Taxi Tales
written and presented by Ishy DinA Tamasha & Ishy Din co-production
TAXI TALES takes you on a surprising journey through Middlesbrough, in and out of the cabs of three very different drivers.
Meet a young British-Pakistani entrepreneur who believes that immigrants have always been enterprising by nature; a local man who used to work in construction on towering glass buildings down south; and an older seasoned driver who is in love with his job… until the day he falls out of it.
The show stars three local taxi drivers from Middlesbrough and features a supporting cast of Tees Valley locals, all of them non-actors. Their stories uncover what lies beneath the surface of a post-industrial northern town, and unfold into a state-of-the-nation tale.
TAXI TALES was part of the BBC’s Performance Live strand – a partnership between BBC Arts, Arts Council England and Battersea Arts Centre, showcasing some of the most exciting artists working in performance today.
Originally a piece of theatre set in cabs where the passengers were the audience, the show is written and presented by Middlesbrough taxi-driver-turned-playwright/screenwriter Ishy Din (SNOOKERED, APPROACHING EMPTY), directed by BAFTA winner Ben Anthony and produced by Clare Callan for Tamasha.
“A fierce expression of local pride by playwright and former Teesside taxi driver Ishy Din”
The Sunday Times, Critics’ Choice
“A resonant state-of-the nation tale. More of this kind of thing, please.”
The Guardian, Friday’s Best TV
“A perfect piece of Boro’ Rave reviews for Taxi Tales – the BBC show filmed on Teesside”
“Our pick of tonight’s TV choices”
Creative
Written & presented by Ishy Din
Director Ben Anthony
Producer Clare Callan
Radio Presenter Gary Philipson
Rehearsal Directors Diyan Zora, Peter Bradley, Oli O’Shea
Line Producer Vanya Barwell
Film Editor Rupert Houseman
Make up and Wardrobe Tracy Whalen
Props Mike McLaughlin
1st Assistant Director Patrick James Stephens
Director of Photography Mark Wolf, Adam Hall, Michael Timney
Camera Assistants Ralph Messer, Ali Hutchinson, Christopher Orr
Grip Renny Borthwick
Gaffer Rory Grierson
Driver Graham Gove
DIT James Mustard
Stills photography Junior Ayub, Paul Stephenson, Colin Davison
Sound Stuart Wright, Philip Quinton
Script Supervisor Fiona Collins
Online Editor Steve Dix
Colourist Nuala Sheridan
Dubbing Mixer Andrew Godwin
Casting assistance DJW Talent
Production Coordinator Jonathan Smith
Production Assistant George Woodhouse
Production Managers Piera Buckland, Melanie Rainbow
Executive Producer for BBC Emma Cahusac
Associate Producers for Arts Council England Neil Darlison, Cassandra Mathers
Performance Live Strand Producers Battersea Arts Centre, Andrew Fettis
Filmed on Location in Middlesbrough and Redcar. With thanks to ARC Stockton Arts Centre and Christine Bell of Boro Taxis
Cast
Asif Ishaque
Doreen Frankland
Jeff Meaney
Eve Conway
Khan Hanif