Andrew Davenport
Encyclopedia
Andrew Davenport is an award winning British
producer, writer and composer specialising in creating television and publishing for young children. He is Creative Director of Ragdoll Productions
.
Davenport has been dubbed ‘the J K Rowling of the under fives’ following the extraordinary international success of 'Teletubbies
' and 'In the Night Garden
...'.
Davenport created Teletubbies
(first broadcast in the UK in 1997) with Anne Wood
, and wrote all of the 365 episodes.
He created ‘In the Night Garden
...’ (first broadcast in the UK in 2007), wrote all of the 100 episodes, and composed the title theme and incidental music.
He is renowned for creating high-volume and technologically pioneering character-based productions, designed for developmentally specific audiences that appeal successfully to their target age group .
, and the National Hospitals College of Speech Sciences (NHCSS).
He was President of University College London
Drama Society in 1986/7, and on graduating he set up a theatre company with performing partner Kate France, appearing at the Richard Demarco
Gallery, Edinburgh, the Institute of Contemporary Arts
and Serpentine Gallery
, London, the Théâtre de la Bastille, Paris, and the Yermolova Theatre
, Moscow.
In 1992, Davenport was filmed dancing on a Soho roof for a short film ‘Joy’ by Mehdi Norowzian
, a performance that inspired the Anticipation Guinness advertisement.
Davenport is the model in the 1992 Gilbert and George
work ‘Eyes’.
’ and wrote more than half of the 298 episodes.
1993-1994 Davenport wrote for and appeared in the series Brum.
1997-2001 Davenport co-created the phenomenally successful Teletubbies
(with Anne Wood
), and wrote all of the 365 x 25 minute episodes.
2002-2003 Davenport created and wrote the BAFTA winning series ‘Teletubbies Everywhere’ (52 x 10 minutes)
2007-2008 Davenport created and wrote all episodes and music for the double BAFTA winning ‘In the Night Garden
…’ (100 x 30 minutes)
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
producer, writer and composer specialising in creating television and publishing for young children. He is Creative Director of Ragdoll Productions
Ragdoll Productions
Ragdoll Productions is a UK company that produces children's television shows. It was founded in 1984 by Anne Wood, who later devised many of their television series, seen in 111 countries and translated into 41 languages.Before 1984, Ragdoll's founder Anne Wood made children's programmes for...
.
Davenport has been dubbed ‘the J K Rowling of the under fives’ following the extraordinary international success of 'Teletubbies
Teletubbies
Teletubbies is a BBC children's television series targeted at pre-school viewers and produced from 1997 to 2001 by Ragdoll Productions. It was created by Ragdoll's creative director Anne Wood CBE and Andrew Davenport, who wrote each of the show's 365 episodes. The programme's original narrator was...
' and 'In the Night Garden
In the Night Garden
In the Night Garden... is a BBC children's television series, aimed at children aged from one to four years old. It is produced by Ragdoll Productions. Andrew Davenport created, wrote, and composed the title theme and incidental music for all 100 episodes. It was produced by Andrew Davenport and...
...'.
Davenport created Teletubbies
Teletubbies
Teletubbies is a BBC children's television series targeted at pre-school viewers and produced from 1997 to 2001 by Ragdoll Productions. It was created by Ragdoll's creative director Anne Wood CBE and Andrew Davenport, who wrote each of the show's 365 episodes. The programme's original narrator was...
(first broadcast in the UK in 1997) with Anne Wood
Anne Wood
Anne Wood CBE is a British children’s television producer.She was born in Spennymoor, County Durham, England and grew up in Tudhoe Colliery, a small coalmining village nearby.-Her Teaching Years:...
, and wrote all of the 365 episodes.
He created ‘In the Night Garden
In the Night Garden
In the Night Garden... is a BBC children's television series, aimed at children aged from one to four years old. It is produced by Ragdoll Productions. Andrew Davenport created, wrote, and composed the title theme and incidental music for all 100 episodes. It was produced by Andrew Davenport and...
...’ (first broadcast in the UK in 2007), wrote all of the 100 episodes, and composed the title theme and incidental music.
He is renowned for creating high-volume and technologically pioneering character-based productions, designed for developmentally specific audiences that appeal successfully to their target age group .
Biography
Andrew Davenport studied Bsc Speech Sciences (vocational training for Speech Therapists) at University College LondonUniversity College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, and the National Hospitals College of Speech Sciences (NHCSS).
He was President of University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
Drama Society in 1986/7, and on graduating he set up a theatre company with performing partner Kate France, appearing at the Richard Demarco
Richard Demarco
Richard Demarco, CBE is an Italian Scottish artist and promoter of the visual and performing arts.-Richard Demarco Gallery:...
Gallery, Edinburgh, the Institute of Contemporary Arts
Institute of Contemporary Arts
The Institute of Contemporary Arts is an artistic and cultural centre on The Mall in London, just off Trafalgar Square. It is located within Nash House, part of Carlton House Terrace, near the Duke of York Steps and Admiralty Arch...
and Serpentine Gallery
Serpentine Gallery
The Serpentine Gallery is an art gallery in Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, central London. It focuses on modern and contemporary art. The exhibitions, architecture, education and public programmes attract approximately 750,000 visitors a year...
