Olivier Award-winning Headlong theatre company and BAFTA-winning Century Films have teamed up to produce Unprecedented, a huge new project responding to the Coronavirus crisis.
Featuring 14 playwrights, 11 directors and over 50 actors, Unprecedented seeks to explore the radical way our world hs changed over the last couple of months.
Actors taking part include Gemma Arterton, Arthur Darvill, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Lennie James, Paterson Joseph, Rory Kinnear, Alex Lawther, Katherine Parkinson, Alison Steadman And Meera Syal.
The 14 stories that have come out of this project focus on communities, connection, families, teenagers, couples and NHS workers throughout this crisis. They look at how education, work, relationships, culture, and capitalism have been changed and are still changing every day and explore how we find the warmth, humour and humanity in our situations.
Unprecedented has been entirely written, filmed and produced in lockdown. Rehearsals have been video calls and the casts have made or sourced their own props, costume, lighting and sets.
From Tuesday 26 May to Thursday 28 May, 11 of these digital plays will be broadcast on BBC Four, and all 14 will be available on BBC iPlayer as part of their Culture In Quarantine programming.
You can find details of all 14 plays below.
Viral by James Graham
Directed by Ola Ince
Starring: Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Laurie Kynaston, Archie Madekwe, and Stuart Thompson
“I’d never even heard of ‘Zoom’ until two days ago”
After schools shut, and A Levels are postponed, three teenagers use lockdown to come up with the next big viral craze.
Penny by Charlene James
Directed by Holly Race Roughan
Starring: Lennie James
“If one more person talks to me about social distancing – don’t you know that’s my life?”
Ray has been moved into a hotel for the foreseeable future, yet he knows that survival is a lot more complicated than having a roof over your head.
Going Forward by John Donnelly
Directed by Blanche McIntyre
Starring; Paul Chahidi, Frances Grey, Lisa Kerr, Enyi Okoronkwo, Boadicea Ricketts, Sid Sagar, Gyuri Sarossy, Kiruna Stamell, Amy Trigg, Dickon Tyrrell, Gabby Wong and Sargon Yelda.
“Sorry, Alastair, if we all just start shouting things out, it’ll be absolute chaos”
When team meetings move online, an under-pressure team leader takes drastic measures to make sure targets are met.
Romantic Distancing by Tim Price
Directed by Jeremy Herrin
Starring: Inès De Clercq and Arthur Darvill.
“It’s just a shit time to be starting something new with someone. What do you think?”
Love in the time of coronavirus: can technology bridge the emotional gap as well as the geographical?
Safer At Home by Anna Maloney
Directed by Brian Hill
Starring: Gemma Arterton, Geraldine James and Rory Keenan.
“He’s making a fuss of you, I hope?”
As families and couples are forced into isolation, we see Mike taking pride in looking after his pregnant partner, Ellie. Mike’s mother, Betsy, is delighted, she’s extremely fond of Ellie; but she starts to see things about their relationship that unsettle her.
House Party by April De Angelis
Directed by Holly Race Roughan
Starring; Patricia Allison, Risteárd Cooper, Gabriel Harland, Cecilia Noble, James Norton, Rhashan Stone, Meera Syal, Olivia Williams and Fenella Woolgar.
“Bloody virus. Now we have to interact with the neighbours”
A street in South London get together on ‘Houseparty’ for a virtual drinking session in the first week of isolation, but not everyone is in the mood for a party…
Grounded by Duncan Macmillan
Directed by Jeremy Herrin
Starring: Michael Elwyn, Arlo Dollimore, Katherine Parkinson and Alison Steadman.
“We’re not teenagers. We’re not grounded.”
Liz is stressed by her parents’ cavalier attitude to the virus. Their age and health conditions put them heavily at risk. However, when overcome by the stress of her work, Liz is the one who needs looking after.
Fear Fatigue by Prasanna Puwanarajah
Directed by Brian Hill
Starring: Esh Alladi, Natalie Dew, Paterson Joseph, Rory Kinnear, Jodie McNee and Anna Madeley.
“A lot has happened in the past week that… I never thought I’d see.”
Based on conversations with NHS workers in March 2020, Fear Fatigue documents the feelings and fears of frontline staff in the days and weeks before the Coronavirus lockdown.
Kat And Zaccy by Deborah Bruce
Directed by Deborah Bruce
Starring: Monica Dolan and Alex Lawther.
“Everyone’s child has come home except mine!”
Zac is reluctant to come home from university during lockdown; how long can he ignore his mother’s emotional pleas for his return?
The Unexpected Expert by Matilda Ibini
Directed by Debbie Hannan
Starring: Saida Ahmed, Lucianne McEvoy and Golda Rosheuvel.
“I am still the exception – still the exception to humanity”
This crisis will have a huge impact on Roxy’s social care package. The Local Authority thanks her for her understanding, yet she feels significantly misunderstood.
The Night After by Josh Azouz
Directed by Ned Bennett
Starring: Kathryn Hunter and Marcello Magni
“The sex has improved.”
A couple in their sixties try to make contact with the outside world. Is it a distress signal? Or a message to a specific loved one? Greek Gods, a noose, and the past all threaten to overwhelm them. A touching tale of toast, taboos and toddlers.
Central Hill by Nathaniel Martello-White
Directed by Nathaniel Martello-White
Starring: Julian Barratt, Erin Doherty and Abraham Popoola.
“Remember, this is a comedy”
Coronavirus flings a couple into a long-distance relationship. A freelance actor cannot afford to eat. Ginger and toilet paper have become the most sought-after items on the planet. A likely farce, or a horror movie waiting to happen?
Everybody’s Talkin’ by Chloe Moss
Directed by Caitlin McLeod
Starring: Denise Gough Sue Johnston, Rochenda Sandall and Rebekah Staton.
“I thought you said this would be just like being together”
Liz, Rebecca and Katherine are full of ideas for their mother: Facebook Pilates, Zoom Art Classes, FaceTime therapy… anything to help her feel connected.
Batshit by Jasmine Lee-Jones
Directed by Tinuke Craig
Starring: Kae Alexander
“and when you are gone there will be nothing
no morgue memorial memory song…
not even the vague embittered memory of what’s been”
It’s 2021. The global pandemic continues to sweep the earth. In the midst of massive loss, grief and mourning, many have searched for a party to blame – with some civilians taking justice into their own hands. As ceaseless chaos sweeps the earth, shit is well and truly about to hit the fan…”