Helen Blakeman
Encyclopedia
Helen Blakeman is a British playwright and screenwriter from Liverpool
. She has written three plays. Caravan, her first, was written while she studied at Birmingham University and won her the George Devine award. Her second play, Normal, was followed by an entrance into screenwriting. Pleasureland is a 2003 television film about teen sexuality, for which Blakeman was nominated for the British Academy Television Craft Award for best new writer in 2003, after which Blakeman wrote her third and most recent play, The Morris. In 2008, she wrote the screenplay for the award-winning television film Dustbin Baby
, which was well received by critics, and for which she won the British Academy Children's Award for best writer.
, which led to her going into a career in theatre. She then joined the National Youth Theatre
and studied drama at John Moores University. It was at university that she began to write. Blakeman then took a Master's
course at Birmingham University under David Edgar
.
saw a performance of the play, and took a script to Mile Bradwell of Bush Theatre
. The play was then shown at the Bush Theatre. The play tells the story of a mother and her two daughters staying in a caravan in north Wales, and Robert Butler of The Independent
described the play as displaying "a lively gift for dramatising family disputes and representing young people's sex lives with a good-humoured frankness". A black comedy
, David Benedict, also writing for The Independent, criticised the plot as "contrived", saying that "The problem with this kind of writing on stage is that unlike a soap, it has to have theatrical shape, not least in that it has to end". The play won Blakeman the George Devine award. Blakeman's second play, Normal, also opened at The Bush. Normal tells the story of a mother who lost two children in child birth and her surviving daughter, and the play alternates between a character's monologues in a police station and the events leading up to the incident which brought her to the station. Butler described this as "tougher going" than Caravan, and said that "Blakeman's talent for unlikely scenes is largely on hold".
Blakeman then entered television writing, writing Pleasureland, a television film for Channel Four as part of their Adult at 14 season
. Pleasureland tells the story of 14 year old Jo, a girl who commits herself to be accepted by her classmates by losing her virginity. The Times
described Pleasureland as "raw and alarming", and claimed it "is loaded with scenes certain to cause outrage". The show attracted controversy, with Michelle Elliott, from Kidscape
, describing scenes depicting 14 year olds engaging in sexual activity as "basically irresponsible and sick." Blakeman responded by claiming that she only approached the subject after learning that Britain had the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Europe, claiming "sex was more of a rumour mill when I was at school - but there is more pressure now to partake in that activity". Despite this, Blakeman was nominated for the British Academy Television Craft Award for best new writer in 2003, but lost out to Rosemary Kay, for her work on This Little Life
.
Blakeman's third play, The Morris, follows a troupe of female morris dancers. Female morris dancing is a tradition in the north west of England which is only loosely related to traditional morris dancing
. Blakeman had been a female morris dancer until she was 16, but the play "is as much about bickering, bonding and fierce rivalry between women". It was given a two out of five by Lynne Walker
, reviewing the play for The Independent
.
In 2008, Blakeman wrote the screenplay for Dustbin Baby
, a film based on the Jacqueline Wilson
novel of the same name
. She said that when she had read a copy of the novel, she "knew it was something [she] had to write". The film debuted on television in December of that year, and was received positively by critics. In an article in The Times
David Chater awarded the programme the TV choice of the day, describing it as "tremendous", and "the wonderful surprise of Christmas". The Telegraph
described the film as a "rare treat", as it is "something that teenagers and parents can watch together". The film won an International Emmy in the children and young people category, and Blakeman herself won the British Academy Children's Award for best writer.
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. She has written three plays. Caravan, her first, was written while she studied at Birmingham University and won her the George Devine award. Her second play, Normal, was followed by an entrance into screenwriting. Pleasureland is a 2003 television film about teen sexuality, for which Blakeman was nominated for the British Academy Television Craft Award for best new writer in 2003, after which Blakeman wrote her third and most recent play, The Morris. In 2008, she wrote the screenplay for the award-winning television film Dustbin Baby
Dustbin Baby (film)
Dustbin Baby is a BBC television film directed by Juliet May, based on Jacqueline Wilson's 2001 novel of the same name. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 21 December 2008. The film stars Dakota Blue Richards as April, a troubled teenager who was abandoned in a dustbin as an infant, and Juliet...
, which was well received by critics, and for which she won the British Academy Children's Award for best writer.
Early life
Blakeman became involved in female morris dancing at age three. It was this dancing, combined with watching pantomimes and plays at ButlinsButlins
Butlins is a chain of large holiday camps in the United Kingdom. Butlins was founded by Billy Butlin to provide affordable holidays for ordinary British families....
, which led to her going into a career in theatre. She then joined the National Youth Theatre
National Youth Theatre
The National Youth Theatre is a registered charity in London, Great Britain, committed to creative, personal and social development of young people through the medium of creative arts....
and studied drama at John Moores University. It was at university that she began to write. Blakeman then took a Master's
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
course at Birmingham University under David Edgar
David Edgar (playwright)
David Edgar is a British playwright and author who has had more than sixty of his plays published and performed on stage, radio and television around the world, making him one of the most prolific dramatists of the post-1960s generation in Great Britain.He was resident playwright at the Birmingham...
.
