Come Dance With Me development

Phase One of the development of COME DANCE WITH ME

We initially wrote COME DANCE WITH ME as MISSING PIECES around 2010.

Although the piece was set in Darlington it also had a universality of themes about aspiration, dreams and the frustrations of the daily grind in the crucible of death, recession, greed, and War which all added pressure on the characters ability to realise them.

It was a work in development and we assembled a stellar cast of North East actors for a reading at Lauderdale House in Highgate.

Shaun Prendergast commented that it was: “longer than the second world war!”

He was right - but it became clear from early on that we had an abundance of stories and an epic tale to tell that would resonate with ordinary people.

We certainly did not lack in length and depth!

The play was born of telling KAREN LYNNE’s family story with added dramatic licence.

A family who struggled out of the recession into the second world war trying to survive against all the odds. They did so with humour and grace. They all had dreams - but not everyone was destined to succeed.

This family tale focused mostly on a tale of two sisters who want more out of life than survival: one wants to make money in an entrepreneurial way and the other would prefer to win ballroom competitions and become a professional dancer.

The two sisters could not be more different. The family were all strong personalities.

Phase Two

The next stage was a privately funded staged reading in Newcastle at Live! Theatre.

We read the newly honed script with the cream of actors from the North East and indicated dance sequences with clips of the best of the best dancers: Astaire and Rogers, Charisse, Eleanor Powell.

Again useful feedback and we realised that we would now have to stage it as a workshop including the all important dance sequences. That was quite a tall order as the dancing had to be exceptionally good.

Phase Three

By enormous hard work we managed to get an Arts Council Grant to stage a workshop with scripts in hands but more staged and with exceptional dance sequences.

We also managed to get an interview with the late great legend that was PEGGY SPENCER.

A part of our story involved as a part of the dreams of the characters fantasy dance sequences, as well as snapshots of Ballroom competitions.

Peggy and her husband were actually there and had a fearsome reputation in the world of Ballroom Competitions.

Peggy told us of her early years both as competitor and also how they made money to survive by teaching ballroom. She revealed the mechanism that someone from a working class background needed to accumulate money doing what they loved to do.

She told wonderful stories of being a large part of COME DANCING, in the early years of television, with her terrifyingly good Formation Dance Team, and how she became President of the ISTD which set the standards for Ballroom.

COME DANCING started circa 1949! It fitted well with our narrative set around the Second World War and beyond.

She also told us an incredible tale of being called up by Paul McCartney and asked to choreograph a dream sequence in MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR with The Beatles.

Also how she was approached when COME DANCING was revived as STRICTLY COME DANCING to be Head Judge - she declined!

We reworked the script and went in search of a choreographer who could deliver on the daunting task of recreating both period accurate Ballroom sequences and recreating Hollywood’s finest Astaire and Rogers style routines.

The kind of routines that our characters would have viewed to escape the daily grind in the cinema of the time.

Phase Four

When we were hunting for rehearsal venues for our workshop we asked around in various Dance Studios and the consensus was to get RICHARD MARCEL.

RICHARD, by serendipity, was trained by Peggy Spencer and he was working behind the scenes on STRICTLY.

He had also worked with Madonna, Kylie, Britney and even Olivia Colman working extensively in film and TV.

He was also in the Guinness Book of World Records as the master of most styles of dance.

There was, and is, so much more that he has done that over qualified him for the job. That plus he was keen to do it!

You can find out more about his extraordinary talent here:

https://www.richardmarcel.com/

We began another rehearsal period. More time to rehearse this time and a choreographer who said he could deliver 10% of the mass of choreography needed in the time available. As it turns out the cast were fast learners and we were able to deliver far more than anticipated.

We utilised fabulous mentors to help us shape the production - notably Peter John Cooper and Carole Todd.

Graham directed and Karen played her own Nana as we delivered a public workshop - which was well received.

Phase Five

Ah … the difficulties of getting funding for arts projects - even though just last year alone the Arts generated £126bn for the UK economy, making them the UK’s fifth largest industry.

And yet:

2010: 
Arts Council cut by 30%
Culture funding cut by 50%
UK Film Council closed

2022:
London arts funding cut by £56m 

2025:
DMCS budget cut by 15%

Still the arts undervalued and over politicised and for the mass of practitioners the enormous difficulty in finding work and funding - due to the blinkered attitudes of successive Governments … who don’t know something that should have more investment, not less, because it can be profitable and of National value and prestige - and has enormous value beyond its creative output. Making places a destination for example and all the other places that thrive because of that … but enough of the ranting!

It took a while but we eventually got an arts council grant to do a small tryout tour and you can read all about it and the talent that we attracted on this webpage:

https://www.missingpiecestheatreshow.co.uk/come-dance-with-me/

It was well received and we planned a National Tour … but Covid came along.

