We are delighted to announce the launch of our new Manchester-based sister company Kudos North, set up to uncover and tell authentic stories set outside of London.
Spearheaded by new Development Producer hire, Laura Conway (The Fall 3, My Mother and Other Strangers) the new company will establish an open door to the north of England and strive to produce exciting new dramas with international appeal from strong, original voices. Supported by the full Kudos development and production set-up, Kudos North will be ideally positioned to both develop and deliver ambitious projects outside London.
Salford based actress and writer Maxine Peake has signed a first look development deal with Kudos North via her production company Vexed Pixie to develop new television projects which sit alongside developments already in progress at Kudos with Danny Brocklehurst, Debbie Horsfield, Dominic Mitchell and Stephen Greenhorn.
Laura Conway, Development Producer, Kudos North said; “Kudos North will focus on drama ideas, outside of London, that get under the skin of diverse lives across the United Kingdom and go some way to proving that it’s not grim up North – it’s magic!We will create a slate that combines the very best ideas from top writing talent with emerging, authored voices; building beautiful, trusting relationships that span writers’ careers and ultimately get cracking ideas onto global screens.
I am delighted that Maxine will be joining us on this new venture. Maxine’s undeniable passion for the North, its people and their stories is beyond exciting.”
Maxine Peake said; “I am bursting with excitement about the possibilities teaming up with Kudos will bring and I’m absolutely delighted to be working with a company with such clout and vision.
The very idea that Kudos has set up a northern sister company goes to show how slowly but surely the rest of the nation has woken up to the abundance of talent and creativity in the north. My goal is to encourage new and overlooked talent. To get those engaging stories out there, and to tap into the extraordinary diversity, vibrancy and magic that the north has to offer.
It’s also important that building on the fantastic production companies that already exist in the north, we can make it a possibility that our future talent in acting, production and directing, won’t have to make the expensive move to London. They can live and work here in the north, making it again a more inclusive and exciting industry, which we will all benefit from.”
In addition the Kudos North Writers’ Award will also launch this month to help promote the next wave of northern writers. The award, which is run in conjunction with the BBC Writer’s Room, will reward two emerging northern writers with a bursary, a new treatment commission, and mentorship by acclaimed northern writers Danny Brocklehurst and Stephen Butchard.
Martin Haines, Chief Operating Officer, Kudos said; “Kudos have made numerous shows outside London, including Life on Mars, Utopia, and the forthcoming Gunpowder and The Boy with the Topknot. However, we feel it’s a great moment to build upon that success, to put down roots in Manchester, and to surface new voices and tell new stories from across the North, England, and the whole of the UK.”
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