Escapade Media to represent two scripted series from UK’s Storyfirst

Escapade Media has signed a deal to represent two scripted series from UK’s Storyfirst, managed by Michael Grade, Ivan Dunleavy and Peter Gerwe. Escapade’s Central and Eastern Europe consultant, Damien Naughton, facilitated the introduction between the companies and is now working with Managing Director, Natalie Lawley to place these series across the Asia-Pacific region.

As Executive Producer, Escapade will seek Australian, New Zealand and Asian partners for the new series "M.A.D. Mutually Assured Destruction", an  8x60’ 4K part drama series developed and created by Ulrik Bolt ("Leila"), Michael Soussan ("Backstabbing for Beginners") and Brendan Foley ("Cold Courage") based on the biography entitled (in Danish) "Den højeste pris: Povl Bang-Jensen og FN 1955-59" written by Bo Lidegaard. This series focuses on Martha, a young Australian woman, working at the UN in 1956. A  time when it’s hard to be being taken seriously as a woman, but even harder when you are a spy.

The second series included in the deal is "The Sleeper", 8x60’ 4K, which is the adaptation of the Emily Barr novel of the same name. A mystery thriller with a unique investigator at its heart, "The Sleeper" mixes the contemporary present with the recent past in a compelling narrative full of unexpected twists. The successful creative includes writer Mark Greig ("No Offence"), Director Catherine Moreshead ("Pennyworth"), Executive Producer Dominic Barlow ("The Discovery of Witches") and Produced by Jo Southwell ("Cold Night Rising") of Aston Productions.

Story First’s Executive Producer Dominic Barlow comments: “Working with Escapade Media has been an incredibly collaborative process, using their expertise to further enhance well developed projects to enable us to reach new and exciting markets”

Natalie Lawley, Escapade Managing Director, says: “The calibre of the projects that Storyfirst have developed are exceptional. It is a privilege to be working with this company and their team. Escapade believes both of these projects will offer the Asia-Pacific marketplace prime-time, original drama.”

Damien Naughton states: “It was a natural fit to bring together these two outstanding creative and development companies. The opportunity to work with both Escapade and Storyfirst on such high quality  projects, and deliver those opportunities across this region is outstanding."