Donna Franceschild
Encyclopedia
Donna Franceschild is a British-based television writer and dramatist, originally from the US. She has written many plays and television shows, but her best known work is probably the BBC series Takin' Over the Asylum
.
a six-part series for BBC television about a hospital radio
station in a psychiatric hospital
. It was first broadcast in 1994 and starred Ken Stott
and David Tennant
. As well as the BAFTA for Best Drama Serial for the year, the show won the 1995 Mental Health Media Award. Franceschild won a second MHM award in 2001 for the film Donovan Quick.
She wrote the four-part series A Mug's Game (1996), and adapted Robert McLiam Wilson
's novel Eureka Street
for BBC television (Northern Ireland), which was first broadcast in September 1999.
By the 2000s, political drama was seen as anachronistic. However, she "swam against the tide", as she describes, by writing and producing a three-part drama The Key, about three generations of working class women in Glasgow
. She said "We live in cynical times and it's easy to become jaded by the machinations of power and politics. I wrote The Key to try and remind us that, though we are shaped by our history, sometimes the reverse is also true."
She has continuously supported the cause of raising awareness and understanding of mental health issues, and has served on the jury of the Mental Health Media awards since 1996. Her most recent radio play, Lost in Plain Sight, charted one young man’s recovery from a suicide attempt. Among recent projects are two new plays for Radio Four and a commission to write a single television drama for Channel Four.
She is Creative Writing Fellow, Universities of Glasgow
and Strathclyde
.
, And the Cow Jumped Over the Moon, Bobbin' and Weavin', The Necklace
Film credit: Donovan Quick
Takin' Over the Asylum
Takin' Over the Asylum is a six part BBC Scotland television drama about a hospital radio station in a Glasgow psychiatric hospital. It was written by Donna Franceschild, produced by Chris Parr and directed by David Blair....
.
Career
She came to public attention as the writer of Takin' Over the AsylumTakin' Over the Asylum
Takin' Over the Asylum is a six part BBC Scotland television drama about a hospital radio station in a Glasgow psychiatric hospital. It was written by Donna Franceschild, produced by Chris Parr and directed by David Blair....
a six-part series for BBC television about a hospital radio
Hospital radio
Hospital radio is a form of audio broadcasting produced specifically for the in-patients of hospitals. It is primarily found in the United Kingdom.-History:...
station in a psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
. It was first broadcast in 1994 and starred Ken Stott
Ken Stott
Kenneth Campbell "Ken" Stott is a Scottish actor, particularly known in the United Kingdom for his many roles in television.-Early life:...
and David Tennant
David Tennant
David Tennant is a Scottish actor. In addition to his work in theatre, including a widely praised Hamlet, Tennant is best known for his role as the tenth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, along with the title role in the 2005 TV serial Casanova and as Barty Crouch, Jr...
. As well as the BAFTA for Best Drama Serial for the year, the show won the 1995 Mental Health Media Award. Franceschild won a second MHM award in 2001 for the film Donovan Quick.
She wrote the four-part series A Mug's Game (1996), and adapted Robert McLiam Wilson
Robert McLiam Wilson
Robert McLiam Wilson is a Northern Irish novelist. He attended St Malachy's College and studied at University of Cambridge; however, he dropped out and, for a short time, was homeless. This period of his life profoundly affected his later life and influenced his works...
's novel Eureka Street
Eureka Street (TV series)
Eureka Street is a BBC Northern Ireland 1999 adaptation to mini-series of Robert McLiam Wilson's 1996 novel of the same name.Set in Belfast in the six months before and after the 1994 ceasefire, it commences with an anonymous hand typing the words, "All stories are love stories." The novel opens...
for BBC television (Northern Ireland), which was first broadcast in September 1999.
By the 2000s, political drama was seen as anachronistic. However, she "swam against the tide", as she describes, by writing and producing a three-part drama The Key, about three generations of working class women in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. She said "We live in cynical times and it's easy to become jaded by the machinations of power and politics. I wrote The Key to try and remind us that, though we are shaped by our history, sometimes the reverse is also true."
She has continuously supported the cause of raising awareness and understanding of mental health issues, and has served on the jury of the Mental Health Media awards since 1996. Her most recent radio play, Lost in Plain Sight, charted one young man’s recovery from a suicide attempt. Among recent projects are two new plays for Radio Four and a commission to write a single television drama for Channel Four.
She is Creative Writing Fellow, Universities of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
and Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
.
TV and film
TV credits include: The Key, Eureka Street, A Mug's Game, Takin' Over the AsylumTakin' Over the Asylum
Takin' Over the Asylum is a six part BBC Scotland television drama about a hospital radio station in a Glasgow psychiatric hospital. It was written by Donna Franceschild, produced by Chris Parr and directed by David Blair....
, And the Cow Jumped Over the Moon, Bobbin' and Weavin', The Necklace
The Necklace
The Necklace or The Diamond Necklace is a short story by Guy de Maupassant, first published in 1884 in the French newspaper Le Gaulois. The story has become one of Maupassant's popular works and is well known for its ending. It is also the inspiration for Henry James's short story, "Paste"...
Film credit: Donovan Quick
Radio
- Quartet, BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
, 13 November 2008 - The Lottery Ticket, BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
, 18 February 2009 - The Ca'd'oro Cafe, BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
, 26 January 2010 - Of Mice and Men (dramatisation), BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
, 7 March 2010