"The Afternoon Play" (2003)TV series 2003-????

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

27 January 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Mystery | Romance

Plot:

A series of individual Dramas each with a different story and cast.

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Rob Swinton

...

Alan / ... (2 episodes, 2004-2007)

Series Directed by
John Greening		(3 episodes, 2004-2007)
Terry Iland		(2 episodes, 2003-2006)
Matthew Parkhill		(2 episodes, 2004-2005)
Ian Barnes		(2 episodes, 2005-2007)
Steve Kelly		(2 episodes, 2005-2007)
Neil Adams		(2 episodes, 2005-2006)
Ian Barber		(2 episodes, 2006-2007)

Series Writing credits
Matthew Parkhill		(3 episodes, 2003-2005)
Martin Sadofski		(3 episodes, 2005-2007)
Damian Fitzsimmons		(2 episodes, 2004-2005)
Paul Smith		(2 episodes, 2006-2007)

Series Produced by
Will Trotter	....	executive producer / producer (13 episodes, 2004-2007)
Serena Cullen	....	executive producer (10 episodes, 2003-2005)
Mal Young	....	executive producer (9 episodes, 2003-2005)
Sam Hill	....	producer (6 episodes, 2005-2006)
Ben Bickerton	....	producer (5 episodes, 2007)
Carson Black	....	producer (4 episodes, 2003)
Fiona Cockburn	....	associate producer (4 episodes, 2003)
Sam Hill	....	producer (unknown episodes, 2005)

Series Original Music by
Ross Power		(1 episode, 2007)
Chris James Ryan		(1 episode, 2007)

Series Cinematography by
Phil Makhoul Winn		(4 episodes, 2003-2006)
Jon Boyce		(2 episodes, 2004-2005)
Edward Ames		(2 episodes, 2006-2007)

Series Film Editing by
Neil Roberts		(8 episodes, 2003-2007)
Keith Brown		(4 episodes, 2004-2007)
Mark Davies		(unknown episodes)
Adam Trotman		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Derek Barnes		(4 episodes, 2004-2007)
Glen Bexfield		(unknown episodes)
Julia Crampsie		(unknown episodes)
Jane Deitch		(unknown episodes)
Catherine Willis		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Nick Turner		(7 episodes, 2003-2007)
Francis Boyle		(2 episodes, 2003-2005)

Series Art Direction by
Graham Dance		(4 episodes, 2005-2007)
Matthew Stocks		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Lyn Harvey		(5 episodes, 2007)
Janice Rider		(3 episodes, 2005)
Alison Cook		(2 episodes, 2006)

Series Makeup Department
Gail Brownrigg	....	makeup designer / assistant makeup artist / ... (5 episodes, 2005-2007)
Sheila Werrey	....	makeup designer (4 episodes, 2004-2005)
Poppy Hill	....	assistant makeup artist / makeup assistant (2 episodes, 2005)
Debbi Salmon	....	makeup designer (2 episodes, 2006)
Claire Buckett	....	assistant makeup artist / makeup assistant (2 episodes, 2007)
Amanda Isaacs	....	assistant makeup artist / makeup assistant (2 episodes, 2007)
Gillian Sanderson	....	makeup designer (2 episodes, 2007)
Alysia Cooper	....	assistant makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Catherine Heys	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Tonia Podmore	....	assistant makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Trudy Coleman	....	production manager (10 episodes, 2005-2007)
John Burkill	....	post-production supervisor (5 episodes, 2007)
Mike Hobson	....	production manager (2 episodes, 2003)
Grainne O'Boyle	....	unit manager (1 episode, 2003-2005)
Sam Hill	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lyndsey Pendle	....	second assistant director / third assistant director (6 episodes, 2003-2006)
Seasha Armstrong	....	second assistant director (5 episodes, 2007)
Lisa Wedgbury	....	third assistant director (5 episodes, 2007)
James Mellor	....	day player third assistant director / third assistant director (4 episodes, 2005)
Chris Dall	....	first assistant director (3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Donna Wilkinson	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 2003)
William Hartley	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 2004)
Dee Hellier	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 2005-2006)
Alexandra Bridcut	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Matt Cusworth	....	third assistant director (unknown episodes)
Katy Stenson	....	third assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Kirsty Crumpton	....	stand-by art director (2 episodes, 2005)
James Darnbrough	....	stand-by art director (2 episodes, 2005)
Alex Emery	....	stand-by art director (2 episodes, 2007)
Tony Fisher	....	graphic artist / graphics (2 episodes, 2007)
Emma Minshull	....	stand-by art director (2 episodes, 2007)
Jonathan Smith	....	stand-by art director (2 episodes, 2007)
Chris Brett	....	graphic designer (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Benedict Peissel	....	dubbing mixer (6 episodes, 2003-2007)
Richard Hastings-Hall	....	dubbing mixer (5 episodes, 2005-2007)
Simon Koelmeyer	....	sound recordist (4 episodes, 2004-2007)
Jason Devlin	....	boom operator (3 episodes, 2005)
Stephen Longstaff	....	boom operator (3 episodes, 2006-2007)
Ken Ralston	....	boom operator (2 episodes, 2005-2007)
Paul Brookes	....	boom operator (2 episodes, 2007)
Wayne Fisher	....	boom operator / sound supervisor (2 episodes, 2007)
Lee Harigan	....	sound supervisor (2 episodes, 2007)
Carl Dolan	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Riky Ash	....	stunt coordinator / stunt double (2 episodes, 2005-2007)
Andy Bennett	....	stunt coordinator (2 episodes, 2005)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Tom Hines	....	camera operator (5 episodes, 2003-2007)
Annie Miller	....	assistant camera (4 episodes, 2003-2005)
Mark Southall	....	electrician / gaffer (4 episodes, 2003-2005)
Herbie Donnelly	....	gaffer (2 episodes, 2003)
Ian Young	....	electrician (2 episodes, 2005)
Andy Bates	....	electrician (2 episodes, 2007)
Richard Hines	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 2007)
John Mills	....	gaffer (2 episodes, 2007)
Ron Wainwright	....	assistant camera / camera assistant (2 episodes, 2007)
Kevin Church	....	camera operator (1 episode, 2004-2005)
Rob Carter	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Anthony Dunne	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)
Jim Hogg	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Scott Milton	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
James Pugh	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Laura McSwan	....	casting assistant (2 episodes, 2007)
Kevin Riddle	....	casting assistant (2 episodes, 2007)
Tim Watson	....	casting assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Beth Lewis	....	costume assistant / wardrobe assistant (7 episodes, 2005-2007)
Emma Hutton	....	assistant costume designer (5 episodes, 2007)
Alison Cook	....	assistant costume designer / costume assistant (4 episodes, 2003-2005)
Rachel Selby	....	wardrobe supervisor (2 episodes, 2003)
Bobbie Peach	....	wardrobe mistress (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Jim Gregory	....	colorist (10 episodes, 2003-2007)
Dan Wardle	....	assistant editor (3 episodes, 2003)
Russell Parker	....	assistant editor (3 episodes, 2004-2007)
Neil Stacey	....	assistant editor (3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Tim Savage	....	colorist (3 episodes, 2007)
Victoria Storey	....	assistant editor (3 episodes, 2007)
John Burkill	....	supervising editor (2 episodes, 2005)
Bobbie Chapman	....	post-production coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Chris James Ryan	....	music producer (1 episode, 2007)
Adrian York	....	composer: title music (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Vic Humphries	....	vehicle coordinator (9 episodes, 2003-2007)
Johnathan Botha	....	driver (2 episodes, 2007)

