HOW did we get to here? How did we get to this different world? We’ve heard 'things were different then' a good deal recently. Yet the different world we hear about was not so long ago.
There’s a great love for the place, for its optimism and for the willingness to sometimes say the unsayable.
For many in Manchester the IRA bomb, the largest bomb seen in peacetime, was the major catalyst for change in the city, continuing to impact through a change of government and a new millennium.
A period of time was needed before the event could be marked through drama and the BBC has now stepped in, perhaps emboldened by its partial move North. In trying to think of set-in-Manchester dramas which even mention the bomb I find the list very short. Zero so far. You could say it's about time.
From There To Hear
From There To Here with a cast including Philip Glenister and Bernard Hill, tells the story of a city, an era, through a focus on two families caught up in the event of 15 June, 1996.
An oversubscribed launch screening of the first of three episodes showed us the highs and lows of that summer: the injuries, the spirit and resilience of the city, Gazza’s best, Southgate's worst.
Philip Glenister is well suited to the role, grounded in Manchester but with a gravitas and income that could take him anywhere. Liz White and he have previous from Life on Mars. This time they seem to like one another more. Her character has little income, but a love for life that even two jobs, two boys, and a non-appearing husband can’t quash. Both seem remarkably unfazed by the bomb.
The bomb issues we’re so familiar with are dispensed with quickly. With writer and producers knowing what will make it real for us are particular images and stories, the post-box, the Marks to Arndale bridge, the pregnant woman and the policeman carrying the baby. The visual images superbly replicate reality. Then we all move on, quickly.
These people’s lives were in full flow; the bomb was but a jolt. Then they carry on, knocked slightly off their original course. Future episodes will cover the key years of 1997 and 2000.
From There To Here
The creative team, writer and executive producer Peter Bowker, joined by Derek Wax, Tim Bricknell, and director James Strong, plus cast members Liz White and Daniel Rigby relish the task of working in Manchester. There’s a great love for the place, for its optimism and for the willingness to sometimes say the unsayable.
There’s plenty of humour and a recognition that Manchester isn’t just what happens in the city centre, but envelops Cheshire, Rochdale and beyond. Though I do wish for once that the poor family lived in Cheshire and the wealthy in Rochdale.
The three episodes of From There To Here screen toward the end of this month. There’s plenty to interest Mancunians including the aerial shots which you can play in slow motion trying to spot how they’ve CGI’d Beetham Tower out of existence.
The first episode packed in a lot in terms of storytelling. It will be interesting to see how those too young or too far away to remember the bomb will react.
From There To Here
From There To Here will show on BBC One on Thursday 22 May at 9pm.
Prior to this, on Sunday 18 May at 8.30pm on BBC Four, there will be a documentary entitled 'A Writer's Journey From There to Here - Peter Bowker', which will take a look at Bowker's career and include contributions from Philip Glenister.
