Second City Firsts 2

It was at the Midlands Arts Centre where Mike Leigh first embarked on his unique approach to devising scripts, and Pebble Mill which commissioned much of his early TV work.

During the 1970s, a key strength of the drama department at BBC Pebble Mill was its ability to unearth new talent; not just through flagships like Play For Today, but also the entry-point offered by the likes of Second City Firsts. Running from 1973 for ten series, this half-hour slot took a chance on a spectacular range of ‘regional talent’ including Willy Russell, Julie Walters, David Rudkin, Brian Glover and many others. Just as importantly, it offered a diversity of representation that often compares favourably with today’s TV drama. This afternoon we’re joined by Tara Prem, a script editor and subsequently series producer on Second City Firsts, to explore six very different episodes from the strand.

The Permissive Society (dir: Mike Leigh, 1975) It was at the Midlands Arts Centre where Mike Leigh first embarked on his unique approach to devising scripts, and Pebble Mill which commissioned much of his early TV work. Made a year before camping comedy Nuts in May, The Permissive Society is an overlooked gem.

Club Havana (dir: Pam Brighton, 1975) Also confined to a single set, Club Havana is a tense portrait of a Handsworth speakeasy by playwright Barry Reckord, featuring Don Warrington as the landlady’s son newly arrived from Jamaica and an incredibly young Julie Walters as the barmaid.

Jack Flea’s Birthday Celebration (dir: Mike Newell, 1976) We conclude with a psychosexual nightmare from the pen of Ian McEwan which is very much in keeping with his short stories of the time.

See also: Second City Firsts vol.1

This screening is a part of the Second City Firsts Bundle. Buy a bundle and get both Second City Firsts screenings at the reduced price of £12 Full Price or £10 Concession.