After Covid we developed A QUESTION OF ERROL FLYNN which was a small cast and because it was a terrific play - there is more on that in another part of the blog. You can also see Sir Stepen Fry talk about it here:

https://www.missingpiecestheatreshow.co.uk/errol-flynn-play-question-errol-flynn/

We intended to tour COME DANCE WITH ME in 2025 … and follow it with a tour of A QUESTION OF ERROL FLYNN - but with funding cuts and venues no longer offering the safety net of guarantees or splits which were great incentives for them and us. Alas venues felt that only hiring and restricting the nights available was their survival strategy - which made touring without subsidy or a lot of money behind us untenable.

Phase Six

Back to the beginning - we realised that we had a big story to tell in an innovative way and TV beckoned. Although both Karen and I had, seprately and together, written many plays - we had not written for TV. However we knew what we wanted to do just not the grammar. After a search to find the right person JULIE BLACKIE veteran of every kind of TV writing generously offered to help and taught us the how but also helped us structurally. Various other heroes helped us shape our offer especially POLDARK script editing veteran expertise from BILLY COOK and great help from JODIE BROWN busy on RIVALS but who also worked on THE CROWN.

So we have a bunch of collaborators including the incredible MARY HUNT costume genius and advisers from EPIC TELEVISION in JON DAVENPORT, A J THURSBY, special FX genius STUART BRINDLE and set designer EILEEN ALLDOUS. Generous people in the TV industry who advised along the way: old friend ALISON BARNETT at KUDOS, Finance experts like ROD BROWN and Entrepreneurs like DAVE MILLS. STEVE MURPHY for epic help and contact making.

Heroes all!

With the help of SeedLegals we eventually got Advanced Assurance from HMRC to offer SEIS tax incentives for investors - please see elsewhere in the blog on that.

So we are ready for the next phase - sell the pilot and the other 5 episodes - if this family friendly imaginative project catches fire as anticipated we already know where the story goes - and it is very very exciting!

Want to get involved? Contact us for a pitch deck or talk to us …

Graham and Karen

News: SEIS Advanced Approval Granted by HMRC

Good news: Pick Up Pictures has been granted Advanced Approval for SEIS Tax Relief by HMRC.

We’re thrilled to share that Pick Up Pictures Ltd has received SEIS advanced assurance from HMRC — a key step that opens the door for early-stage investors to benefit from generous tax reliefs. It’s a vote of confidence in our vision and a sign of exciting things to come.

Pick Up Pictures Ltd has secured Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) advanced assurance from HMRC.

This means qualifying UK investors may receive:

•  Up to 50% income tax relief on investments

•  Capital Gains Tax exemption on profits from SEIS shares

•  Loss relief 

We are committed to transparency and growth, and SEIS is a key part of our funding strategy.

We are now looking for investors to grow an exciting project that creates very original British stories.

We’re deep in the creative trenches now — not just with scripts and storyboards, but with pitch decks too so why not contact us to see what we have to offer and whether you would like a piece of a wonderful adventure in making exciting, entertaining, and challenging Television.

As Pick Up Pictures Ltd grows, we’re preparing materials to share our vision with potential investors and agents.

These decks are more than just slides — they’re a snapshot of our mission, our projects, and the kind of stories we want to bring to life.

Graham and Karen

A Question of Errol Flynn - In Development

A Question of Errol Flynn by Karen Lynne began life as an acclaimed stage production, earning strong reviews for its sharp writing, humour, and emotional depth.

Originally set on a stylised stage-boat, the new screen version will take the story out to sea — quite literally — aboard a real vessel.

This shift creates a more immersive, cinematic experience where the audience feels they can’t escape the boat’s claustrophobic tension.

Stage Cast of A Question of Errol Flynn by Karen Lynne

Directed by Graham Howes

Some pictures from the stage version:

Sophie Scannell and Luke Rose Picture Mike Kwasniak

Luke Rose and Gary Turner in the stage version

All Pictures: Mike Kwasniak

Erin Geraghty as Mother Picture: Mike Kwasniak

ERROL FLYNN… 

played by GARY TURNER. 

Star of Hollyoaks – Let Loose and Emmerdale.

THE WRITER…

played by LUKE ROSE.                          

Actor, fight director and Fencing expert

MOTHER…    

played by ERIN GERAGHTY.

 Star of Angels and The Chief.

THE GIRL…

played by SOPHIE SCANNELL.

Star of Carrie’s War and Little Women

Reviews:

Errol Flynn was an Australian-born American actor who achieved worldwide fame during the Golden Age of Hollywood and was known for his romantic hero roles. He also had a reputation for his womanising, his hedonistic lifestyle which included drinking, smoking and narcotics abuse.

Karen Lynne’s brilliant, funny, moving and deep play explores the difficult, charming, elusive and flawed actor. Kind permission from one of his daughters, Rory, was given for Karen to write the play. It is a fictional play where we deep dive into the pressure cooker scenario of a complex man.