Series Other crew
Trevor West	....	production executive (11 episodes, 2003-2006)
Julia Jones	....	production accountant (10 episodes, 2003-2007)
Peter Eryl Lloyd	....	script editor / series editor (7 episodes, 2003-2005)
Roz Pryke	....	production coordinator (5 episodes, 2003)
Ben Harvey	....	location manager (5 episodes, 2004-2007)
Helen Liddle	....	runner (5 episodes, 2007)
Donna Wilkinson	....	production coordinator (5 episodes, 2007)
Manda Levin	....	script executive (4 episodes, 2006)
Melanie Howard	....	production executive (4 episodes, 2007)
Joanna Hawkins	....	assistant script editor (3 episodes, 2003)
Malcolm Walker	....	location manager (3 episodes, 2003)
Arun Bharali	....	continuity / script supervisor (2 episodes, 2003)
Kirsty Crumpton	....	production secretary (2 episodes, 2003)
Jake Rollins	....	runner (2 episodes, 2005)
Hannah Shields	....	production coordinator (2 episodes, 2005)
Helen Turpin	....	production secretary (2 episodes, 2005)
Sarah Beeson	....	script editor (2 episodes, 2006)
Andrew Cooke	....	location manager (2 episodes, 2006)
Frances Duncan	....	location manager (2 episodes, 2007)
Jo Garner	....	continuity (2 episodes, 2007)
Bridget Gildea	....	assistant script editor (2 episodes, 2007)
Robert May	....	runner (unknown episodes, 2005)
Andi Coldwell	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Claudine Griffin	....	assistant accountant (unknown episodes)
Matthew Hill	....	runner (unknown episodes)
Louisa Neal	....	runner (unknown episodes)
Carol Woof	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (BBC Birmingham)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2003-) (UK) (TV)

Runtime:

60 min (25 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Girl's Weekend - starts well but gets a little stretched towards the end

Kate is getting married to boyfriend Dave and takes off for a hen weekend with three of her friends. Kate, Dawn, Becky and Jo take their car down to the coast with an envelope full of money to waste. However when Jo loses the money the group go to a holiday camp to blag a caravan for a few days. At the camp Kate meets an old flame, Tim, who lets them stay in a tiny caravan for free. During a drunken game of truth or dare, Kate discovers that all of her friends have slept with Dave at one time or another. Turning to Tim for comfort sparks even more problems as she tries to get past the past.

For a week in January 2003 the BBC tried to do what it had been doing on radio regularly for years - putting stand alone dramas (or plays) on each day. Girls' Weekend was the final of the 5 dramas to be shown. The drama owes a little to modern sitcom/dramas on BBC2 in that it is all about sexually complicated relationships, late twenties characters and has a modern, constant soundtrack.

The story is quite good even if it is straightforward enough, it does have a certain rough charm to it that helped me get involved in the characters. The second half of the film gets a little too hysterical for my taste and pushes the drama beyond the range that I could easily get into. However the four characters are pretty interesting and it's a good enough story for a cold afternoon.

Denby-Ashe is quite good in the lead and she is believable. Manners has a good character and had potential to bring plenty out of her lonely angst, but she overacts and is too OTT to be real. Simmons and Campbell are both good but are underused - Campbell in particular is more used for comedy than anything else which is a shame because it sours the mix a little by giving the appearance of two token blacks. Maybe it's because they are given less scope for angst than the two leads but I found them both very sexy - Campbell's nervous little shy thing in particular.

The soundtrack is good but it is overused and gets in the way a little. However it is pretty funky if you like modern pop music. Overall it is quite an enjoyable little romantic drama despite going a little over the top. A lively and sparky cast (at least the 4 girls) really help it though.