Press Release
The podcast stars Rachel Shenton (All Creatures Great and Small, The Strangers), Anna Madeley, (All Creatures Great & Small), Dot Atkinson (Saltburn, Mum), Adrain Rawlings (Harry Potter and The Philosopher Stone) and Freddie Fox (House of The Dragon).
GLADSTONE GIRLS is directed by the Academy Award® winning director Chris Overton and written and created by fellow Academy Award® Winner Rachel Shenton. This heart-warming podcast is an uplifting, joyful story about a group of female British pottery workers determined to protect “Curl Friday”, a factory tradition that they hold dear. This enriching series was produced by Rachel Shenton and Bryony Pullizzi.
The series is set in the 1970’s in the British city of Stoke-on-Trent and delves into the lives of a group of spirited and highly skilled lithographers, who, every Friday transform the lithography room into a bustling hair salon as they prepare for their night out at the local nightclub, “Jollies.” However, their routine is shattered when a new floor manager arrives and wants to put a stop to “Curl Friday”. He threatens to dock the girls’ wages if they turn up in rollers again. Outraged, the girls take a bold stance in the form of a peaceful protest that ends up travelling far beyond the factory walls.
Rachel Shenton is an Academy Award® Winning writer/actress for THE SILENT CHILD and is the Slick Films Company Director. She has appeared on our screens for years with regular roles in the UK’s hit BBC2 Comedy, WHITE GOLD, WATERLOO ROAD and made her American TV debut on ABC Family drama, SWITCHED AT BIRTH where she played the role of Lily Summers for three seasons. Earlier this year the Hollywood Reporter announced that Rachel will star in THE STRANGERS TRILOGY by Renny Harlin, best known for his Oscar® nominated film Cliffhanger. GLADSTONE GIRLS was inspired by many of Shenton’s relatives who all worked on the pots.
Chris Overton is the CEO and Founder of Slick Films and worked on various TV and film projects with directors such as Joel Schumacher and Roman Polanski. He also starred in the BAFTA Award-winning film PRIDE. Overton made his directorial debut with THE SILENT CHILD, for which he received the Academy Award® for Best Live Action Short, as well as over 50 other international awards with his second short, LEADER and his latest film IN TOO DEEP.
Tribeca’s audio program emphasises narrative work with a focus on original, impactful, and sound rich storytelling. Gladstone Girls is nominated for The Independent Audio Fiction Award and will be available to listen during the festival for an exclusive period.
NOTES THE THE EDITOR
Oscar® winning Slick Films has proved itself as a company committed to nurturing talent, collaborating with international filmmakers and gaining critical acclaim from their Academy Award® as well as more than 100 other international festival selections and accolades. The company is known for its commitment to innovative storytelling with a diverse range of projects which shine a light on social issues and start important conversations. They recently released the Slick Films Fund which offers short filmmakers a chance to win £10K in film funding and an invaluable support package of industry resources.
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