About this season
Dramarama is the name of a British children's anthology series broadcast on ITV between 1983 and 1989. It tended to feature drama of a science fiction or supernatural bent. The series was created by Anna Home, then head of children's and youth programming at TVS, however production responsibilities were divided amongst most of the regional ITV franchise holders. Thus, each episode was in practice a one-off production with its own cast and crew, up to and including the executive producer. Dramarama was largely a place for new talent to prove themselves and was a launching pad for the likes of Anthony Horowitz, Paul Abbott, Kay Mellor, Janice Hally, Tony Kearney, David Tennant and Ann Marie Di Mambro. It was one of Dennis Spooner's last credits. One of Dramarama's episodes, "Dodger, Bonzo And The Rest", gained so much popularity that it was turned in to its own series the following year. It starred Lee Ross and was based around a large foster home. The episode "Blackbird Singing In The Dead of Night" was developed by Granada into the TV series Children's Ward. It was also repeated for the first time since its original broadcast on 5 January 2013, during CITV's 30th anniversary Old Skool Weekend. The Series 7 episode "Back To Front" – notable for featuring a mirror image of the Yorkshire Television logo card at the end – was repeated on 6 January 2013, again as part of CITV's 30th anniversary Old Skool Weekend.
Episodes (13)
1. Easy
Aired 1 April 1985
Neil is a good footballer, but his father wants him to only develop his talent for the violin. But the concert of a great virtuoso changes everything.
2. The Coal Princess
Aired 15 April 1985
3. Look At Me
Aired 22 April 1985
Two children, one deaf and one hearing, are brought together by an accident involving the deaf boy's beloved dog.
4. A Young Person's Guide to Going Backwards In The World
Charlie is facing his exam and is suffering greatly under the pressure of expectations. Then the mysterious Mentora makes him a tempting offer: he can simply pass. But the pact takes him to a fantastical world, to the "Mouth," behind which lurks consequences for those who don't think and decide for themselves.
5. The Audition
Aired 13 May 1985
6. The Universe Downstairs
Aired 20 May 1985
Vincent and his parents move into an old house. When they hear noises coming from the cellar he goes down to investigate and finds a whole new world, Cosmos, with its own unique people.
7. A Proper Little Nooryeff
Aired 3 June 1985
8. Frog
Aired 10 June 1985
A satirical, political play as an enclosed garden represents the whole western world. Inhabiting the garden are various animals who speak directly to the viewers in rhyme and song, including a frog who has stolen all the water.
9. Private Eye
Aired 17 June 1985
10. Emily
Aired 24 June 1985
11. Silver
Aired 1 July 1985
12. The Golden Conch
Aired 8 July 1985
13. Purple Passion Video
Aired 15 July 1985