Member Article

New drama format confirmed as first production at Manchester’s The Space Project

The team behind The Space Project, the new 360,000 sq. ft. drama and TV production hub due to open later this month, has announced the first production set to get underway at the high-spec facility.

The BBC has confirmed it will begin production there on an innovative new format for CBBC, a drama programme given the working title of ‘World’s End’. There will be 36 episodes, each running 15 minutes.

The Space Project, a new 360,000 sq. ft. site currently under construction in Gorton, Manchester, will offer over 55,000 sq. ft. of dedicated stage space plus support facilities for the primary purpose of drama and TV production.

With the production set to move in and construction due to start this week, two weeks before the official opening of the facility, the BBC will take over stages four and five, totalling over 19,000 sq. ft. of sound stage space, where they will remain until November in production on series one.

Based on the story of a group of children who find themselves in a remote castle on a rollercoaster adventure hurtling towards the World’s End, all interior aspects of the setting will be constructed at The Space Project, with additional filming to take place on location.

The series, from writers Diane Whitley and Danny Spring, will air on CBBC in 2014/15 and is being made by the in-house CBBC Productions team. The executive producer is Sarah Muller, with further casting and scheduling information to be announced in due course.

Sue Woodward OBE, Project Director at The Space Project, said: “We’re delighted to welcome the BBC on board even before we’ve officially opened the doors to The Space Project, with an agreement that gets us off to a truly flying start.

“World’s End isn’t just a fantastic first production to welcome to The Space Project, it’s an innovative new approach to programme making, responding head-on to changing patterns of TV consumption and audience expectations, and we’re looking forward to being an enthusiastic partner in this cracking new commission.”

Peter Salmon, BBC Director England, added: “The region has a growing reputation for producing top quality drama from Newcastle to Liverpool and all points in between.

“Manchester and Salford are booming with creative and digital businesses and it is wonderful to welcome another world class facility onto the scene in the North West.

“BBC Children’s is in the vanguard of innovation and World’s End is another example of their imaginative content for that most discerning audience - the under twelves – and I can’t wait to share it with the rest of the UK.”

Officially open from May 27th, The Space Project is managed by the successful Sharp Project management team and is taking bookings now.

Production companies interested in finding out more about stage availability at The Space Project can visit www.thespaceproject.tv, emailenquiries@thespaceproject.tv or call 0161 205 5508.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .