Channel 4 has commissioned a brand-new short form scripted comedy series, The Artists, created, written by and starring Edinburgh Best Newcomer Award nominee, Huge Davies.
Produced by Spirit Studios, the three-part series to be showcased on across Channel 4’s social media platforms and then on All 4, follows the lives of a group of eccentric street performers set in the mythical busker’s paradise of Wybridge, a fictional U.K town. It features an ensemble cast of exciting new comedy talent including Helen Bauer, Sunil Patel, Sinead Parker, Neil O’Rourke and Travis Jay.
The characters treat the town as an underground artistic haven, the perfect place for them to perform their ‘culturally significant’ and ‘ground-breaking’ street performances in what they perceive as a legendary ongoing artistic festival. In reality, its residents are utterly indifferent to the talent in their midst.
This unlikely ensemble of "street artists" come together as they jostle to attract attention from real and unsuspecting members of the public, performing a mix of musical comedy, scripted scenes and semi-improvised street performances much to the onlookers’ bemusement.
Channel 4 Digital Commissioning Executive, Thomas Pullen said: “We’re really excited about this new series with its blend of scripted comedy and discreet filming, shot almost like a nature doc where our buskers are like rare endangered species. We are always looking for new ways to play with the form of established genres in our digital content and Spirit Studios and Huge have really delivered, taking us into the world of these quirky, comical characters.”
Huge Davies said: “I’ve loved every minute of making this show with some of my best friends in front and behind the camera. Thanks to Spirit Studios who had my back from the start and thanks to Channel 4 for taking the plunge. I was across 99% of all of this so if it’s no good, there almost no one else to blame”
Matt Campion, Creative Director of Spirit Studios said: “We’re thrilled to be working with the brilliant Huge Davies on The Artists. The blend of discreet filming and scripted comedy, all taking place in front of an unsuspecting town feels genuinely innovative and exciting. I can’t wait to see how the audience receives it.”
The full series premiered on Channel 4 Comedy YouTube and is now available on All 4 here.
The series was produced by Spirit Studios and Exec Produced and Directed by Morgan Jones. It was commissioned for Channel4 by Digital Commissioning Executive, Thomas Pullen.
