EXCLUSIVE: UK drama producer Fictionhouse, based by Dominic Cooke and Kate Horton, is closing its doorways with the pair each pursuing their very own theater tasks.
The pair arrange Fictionhouse in 2020 with a remit to work up tasks throughout movie, stage and TV. They’d beforehand labored collectively throughout a prolific spell on the Royal Courtroom Theatre, and each had been additionally on the UK’s Nationwide Theatre.
Fictionhouse is finally a part of Newen Studios, the manufacturing and distribution group owned by French broadcast big TF1. Newen, which is about to be rebadged as Studio TF1, confirmed to Deadline that Fictionhouse is shuttering.
Newen’s funding in Fictionhouse was initially made by way of Ringside Media, an funding arm of Gub Neal and Kate Bennetts’ Newen-backed Ringside Studios label, which made Liaison for Apple.
Neither Cooke or Horton would remark when contacted by Deadline. It’s understood the previous will give attention to freelance directing. He’s getting ready to direct Imelda Staunton in George Bernard Shaw’s Mrs. Warren’s Occupation after the pair labored collectively on Good day, Dolly! on the Palladium final yr.
Horton, in the meantime, was lately lead producer on Mike Bartlett’s Unicorn, which is working on the Garrick. That work was executed by way of Kate Horton Productions, which filings present was integrated final October.
“Fictionhouse is within the technique of winding down with Kate and Dominic transferring ahead to pursue their very own freelance theater tasks,” a Newen spokesperson mentioned. “Ringside, and Newen, stay dedicated to working along with Kate and Dominic and are co-developing a choice of movie and TV tasks throughout Fictionhouse’s improvement slate.”
In an announcement given to Deadline, Bennetts mentioned: “We at Ringside have tremendously loved collaborating creatively with the vastly gifted Kate and Dominic and stay up for persevering with this relationship throughout sure movie and TV tasks collectively going ahead. We want all of them the very best of their particular person freelance theater work as properly.”
These are powerful instances in within the UK TV drama enterprise. As coated extensively by Deadline, financing drama out of the UK has change into more and more difficult as streamer methods shift and with prices at an all-time excessive. Even sequence that safe a greenlight are struggling to finish their funding, with a number of massive tasks at the moment in limbo.
The Fictionhouse information follows the exit of Leona Connell, the UK-based business boss at distribution arm Newen Join. Talking to Deadline concerning the adjustments, some business watchers questioned Newen’s dedication to the UK market in mild of latest developments.
Newen’s spokeperson responded by saying: “These latest adjustments don’t compromise both our ambitions within the UK or our need to develop internationally.
“As we’ve mentioned lately, Newen Join is continuous to help UK tasks inside the group, reminiscent of [upcoming drama project] Bruno, in partnership with Ringside Studio on pre-financing fashions, and Cooper & Fry, an 8-episode sequence produced by Chalkboard for Channel 5. We even have our partnership with [Jude Law’s] Riff Raff which has a number of tasks in improvement with key UK gamers.”
