio Theatre at Broadcasting House in London.