THE DREAM LANDS: BBC ANNOUNCES NEW COMING-OF-AGE DRAMA
The BBC has commissioned The Dream Lands, a coming-of-age story with a twist, based on Rosa Rankin-Gee's enthralling novel Dreamland, and brought to life for TV by Kayleigh Llewellyn, the BAFTA-award winning creator and writer of acclaimed series, In My Skin.
Set in a near future Margate, against a backdrop of soaring inequality, The Dream Lands tells the story of Chance, a young woman who discovers life and love, while being forced to fight for her family’s survival in a world that’s crumbling around her.
It’s 2039 and temperatures are soaring, seas are rising, and the political climate is equally as menacing. Chance is living a life of crime just to get by, when her community is singled out for a government rejuvenation scheme, promising to bring her coastal town back to life. But when Chance falls in love with Franky, a girl with ties to the establishment, she and those closest to her begin to realise that all may not be as it seems.
The Dream Lands is a thrilling voyage of romantic awakening and self-discovery, a defiant community fighting back. Part conspiracy thriller and part relationship drama, the story blazes with the enduring power of love and hope, in a world spinning out of control.
Kayleigh Llewellyn, writer and executive producer, says: “Telling stories I care about alongside a team of women I admire is the very reason I do this job, so working on The Dream Lands has been a gift. It’s an honour to be adapting Rosa Rankin-Gee’s beautiful, searing words for the screen. Especially as it’s given me an excuse to collaborate once more with my old friend, the supremely talented, Lucy Forbes. And I’m so thrilled we’ve found a home with the BBC, who support artists’ visions like no one else.”
Executive Producers for SISTER, Naomi de Pear and Holly Pullinger add: “As soon as Kayleigh and Lucy brought us this book by Rosa Rankin-Gee we knew it could be an urgent, thrilling and life-affirming TV show about how human beings will always find a way to rebel and triumph against adversity. There’s no one better than Kayleigh to bring the iconic character of Chance and this story of epic adventure and love to life and we are so proud as ever to be working with the brilliant BBC.”
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama adds: ‘With an amazing protagonist at its heart, Chance, who’s raw, funny and fiercely loyal, The Dream Lands is a vivid, searing thrill ride fuelled by hope, love and an innate desire to survive. I’m really excited to have Kayleigh Llewellyn back writing for the BBC collaborating once more alongside Lucy Forbes and the team at SISTER.”
Produced by SISTER for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, The Dream Lands was commissioned by Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama.