Hot Picks

Staged

Type: Comedy-Drama
Length: 14 x 22-minutes
Producer: Infinity Hill, GCB Films, Staged Films
Broadcaster: BBC1 (UK)

Art imitated life when stars Michael Sheen and David Tennant chose to reflect their lockdown experience in comedy-drama Staged.

The first series featured the high-profile cast of a play who are furloughed when the upcoming production is suddenly brought to a halt by the pandemic. The series, written and directed by newcomer Simon Evans, followed the cast as they tried their best to keep the rehearsals on track during the first lockdown.

For new sales outfit Rainmaker Content, it provided an eye-catching title with which to launch. “Staged was a big calling card at launch for us and delivered something that you dream of in your first few months,” says Rainmaker co-chief executive and founder Greg Phillips.

“It’s a very clever series in that it makes you think you’re part of the conversation with them, going along on their journey. The whole interplay between the two of them, their partners and special guests is extraordinary.” The fast-turnaround of the series meant there was little time to mount a traditional marketing campaign and saw Rainmaker “promote it aggressively, with people we were telling about our new company”.

The result has been sales to North America and Latin America as well as France, China, Australia and New Zealand. Deals for several other territories are in the pipeline following the broadcast of the second season in January 2021. The latest episodes follow the pair as they attempt to navigate their ‘new normal’ at home with their increasingly exasperated families whilst simultaneously trying to tackle the world of ‘virtual Hollywood’ and their ever more fragile egos as the American production company try to re-cast them.

“You may think that something inspired by Covid events might impose a restriction on its appeal but it’s continuing to gather pace,” adds Phillips. “It’s become something of a phenomenon.

“They’re now looking at how it can be resonant beyond the current period and potentially be around for a while, which is how you look at series. We’re yet to see what develops there, which depends on several factors, but are very happy with seasons one and two.”