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Rachael Stirling,
Keeley Hawes, Jodhi May and Anna Chancellor star in Tipping The Velvet,
an Andrew Davies adaptation for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ TWO
Rachael
Stirling (Othello, Bait), Keeley Hawes (The Beggar Bride, Our Mutual
Friend), Jodhi May (Last of the Mohicans, The Mayor of Casterbridge)
and Anna Chancellor (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Pride And Prejudice
) star in Tipping The Velvet, an Andrew Davies adaptation of the
acclaimed novel by Sarah Waters for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ TWO. Hugh Bonneville and
John Bowe also star in the three-part drama which begins production
this week.
Set
in England in the 1890Β’s, Tipping The Velvet is a colourful,
passionate and entertaining love story about Nan Astley (Rachael
Stirling), a heroine as appealing and charismatic as Elizabeth Bennet
in Pride and Prejudice. As she grows into womanhood, Nan realises
that she is attracted to women, not to men - and it leads her into
a series of adventures which recall that earlier heroine Moll Flanders.
Says
Andrew Davies: "Sarah Waters writes from a deep understanding,
not only of the great Victorian writers but also the underground
literature of the time - the pornographic fiction and the private
memoirs of men and women who revealed the truth about what men and
women thought and did in the later years of the 19th century. She
also writes with an extraordinary, gutsy zest for life in all its
often comic complexity, especially the sexual life. The effect of
this is sometimes shocking, but always illuminating and life-enhancing."
The
glamorous world of 19th century music hall provides the backdrop
for NanΒ’s first love affair with Kitty (Keeley Hawes), a popular
male impersonator music hall star. They become a double act both
on and off stage, but their manager Walter (John Bowe) wins KittyΒ’s
hand as she ultimately chooses the safety of a traditional life
rather than risking the public disapproval of her true feelings
for Nan.
Devastated,
our heartbroken heroine takes to the streets to survive, in her
guise as a male impersonator, and finds a niche in the Victorian
sexual underworld. She is also drawn to Florence (Jodhi May) but
feels unable to tell her the truth about her secret street life.
Instead, she is spotted by the wealthy widow, Diana Lethaby (Anna
Chancellor), a woman in her thirties who lives by her own rules
- utterly amoral, capricious and predatory. She introduces Nan into
a world of luxury and debauchery and Nan virtually becomes her sexual
slave.
When
Nan is eventually thrown back on the streets, destitute and starving,
she searches for Florence, who is initially deeply mistrustful,
but a strong bond develops between them that blossoms into real
and lasting love.
Jane
Tranter, Controller of Drama Commissioning for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, says: "Tipping
the Velvet is a dazzling and provocative drama, with Andrew Davies
on top form. ItΒ’s a remarkable portrait of a world and characters
not familiar to most people. WeΒ’re thrilled to be bringing
such a powerful adaptation of Sarah WatersΒ’ book to Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ TWO."
Sally
Head, whose previous credits include such outstanding dramas as
Cracker, Prime Suspect and Band of Gold, is executive producer with
Gareth Neame, Head of Independent Drama Commissioning for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.
Sally
says: "Tipping the Velvet is unlike any other drama IΒ’ve
worked onΒ… the emotional and visual extremes of the story wrap
around each other so that it is compelling, startling and sometimes
shocking. Andrew Davies script is simply the best, serving Sarah
WatersΒ’ beautiful novel in a way that makes my toes curl."
Tipping
The Velvet, a Sally Head production, is produced by Georgina Lowe
(The Mayor of Casterbridge, Topsy-Turvy) and directed by Geoff Sax
( Othello, Clocking Off).
Notes
to Editors
Pictures
for press use only are available on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Bulletin Board.
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