大象传媒

Period drama by Michael Eaton and Neil Brand.

At the turn of the twentieth century two vaudevillians - one Irish, the other Jewish - are trying to achieve success as Music Hall double act Cohen and Cohan, when they find themselves bitten by the bug of cinematography at the birth of film.

Performing in the small halls of London's poverty stricken East End, both would consider themselves to be loyal sons of the British Empire. Above all, they believe that laughter and song can bring different folk together.

Though their act is popular in the East End, they have their sights set on the big time. A chance meeting leads them down a path of new technology, performing their act for the new Edison phonograph, recording comic turns and melodramatic scenes.

But the flickers are a whole new territory, and Danny and Manny learn the hard way that this new form means big business to the people calling the shots.

Manny Cohen ..... Simon Schatzberger
Danny Cohan ..... Andrew Scott
Nettie Truman ..... Hayley Atwell
Uncle Max ..... Jonathan Tafler
Eugene ..... Jim Norton
Barraclough ..... Sean Chapman
Thief ..... Jason Maza

Music composed and performed by Neil Brand.

Directed by John Burgess
Produced by Nicholas Newton
A Promenade production for 大象传媒 Radio 4.