Alan Janes

Alan Janes (born 16 May 1951) is an English writer and producer who has worked in TV, Films, Radio and Theatre. His best known work is the musical Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (widely credited with being the first of the so-called ‘jukebox musicals’) which ran for over 14 years and almost 6,000 performances in London’s West End, and has been on tour in the UK for 17 years.[1][2] Buddy has also played Broadway, 5 U.S. National Tours, 8 years in Germany, 3 years in Australia and New Zealand and countless other productions around the world[3] leading to the show being named as ‘The World’s Most Successful Rock ‘n’ Roll Musical’.[4][5]

Alan Janes
Born (1951-05-16) May 16, 1951

Career

Following his first Z-Cars episode, Two Wise Monkeys,[6] Janes contributed further episodes to Z-Cars; Bit Of Business; Fat Freddy B.A.,[7] and then moved with producer Ron Craddock to write the first episodes of the ground-breaking and hard-hitting hospital drama Angels.[8]

Janes continued to write while working at the BBC Television Script Unit and wrote many further episodes for Angels and original plays and classic series adaptations for BBC Radio including Lady Chatterley’s Lover by DH Lawrence, Our Man In Havana and Brighton Rock by Graham Greene, Plain Murder by CS Forester, Lord Raingo by Arnold Bennett.[9][1]

In the latter half of the 1970s Janes joined the writing team for the soap opera Emmerdale and in 1979 was invited by BBC head of children’s programmes Anna Home,[10] to work with Phil Redmond, writer/devisor, and Colin Cant, producer, on the expansion of Grange Hill from its initial run to an 18 episode continuing series. He stayed writing for Grange Hill for a total of 4 series, spending more time at this fictitious school than he did at his own secondary modern school in the East End.[11]

In the early 1980s Janes devised and wrote the children’s series Jockey School for BBC1[12] and wrote 3 films under the generic title of Prisoners Of Conscience for BBC2: Vladimir Bukovsky, William Beausire, and Nelson Mandela.[13] This period saw Janes write for Minder and pen a film for David Putnam, Winter Flight, directed by Roy Battersby, and a film adaptation with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, directed by John Stephenson.[14]

Buddy

A late-night fan based conversation in a London bar in 1988 with the theatrical agent Laurie Mansfield about the legendary rock ‘n’ roller Buddy Holly, led Janes to develop and write Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story, which opened at London’s Victoria Palace Theatre on 12 October 1989.[15][2] Referred to as the first of the so called ‘Jukebox Musicals’.[16] Buddy ran in London’s West End for over 14 years, playing 5822 performances.[17][18] Janes took over the producing of the show himself in 2004 and Buddy has been on tour in the UK for 17 of the last 24 years and has played Broadway, 5 U.S. National Tours, Canada, Sweden, South Africa, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Holland, Singapore, Finland, Austria and Denmark.[19][20][21] Janes was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Musical,[22] and internationally Buddy has received 29 nominations and awards.[23]

Janes co-wrote and produced the soul musical 125th Street, which played at the Shaftesbury Theatre during 2002/3 and co-wrote and produced West End musical hit Jailhouse Rock, at the Piccadilly Theatre during 2004-2005.[24][25]

Channel 4

1980/81 saw the planning of Britain’s newest channel, Channel 4, and Janes became one of the first of the new breed of Independent Producers when he was commissioned by Mike Bolland, Commissioning Editor – Entertainment, and Jeremy Isaacs, Chief Executive, to develop, write and produce a new hard hitting comedy/drama reflecting the effects of ‘Thatcher's Britain’ on young people in the East End of London;[26] it became the 12 episode film series Prospects, which was filmed during 1984/5 in London’s docklands and aired on Channel 4 in 1986 and repeated on ITV in 1987.[27][28][29] Further producer credits for Janes at Channel 4 included 14 episodes over two series of the sit-com Rude Health starring John Wells and the plays Rotten Apples;[30] It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll;[31] The End[32] and Positively Negative.[33]