Career
It was at Birmingham University that Blakeman wrote Caravan. Terry JohnsonTerry Johnson (dramatist)
Terry Johnson is a British dramatist and director working for stage, television and film. He is a Literary Associate at the Royal Court Theatre. At The Court he directed Dumb Show by Joe Penhall and opened his play Piano/Forte...
saw a performance of the play, and took a script to Mile Bradwell of Bush Theatre
Bush Theatre
The Bush Theatre is based in Shepherd's Bush, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It was established in 1972 above The Bush public house by Brian McDermott, and has since become one of the most celebrated new writing theatres in the world. An intimate venue renowned for its close-up...
. The play was then shown at the Bush Theatre. The play tells the story of a mother and her two daughters staying in a caravan in north Wales, and Robert Butler of The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
described the play as displaying "a lively gift for dramatising family disputes and representing young people's sex lives with a good-humoured frankness". A black comedy
Black comedy
A black comedy, or dark comedy, is a comic work that employs black humor or gallows humor. The definition of black humor is problematic; it has been argued that it corresponds to the earlier concept of gallows humor; and that, as humor has been defined since Freud as a comedic act that anesthetizes...
, David Benedict, also writing for The Independent, criticised the plot as "contrived", saying that "The problem with this kind of writing on stage is that unlike a soap, it has to have theatrical shape, not least in that it has to end". The play won Blakeman the George Devine award. Blakeman's second play, Normal, also opened at The Bush. Normal tells the story of a mother who lost two children in child birth and her surviving daughter, and the play alternates between a character's monologues in a police station and the events leading up to the incident which brought her to the station. Butler described this as "tougher going" than Caravan, and said that "Blakeman's talent for unlikely scenes is largely on hold".
Blakeman then entered television writing, writing Pleasureland, a television film for Channel Four as part of their Adult at 14 season
Adult at 14 season
Adult at 14 season was part of the 2003 autumn season on the UK television station Channel 4. The season looked into the lives of British teenagers and centred on issues such as sex and relationships and potential long-term consequences such as teenage pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections...
. Pleasureland tells the story of 14 year old Jo, a girl who commits herself to be accepted by her classmates by losing her virginity. The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
described Pleasureland as "raw and alarming", and claimed it "is loaded with scenes certain to cause outrage". The show attracted controversy, with Michelle Elliott, from Kidscape
Kidscape
The London-based charity Kidscape was established in 1985 by child psychologist Michele Elliott. Its focus is on children’s safety, with an emphasis on the prevention of harm by equipping children with techniques and mindsets that help them stay safe....
, describing scenes depicting 14 year olds engaging in sexual activity as "basically irresponsible and sick." Blakeman responded by claiming that she only approached the subject after learning that Britain had the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Europe, claiming "sex was more of a rumour mill when I was at school - but there is more pressure now to partake in that activity". Despite this, Blakeman was nominated for the British Academy Television Craft Award for best new writer in 2003, but lost out to Rosemary Kay, for her work on This Little Life
This Little Life
This Little Life is a 2003 drama starring Kate Ashfield, Peter Mullan and Linda Bassett. The story centres around the life of a married couple following the premature birth of their son....
.
Blakeman's third play, The Morris, follows a troupe of female morris dancers. Female morris dancing is a tradition in the north west of England which is only loosely related to traditional morris dancing
Morris dance
Morris dance is a form of English folk dance usually accompanied by music. It is based on rhythmic stepping and the execution of choreographed figures by a group of dancers. Implements such as sticks, swords, handkerchiefs and bells may also be wielded by the dancers...
. Blakeman had been a female morris dancer until she was 16, but the play "is as much about bickering, bonding and fierce rivalry between women". It was given a two out of five by Lynne Walker
Lynne Walker (critic)
Lynne Walker was a British music and theatre critic who also had experience as a broadcaster.Born in Edinburgh, she attended the Mary Erskine School. She won a medal at the end of her time at Napier College in 1976, and gained a degree from the Huddersfield School of Music...
, reviewing the play for The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
.
In 2008, Blakeman wrote the screenplay for Dustbin Baby
Dustbin Baby (film)
Dustbin Baby is a BBC television film directed by Juliet May, based on Jacqueline Wilson's 2001 novel of the same name. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 21 December 2008. The film stars Dakota Blue Richards as April, a troubled teenager who was abandoned in a dustbin as an infant, and Juliet...
, a film based on the Jacqueline Wilson
Jacqueline Wilson
Dame Jacqueline Wilson, DBE, FRSL is an award-winning English author, known for her vast and diverse work in children's literature. Her novels have been adapted numerous times for television, and commonly deal with such challenging themes as adoption, divorce and mental illness...
novel of the same name
Dustbin Baby
Dustbin Baby is a children's novel by English author Jacqueline Wilson. The story focuses on April, a fourteen year old girl who was abandoned by her mother in a dustbin when she was only a few minutes old. After a blazing row with her foster mother, she goes in search of her past...
. She said that when she had read a copy of the novel, she "knew it was something [she] had to write". The film debuted on television in December of that year, and was received positively by critics. In an article in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
David Chater awarded the programme the TV choice of the day, describing it as "tremendous", and "the wonderful surprise of Christmas". The Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
described the film as a "rare treat", as it is "something that teenagers and parents can watch together". The film won an International Emmy in the children and young people category, and Blakeman herself won the British Academy Children's Award for best writer.
Personal life
Blakeman is married to Jon, who works as a newspaper advertising executive, and has a daughter called Emilia.External links
- Helen Blakeman at IMDB