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Mini box-set for under 35s hopes to find ‘new ways’ to do drama

Four exciting new short dramas - Joytown, Float, Pancake and Dash – will arrive on ´óÏó´«Ã½ iPlayer and at least one will be developed into a new drama series in a bid to find exciting new ways of telling stories.

Featuring burgeoning acting talent from titles such as Outlander, Clique, Doctor Who and Shetland, these new drama shorts are debuting exclusively on ´óÏó´«Ã½ iPlayer from 10pm on Thursday 24 October.

It's fitting that the films are set to follow the launch of new four-part drama, Guilt which is set in Edinburgh and has been made by some of Scotland's most talented dramatists at the top of their game.

Reflecting the lives of younger audiences in Scotland, the hope behind these four short ´óÏó´«Ã½ iPlayer pilots is to bring more drama to audiences in different formats.

Joytown

What's it about?

Chrissy, played by Rian Gordon, is a heartbroken young man wallowing in agony after being dumped and feeling very sorry for himself indeed.

His pals Basher (Mark Dallas) and O’Connor (Joe Proctor) urge him to channel both his “sensitive side” and his “inner shagger” to get over the break-up.

Can the flip of an ancient Celtic coin decide his fate?

When out-of-towner Amelia-Rose’s (Saskia Ashdown) car breaks down outside his house – can Chrissy prove the unlikely hero of the hour?

Cast and Crew

Starring Rian Gordon (River City, Outlander), Mark Dallas (Scot Squad, Insane Fight Club), Joe Proctor (One Night Stand) and Saskia Ashdown (Trust Me, Clique). Joytown is a Comedy Unit Production written by James Price and directed by Niamh McKeown.

Float

What's it about?

Set in a sports centre in rural Scotland, Float is a dark comedy drama that follows a group of millennials as they spend six weeks of their summer attempting to drown out their problems.

Jade (Hannah Jarrett-Scott) has dropped out of university and returned to the small town life she thought she had left behind. Rumours are rife about why she’s back and only Jade knows the truth.

Will secrets remain hidden?

Cast and crew

Starring Hannah Jarrett-Scott (Trust Me), Jessica Hardwick (Snow Angel), Ben Presley (Doctor Who, Galavant), Jack Stewart (Jealous Alan) and Polina Sulim (Mukhtar’s Return).

Float is a Black Camel Production written by Fringe First winner, Stef Smith, directed by Arabella Page and produced by Naomi Walmsley.

Pancake

What's it about?

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of ‘The Shearer Company’, an elite ballet company, a documentary crew are following three hopeful auditionees as they fight for a coveted place.

Nadine (Natali McCleary), Geoffrey (John Lumsden) and Anita (Eilidh Loan) all face their own barriers to success that bring them into conflict with each other as well as beginning to recognise the classism, racism and homophobia they need to overcome.

A fight over dance style, missing shoes and a ripped leotard are all part of a day in the life of a ballet dancer.

Cast and crew

Starring Harriet Thorpe (Doctors, Absolutely Fabulous), Natali McCleary (Long Night At Blackstone, Shetland), Eilidh Loan (Clique, Doctors) and John Lumsden (Kingsman, Doctors). Pancake is a Black Camel Production, written by Adura Onashile, produced by Naomi Walmsley and directed by Siri Rødnes.

Dash

What's it about?

Idealist and all-round-nice-guy Adam (Malcolm Cumming) is on a high after passing his driving test.

As he embarks on his new found freedom into a more grown-up world the audience see flashes of a sinister future to come.

The present day is buoyant and full of fun with Adam, his girlfriend Zara (Danielle Jam), best friend Nathan (Reno Cole) and brother Connor (Adam Greene) living life to the full.

But intercut with this happiness are shots from a dashcam and a future of drugs, violence, anger, upset. How does it all go so wrong for a guy who seems to have it so right?

Cast and crew

Starring Malcolm Cumming (Anna and the Apocalypse), Danielle Jam (Molly and Mack), Reno Cole (Logan High), Adam Greene (Dark Road) and Katherine Santos Meszaros. Dash is a Blazing Griffin Production written by Stewart Thomson, directed by Gabriel Robertson and produced by Lauren Lamarr.

Younger audiences

The drama shorts were commissioned by ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland’s Gavin Smith, commissioning executive comedy, drama & entertainment and Louise Thornton, commissioning executive for digital and youth.

Commenting on the commissions, Louise said: “These digital shorts highlight ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland’s drive to do drama in new ways, working with new talent and attracting a younger audiences.”

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