RTÉ and Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland has unveil three new Storyland dramas, which will air on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from tomorrow night Thursday, October 19th at 10:30pm.
The three Storyland dramas are Wrapped,The Cousin andFalling for the Life of Alex Whelan.
Wrapped
Produced by Pipedream Productions and Alfonso Films, Wrapped debuts on Thursday, October 19th at 10:35pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
With cocaine worth thousands of euro strapped to their bodies Lisa and Ali are intent on getting through airport security undetected. First time drug smugglers; they’ve no choice but to trust each other. Wrapped is an exciting 25 minute drama starring Ella Lily Hyland (Amazon Prime’s Fifteen Love) and Lauryn Canny (Normal People, Dating Amber).
The story was developed as a stage play, which premiered at the Dublin Fringe Festival and recorded as an RTÉ radio play; garnering nominations for the prestigious Stewart Parker Award and the BBC Radio Drama Awards. It explores the complexity of co-dependent relationships and intense female friendships as we follow the decisions that Ali and Lisa make.
It’s written by Tracy Martin and directed by Mia Mullarkey for Pipedream Productions and Alfonso Films. Other cast includes Amy Conroy (Holding, The Dry), Ian Toner (Smother, Vikings Valhalla), and Clinton Liberty (Holding, Normal People).
The Cousin
Produced by Michael Donnelly of MDV and written/directed by Stevie Russell, The Cousin will premiere on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player next Thursday, October 26th.
Dan (20), a young artist, submits to a prestigious art college with his project The Saints of Fairfield, an installation using projection mapping and archival photography. In the park close by where he lives, Dan projects portraits of people who lived in his neighbourhood over the years but have passed on due to old age, crime, overdose, suicide or emigration. When his application is successful an opportunity arises for him to escape a predetermined life path. But first he needs to sit down and get his cousin’s blessing, which might be easier said than done.
Casting was directed by Dawn Mac Allister with several discoveries including leading man Adam Lennon-Collery lining up alongside established talent such as Fionn Ó Liongsigh (What Richard Did, Cardboard Gangsters) and Sharon Mannion (Bridget & Eamon, Prosperity). Cinematography is by JJ Rolfe (Kin, Witness No. 3) and Production Design by Mark Kelly (Blackshore, Smother).
The leading cast will be joined by Ellie McHale-Roe (Michelle), Cora Jess (Coco), Kilan Filan (Derm), Corin James Culleton (Kev), Ebimie Anthony (Pam), and Youssef Quinn (Rooney).
Falling For The Life Of Alex Whelan
Produced by Nell Hensey and Claire Mooney of Pure Divilment Pictures, Falling For The Life Of Alex Whelan will premiere on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player on November 2nd.
The story follows a young Chinese girl who meets the guy of her dreams at a film club in Dublin, only to find out the next day that he has died under mysterious circumstances. She sets out on a mission to discover the truth, unable to shake the feeling that something special is now forever lost.
Falling For The Life Of Alex Whelan is based on the short story by award-winning author Yan Ge and stars Lila Coleman (Normal People), Chris Walley (The Young Offenders), David Rawle (Moone Boy) and Screen Daily 2023 Rising Star, Patrick Martins. Written and directed by Nell Hensey and produced by Claire Mooney.
The drama features a superb soundtrack with songs by CMAT, Denise Chaila, Jyellowl, Tebi Rex and more.
Founded by award-winning director Nell Hensey and producer Claire Mooney, Pure Divilment Pictures is Ireland’s first all-female, Gen Z led production company and aims to champion the next generation of great Irish film and television.
The cast includes Lila Coleman (Normal People, The Fortune Terrace), Chris Walley (Young Offenders, 1917), Meadhbh Maxwell (Harry Wild, Clean Sweep, Finding Joy, Normal People), David Rawle (Waiting, Drop Dead Weird, Moone Boy, Song of the Sea), Patrick Martins (Redemption), Cillian Leneghan (The Woman In The Wall), and Peter Corboy (Fair City, Everything Not Saved).
Since its inception over a decade ago, Storyland has acted as a launch pad and support for Irish writing, directing, producing, and acting talent throughout Ireland to develop and further their careers. This is part of RTÉ’s ongoing strategy to increase its development in drama output, by investing in the Irish creative industry and showcasing the best of Ireland by filming right across the country. This strategy also supports the employment of hundreds of people across the industry, in order to bring more Irish drama series to television, and importantly to RTÉ Player where scripted series dominate viewing.
David Crean, Acting Head of Drama, RTÉ said; "We are delighted to be able to launch three new single Storyland dramas for our audiences on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. These dramas were developed in partnership with Screen Ireland/ Fís Éireann as part of our ongoing commitment to be a springboard for new writers, producers and directors in the Irish TV drama sector. Storyland is an essential ramp for talent to showcase their work locally and globally and we are proud to present three new dramas we believe the audience will love."
Andrew Byrne, Head of Television at Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, said: “Screen Ireland is delighted to support this year's Storyland in partnership with RTÉ: a scheme that continues to put new and emerging voices in front of Irish audiences. Our huge congratulations go to the creative teams behind the three final dramas, who have undergone a highly competitive development and production process. The result is a selection of fresh, funny and original TV drama for Irish audiences to connect with, and we hope this marks a new wave of talent and storytelling to come.”
Following on from RTÉ's recent homegrown dramas including Kin, Hidden Assets, Smother, Obituary and The Dry, which all have local storytelling at their core, RTÉ believes that “the chosen three short dramas in Storyland, feature stories that will resonate with Irish audiences and give a platform to an impressive standard of diverse and exceptional talent”.
Wrapped debuts on Thursday, October 19th at 10:35pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
