Dramarama
Dramarama

Dramarama

1989TV ShowEnded8 SeasonsEnglish

Dramarama is the name of a British children's anthology series broadcast on ITV between 1983 and 1989. It tended to feature drama of a science fiction or supernatural bent. The series was created by Anna Home, then head of children's and youth programming at TVS, however production responsibilities were divided amongst most of the regional ITV franchise holders. Thus, each episode was in practice a one-off production with its own cast and crew, up to and including the executive producer. Dramarama was largely a place for new talent to prove themselves and was a launching pad for the likes of Anthony Horowitz, Paul Abbott, Kay Mellor, Janice Hally, Tony Kearney, David Tennant and Ann Marie Di Mambro. It was one of Dennis Spooner's last credits. One of Dramarama's episodes, "Dodger, Bonzo And The Rest", gained so much popularity that it was turned in to its own series the following year. It starred Lee Ross and was based around a large foster home. The episode "Blackbird Singing In The Dead of Night" was developed by Granada into the TV series Children's Ward. It was also repeated for the first time since its original broadcast on 5 January 2013, during CITV's 30th anniversary Old Skool Weekend. The Series 7 episode "Back To Front" – notable for featuring a mirror image of the Yorkshire Television logo card at the end – was repeated on 6 January 2013, again as part of CITV's 30th anniversary Old Skool Weekend.

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Director: VariousGenres: Drama, Teen

Plot Summary

Dramarama was a British anthology television series that aired on ITV from 1983 to 1989. Each episode featured a standalone drama aimed at a teenage audience, often tackling social issues, personal struggles, and coming-of-age themes. The series provided a platform for new writers and actors, offering a diverse range of stories and perspectives.

Critical Reception

Dramarama was generally well-received for its willingness to tackle sensitive topics relevant to young people. While not always critically lauded in the same vein as more adult dramas, it was praised for its educational value and its ability to engage its target audience. The anthology format allowed for varied quality, but many individual episodes were noted for their impactful storytelling.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its exploration of teen issues.
  • Appreciated for its diverse range of standalone stories.
  • Seen as an important platform for young actors and writers.

Google audience: As an anthology series from the late 1980s, specific Google user reviews for 'Dramarama' as a whole are not readily available. However, contemporary commentary often highlighted its relevance to teenage life and its role in presenting challenging social themes in an accessible format.

Fun Fact

The series aired across multiple ITV regions, meaning different regional variations of the show might have existed with slightly different programming orders or content.

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