Dancing on the Edge (TV series)

Dancing on the Edge
Cover for the published screenplay
Genre	Drama
Created by	Stephen Poliakoff
Written by	Stephen Poliakoff
Directed by	Stephen Poliakoff
Starring	Jacqueline Bisset Angel Coulby Chiwetel Ejiofor Matthew Goode John Goodman Anthony Head Tom Hughes Janet Montgomery Wunmi Mosaku Miles Richardson Mel Smith Joanna Vanderham
Composer	Adrian Johnston
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
Production
Running time	360 minutes
Production companies	Endgame Entertainment Playground Entertainment
Original release
Network	BBC Two BBC HD
Release	4 February (2013-02-04) – 10 March 2013 (2013-03-10)
Related
Glorious 39

Dancing on the Edge is a British television drama written and directed by Stephen Poliakoff and produced by the BBC about a black jazz band in London in the early 1930s. The series aired on BBC Two between 4 February and 10 March 2013. It was nominated for three awards at the 71st Golden Globe Awards.^[1]

The series follows a black jazz band's experiences in London in the 1930s. Made up of talented musicians and managed by the compassionate yet short-tempered Wesley Holt, the band gets a booking at the Imperial Hotel, through cunning journalist Stanley Mitchell. They prove to be a hit, and become a success at the hotel. Aristocrats — and the Royal Family — ask the band to play at parties. The media rush to interview and photograph the band, who are also associated with the wealthy American businessman Walter Masterson and his enthusiastic British employee Julian. The band's success spirals, with them being offered record deals. But tragedy strikes, setting off a chain of events that may wreck the band's career.

The Louis Lester Band

• Chiwetel Ejiofor as Louis Lester: The band leader of the Louis Lester Band. Born in London, Louis travelled the world as an entertainer on cruise ships before returning to the UK.
• Angel Coulby as Jessie Taylor: The lead singer with the Louis Lester Band. Beautiful and with an amazing voice, she fascinates even royalty.
• Wunmi Mosaku as Carla: The shy backing vocalist for the Louis Lester Band and Jessie's best friend.
• Ariyon Bakare as Wesley Holt: The irascible manager of the Louis Lester Band. Although born in Cardiff, he has lived in Chicago for most of his life and lost his British birth certificate.

Music Express magazine

• Matthew Goode as Stanley Mitchell: A music journalist at Music Express magazine, who helps bring the band to public attention.
• Jenna Coleman as Rosie Williams: Stanley's assistant at the magazine.
• Sam Hoare as Eric: A new journalist at the magazine.
• Allan Corduner as Mr Wax: The owner of Music Express, who has little to do with the day-to-day operation of the magazine.

The Elite

• Jacqueline Bisset as Lavinia, Lady Cremone: A wealthy aristocrat who has become a recluse after the death of her sons in World War I.
• John Goodman as Walter Masterson: An American real estate mogul and one of the richest men in the world.
• Tom Hughes as Julian Luscombe: A debonair young man, who works as Mr Masterson's aide.
• Joanna Vanderham as Pamela Luscombe: Julian's sister and a playful, beautiful society girl.
• Janet Montgomery as Sarah Peters: A photographer and Pamela's best friend. She is the daughter of a Russian immigrant.
• Anthony Head as Arthur Donaldson: A wealthy and influential businessman.
• John Hopkins as Prince George, Duke of Kent: Son of the King George V.

Non-elite

• Mel Smith as Nathan Schlesinger: The manager of the Imperial Hotel.
• Miles Richardson as Harry Thornton: Mr Schlesinger's right-hand man at the Imperial.
• Maggie McCarthy as Mrs Mitchell: Stanley's mother.
• Caroline Quentin as Deirdre: The owner of a small music club.
• David Dawson as D.I. Horton: A police detective investigating a murder.
• Gerard Horan as D.I. Gunson: A police detective investigating a murder.

Filming took place on location at the Grand Hotel and Council House in Birmingham, where the hotel scenes were shot, the Black Country Living Museum was used to shoot a scene set in a mining village and Ragley Hall in Warwickshire was used as Lady Cremone's home.^[3] The headquarters of Music Express are located at No. 4 Princelet Street, Spitalfields^[4] and later at Somerset House. The railway scenes in the first episode were shot on the preserved Bluebell Railway. Wilton's Music Hall was used as the club. Fenton House, Hampstead, stands for the house of Donaldson. Some scenes for Donaldson's house were also shot at Upton House, Warwickshire. Kidderminster, on the Severn Valley Railway, was used as "Folkestone" in the fifth episode. Manze's Eel, Pie and Mash shop in Walthamstow also makes an appearance in that episode.

• Dancing on the Edge at BBC Online
• Dancing on the Edge at IMDb
• The Guardian, 4 February 2013: "Dancing on the Edge: what was life really like for black jazz bands in 1930s Britain?" Retrieved 2013-02-06