Works

TV, Film, Radio, Theatre
  • 1973 – Two Wise Monkeys (Z-Cars – BBC)
  • 1974 – Bit Of Business (Z-Cars – BBC)
  • 1974 Nights (ANGELS – BBC)
  • 1975 Accident (ANGELS – BBC)
  • 1975 Decisions (ANGELS – BBC)
  • 1975 When The Ticking Stops (Original Play – BBC)
  • 1977 Joseph Dreamer (Original Play – BBC)
  • 1977 Twice Shy (Original Play – BBC)
  • 1977 Casualties (ANGELS – BBC)
  • 1978 Fat Freddie B.A. (Z CARS – BBC)
  • 1979 Brighton Rock by Graham Greene (6 part dramatisation – BBC)
  • 1979 Grange Hill (4 Episodes – BBC)
  • 1979 Angels (4 Episodes – BBC)
  • 1979 Emmerdale (6 Episodes – ITV)
  • 1980 Lady Chatterley’s Lover by DH Lawrence (4 part dramatisation – BBC)
  • 1980 Lord Raingo by Arnold Bennett (4 part dramatisation – BBC)
  • 1980 Grange Hill (4 Episodes – BBC)
  • 1980 Emmerdale (6 Episodes – ITV)
  • 1981 Our Man In Havana by Graham Greene (4 part dramatisation – BBC)
  • 1981 Plain Murder by CS Forester (3 part dramatisation – BBC)
  • 1981 Grange Hill (7 Episodes – BBC)
  • 1981 Emmerdale (6 Episodes – ITV)
  • 1981 Prisoners Of Conscience - Vladimir Bukovsky (Film - BBC)
  • 1982 Prisoners Of Conscience - William Beausire (Film - BBC)
  • 1982 Prisoners Of Conscience - Nelson Mandela (Film - BBC)
  • 1982 Grange Hill (5 Episodes – BBC)
  • 1983 Jockey School (6 episode original series – BBC)
  • 1983 Emmerdale (6 Episodes – ITV)
  • 1984 Winter Flight (Feature film – Enigma/Goldcrest/Film Four)
  • 1984 Minder – Hypnotising Rita (Euston Films/ITV)
  • 1986 Prospects – The P To S Day (Euston Films for Channel 4/ITV)
  • 1986 Prospects – Partners In Brine (Euston Films for Channel 4/ITV)
  • 1986 Prospects – Uncle Harry’s System (Euston Films for Channel 4/ITV)
  • 1986 Prospects – Dirty Weekend (Euston Films for Channel 4/ITV)
  • 1986 Prospects – Rodent Engineers (Euston Films for Channel 4/ITV)
  • 1986 Prospects – Standing On Your Own One Foot (Euston Films for Channel 4/ITV)
  • 1986 Prospects – Subterranean Pig Sick Blues (Euston Films for Channel 4/ITV)
  • 1986 Prospects – Frying Tonight (Euston Films for Channel 4/ITV)
  • 1986 Prospects – Four Men In A Boat (Euston Films for Channel 4/ITV)
  • 1986 Prospects – Follow The Yellow Brick Lane (Euston Films for Channel 4/ITV)
  • 1986 Prospects – Running All The Way Part One (Euston Films for Channel 4/ITV)
  • 1986 Prospects – Running All The Way Part Two (Euston Films for Channel 4/ITV)
  • 1987 Rude Health (I) – Producer (7 episode situation comedy for Channel 4)
  • 1988 Rude Health (II) – Producer (7 episode situation comedy for Channel 4)
  • 1989 Rotten Apples – Producer (Original Film for Channel 4)
  • 1989 It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll; The End; Positively Negative. Producer - (3 short films for Channel 4)
  • 1989 Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story (Victoria Palace Theatre)
  • 1999 Animal Farm (Adapted from the original novel by George Orwell for Hallmark Films)
  • 2002 125th Street – (Co-Writer/Producer, Shaftesbury Theatre)
  • 2004 Jailhouse Rock The Musical – (Co-Writer/Producer, Piccadilly Theatre)

Sources:[34][35][30][31][32][33]

References

  1. Spencer, Charles. "That'll be the day that I had a great time". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  2. "Alan Janes – Broadway Cast & Staff". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  3. ""Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story" On Stage One Time Only - February 2- At The Lakeland Center | Theatre Maven". The Ledger. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  4. "Events happening in February". Highlands Today. 31 January 2016. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  5. "BUDDY: The Buddy Holly Story". KTVT. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  6. Bennett, Rodney (4 March 1974). "Two Wise Monkeys". IMDb. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  7. "Alan Janes". TV.com. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  8. "Angles". www.oocities.org. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  9. "Mucke und mehr - Fun+Events - Buddy - Das Musical". www.mucke-und-mehr.de. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  10. Handford, Richard (8 April 1980). "Episode #1.569". IMDb. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  11. "Grange Hill - BBC Two England - 20 November 1979 - BBC Genome". BBC Online. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  12. "Jockey School - BBC One London - 13 October 1982 - BBC Genome". BBC Online. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  13. "Prisoners of Conscience - BBC Two England - 2 October 1981 - BBC Genome". BBC Two. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  14. "Blurring Fact And Fiction". The Herald (Glasgow). 5 October 1981. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  15. O'Brien, Larry. "BWW Review: BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY at Theatre By The Sea". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  16. "Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story - California Musical Theatre". California Musical Theatre. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  17. "Aisle Say (San Francisco) : BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY". Aisle Say. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  18. "Buddy the Musical London theatre stage show". www.thisistheatre.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  19. "Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story". The Muny. Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  20. "Buddy Announces 2015 New Zealand Tour". www.buddythemusical.com. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  21. "Buddy raves on at Grand Opera House as Holly musical returns to York next March". The Press (York). Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  22. "Musical of the Year". Olivier Award. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  23. Eiss, Harry. The Mythology of Dance. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 154. ISBN 9781443852883. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  24. Gardner, Lyn (16 September 2002). "125th Street". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  25. "125th Street, Shaftesbury Theatre, London". The Independent. 18 September 2002. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  26. "Curious British Telly: Prospects". Curious British Telly. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  27. Sedazzari, Matteo. "Prospects - A Classic Cult TV Show Reviewed". Zani.co.uk. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  28. "Prospects - The Complete Series". UKRarities. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  29. "Prospects on IMDb". IMDb. 19 February 1986. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  30. "Rotten Apples (1989)". British Film Institute. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  31. "It's only Rock 'n' Roll (1990)". British Film Institute. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  32. "The End (1990)". British Film Institute. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  33. "Positively Negative (1990)". British Film Institute. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  34. "Alan Janes on IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  35. "Alan Janes Theatre Credits". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
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