Cloudstreet classic coming to the small screen
Tim Winton's classic novel about working class families in 1943 is to be produced as a new drama for the Showcase channel.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under Subscription
Showtime Australia has commissioned an adaptation of Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet, the winner of the Miles Franklin Award, published in eleven countries and already adapted for radio and stage.
To be produced by Screentime with a script by Tim Winton and Ellen Fontana, it tells the lives of two working class Australian families who come to live together at One Cloud Street, over a period of twenty years in Perth, 1943.
Showtime CEO Peter Rose said,“When Screentime approached us with Cloudstreet, we recognised the majesty of this project and its appropriateness for showcase and our platforms – Foxtel and Austar. The combined skill and talent of both Screentime as producers and author Tim Winton will bring this iconic Australian work to life on screen, and continues our strong desire and commitment to produce leading, cutting-edge drama.”
Screentime’s Des Monaghan said, “This really is a dream come true. We have been in negotiation for some years now to bring the screenrights to Cloudstreet back to Australia. Due to the enthusiastic support of Peter Rose and his team at Showtime, everyone here a Screentime is delighted that we are now in a position to bring this Australian classic to the screen.”
Author Tim Winton said, “For me it’s always been important for Cloudstreet to be a home-grown production and I’m really pleased to know that, through the collaboration of Screentime and Showtime, it can be made here in Australia and provide work for local cast and crew.
“As the book’s twentieth anniversary approaches, this is happy news.”
The series will be in production by late 2009/early 2010 with a planned premiere in 2011 on Showcase, which has a third series of Satisfaction beginning production in June.
Share
- Tagged with Cloudstreet, Satisfaction
2 Responses
Will this most likely be a TV series or a telemovie?
I remember seeing this production in 2001 at Sydney’s Theatre Royal and I was hooked from beginning to end and that is saying something for a 5 hour show. I am excited to see the tv adaptation and hope it stays true to the theatre adapation. It would be great to see some of the original theatre cast reprise their roles for the tv adaption especially Roy Billing and Dan Wyllie.