, London, the Théâtre de la Bastille, Paris, and the Yermolova Theatre
Yermolova Theatre
The Yermolova Theatre is a theatre company in Moscow, under the artistic direction of Vladimir Andreyev . The building itself, built in the 1830s, is one of the largest on Tverskaya Street. The theatre company was founded by graduates of the Maly Theatre studio in 1925, and named after the great...
, Moscow.
In 1992, Davenport was filmed dancing on a Soho roof for a short film ‘Joy’ by Mehdi Norowzian
Mehdi Norowzian
Mehdi Norowzian is a British director who has directed two films: Leo starring Joseph Fiennes and Elizabeth Shue, and Killing Joe , which starred Daniel Bliss...
, a performance that inspired the Anticipation Guinness advertisement.
Davenport is the model in the 1992 Gilbert and George
Gilbert and George
Gilbert & George are two artists who work together as a collaborative duo. Gilbert Proesch and George Passmore have become famous for their distinctive, highly formal appearance and manner and their brightly coloured graphic-style photo-based artworks.-Early life:Gilbert Proesch was...
work ‘Eyes’.
TV career
1992-1996 Davenport created and puppeteered the character ‘Tiny’ in the double BAFTA winning series ‘Tots TVTots TV
Tots TV is a television show, produced by Ragdoll Productions and Central . Tots TV was also broadcast in the USA on PBS from 3 January 1993 to 27 April 1998...
’ and wrote more than half of the 298 episodes.
1993-1994 Davenport wrote for and appeared in the series Brum.
1997-2001 Davenport co-created the phenomenally successful Teletubbies
Teletubbies
Teletubbies is a BBC children's television series targeted at pre-school viewers and produced from 1997 to 2001 by Ragdoll Productions. It was created by Ragdoll's creative director Anne Wood CBE and Andrew Davenport, who wrote each of the show's 365 episodes. The programme's original narrator was...
(with Anne Wood
Anne Wood
Anne Wood CBE is a British children’s television producer.She was born in Spennymoor, County Durham, England and grew up in Tudhoe Colliery, a small coalmining village nearby.-Her Teaching Years:...
), and wrote all of the 365 x 25 minute episodes.
2002-2003 Davenport created and wrote the BAFTA winning series ‘Teletubbies Everywhere’ (52 x 10 minutes)
2007-2008 Davenport created and wrote all episodes and music for the double BAFTA winning ‘In the Night Garden
In the Night Garden
In the Night Garden... is a BBC children's television series, aimed at children aged from one to four years old. It is produced by Ragdoll Productions. Andrew Davenport created, wrote, and composed the title theme and incidental music for all 100 episodes. It was produced by Andrew Davenport and...
…’ (100 x 30 minutes)
Awards
- BAFTAs In the Night GardenIn the Night GardenIn the Night Garden... is a BBC children's television series, aimed at children aged from one to four years old. It is produced by Ragdoll Productions. Andrew Davenport created, wrote, and composed the title theme and incidental music for all 100 episodes. It was produced by Andrew Davenport and...
... - Best Pre-school Live Action Award 2007 and 2008 - BAFTA Teletubbies Everywhere - Best Pre-school Live Action Award 2002
- Royal Television Society TeletubbiesTeletubbiesTeletubbies is a BBC children's television series targeted at pre-school viewers and produced from 1997 to 2001 by Ragdoll Productions. It was created by Ragdoll's creative director Anne Wood CBE and Andrew Davenport, who wrote each of the show's 365 episodes. The programme's original narrator was...
- Best Pre-school and Infants Award 2000 - BAFTA TeletubbiesTeletubbiesTeletubbies is a BBC children's television series targeted at pre-school viewers and produced from 1997 to 2001 by Ragdoll Productions. It was created by Ragdoll's creative director Anne Wood CBE and Andrew Davenport, who wrote each of the show's 365 episodes. The programme's original narrator was...
- Best Pre-school Programme 1998 - Royal Television Society TeletubbiesTeletubbiesTeletubbies is a BBC children's television series targeted at pre-school viewers and produced from 1997 to 2001 by Ragdoll Productions. It was created by Ragdoll's creative director Anne Wood CBE and Andrew Davenport, who wrote each of the show's 365 episodes. The programme's original narrator was...
- 24th Japan Prize International Contest, Grand Prize-winner, Pre-school Education Category 1997 - Royal Television Society TeletubbiesTeletubbiesTeletubbies is a BBC children's television series targeted at pre-school viewers and produced from 1997 to 2001 by Ragdoll Productions. It was created by Ragdoll's creative director Anne Wood CBE and Andrew Davenport, who wrote each of the show's 365 episodes. The programme's original narrator was...
- Children's Entertainment Award 1997 - BAFTA Tots TVTots TVTots TV is a television show, produced by Ragdoll Productions and Central . Tots TV was also broadcast in the USA on PBS from 3 January 1993 to 27 April 1998...
- Best Pre-school Programme 1996 and 1997