We find Errol Flynn on his schooner moored off the coast of Jamaica with his biographer, his mother whom he dislikes and his latest girlfriend who is loving and young. The play is set when Errol Flynn is fifty, the age he died, and as it’s based mainly around writing the biography, it is very reflective of his life. All four of them are on the boat and the biographer gets to observe Errol up close and personal and their relationships with each other. The biographer asks a lot of questions to get to the truth of his life and Errol, depending on his mood and state of mind, either answers them honestly or responds with a question which means we get to know the biographer more.

The relationships are either up or down, depending on Errol’s state of mind which is very sporadic, depending on what he’s drinking, how much sleep he’s had or whether he’s self-medicating. It’s volatile to say the least, we get to understand the strained relationship he has with his mother, the interesting relationship with the girlfriend, who is probably just the latest woman in his life, and the developing relationship Errol has with the biographer which certainly improves after their fight.

The play never lets up and is full of drama. Errol Flynn loves life and wants to experience everything to the point where one minute they are drinking, then next they are sword-fighting, or he’s either playing mind games or pushing the biographer overboard with a smile.

This play has adult language, themes, and scenarios. The show is fast paced, funny, tragic and dramatic and the four actors are very talented. Gary Turner, who has been in Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, Soldier Soldier, The Bill and other shows was completely engaging and held the audience. It’s an interesting play, seeing the complex mind of another person and their relationships helps you appreciate any simplicity you have in your own life!

Cast:

• Gary Turner – Errol Flynn

• The Writer – Luke Rose

• Mother – Erin Geraghty

• Girlfriend – Sophie Scannell

GRAPEVINE MAGAZINE – HAYLEY CLAPPERTON

“Karen Lynne you are a genius. It was a fantastic spin on his life and troubles. I grew up watching his movies over and over and read a book on him and his life off camera. Equally swashbuckling!! Go see the show. You won’t be disappointed!” PERRY EVANS

 A Question of Errol Flynn’ – honestly….I knew nothing of Errol Flynn; my husbands choice but I loved it. An actor I shall go and learn more about and watch some films!  A must see performance from 4 amazing actors. I really loved it. Go see it whilst you can!” JEN EVANS 

Tweets about: A QUESTION OF ERROL FLYNN

“Fantastic performance! Went to see it this evening. I hold my hands up & admit knowing not a lot about EF; but my husband @SuffolkBaggie is somewhat of an expert; we both loved it & will be telling everyone we know about it! Well done cast & crew, it was brilliant!”

“Just WOW!! Thx to the hard working cast for an amazing show. Loved the journalist twist & how the actors showed a troubled soul who was equally infamous off stage. Go see it now!”

 “Dancing, sword fight, laughter and tears – all wrapped up in this fantastic show. ” Emma Seahorse

“I went to “A question of Errol Flynn” last night.

A play of great depth, exploring dysfunctional relationships with a fading star at it’s centre.

His formidable Mother played by Erin Geraghty admits to locking the child in a room for 3 days because ” she was frightened of what she would do to him.

An erratic charming alcohol fueled Errol played by Gary Turner has little regard for his long term beautiful young girlfriend played by Sophie Scannell.

His biographer, a bundle of angst and energy played by Luke Rose completes this wonderful cast.

They bring to life the claustrophobic heady days of life on board a yacht in the middle of the Caribbean.

The “star” knows his days are numbered a fact constantly drummed in by mother.

He has it all! But the adoring attentions of his ‘little one’ are barely noticed by the rarely sober Flynn.

Throughout the play the biographer draws out painful memories and mines ‘the legend’ for more and more “everyone wants something from him” A cynical sadness haunts him. His moral compass firmly set to his own agenda.

On the surface the play oozes the glamour of Hollywood in the 50’s with the skill of costume designer Mary Hunt

There are cocktail hour dances and moments of real connection but through it all the brewing storm is never far away.

I’d like to see it again.

A passionate and intriguing play written by Karen Lynne produced by Missing Pieces and directed by Graham Howes

2 more days to catch it  3 more performances Sir John Mills Theatre.”

AGNES LILLIS

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Question of Errol Flynn

Missing Pieces

Errol Flynn was born to trouble … writer Karen Lynne had ample material.

We even have a re-enactment of the famous sword fight of Flynn and Rathbone in the 1938 Robin Hood film.

Deeply flawed, misanthropic, Flynn is nevertheless seen as a man of culture and learning, a mix that Gary Turner deals with relish.

The other characters also prove to be complex. The slightly nerdish biographer, in bow tie, specs and straw hat (Luke Rose), the bobby soxer girlfriend (Sophie Scannell) and the possessive Mum (Erin Geraghty) all reveal deeper traits that the actors reveal with skill.

Graham Howes’ production, set on a boat with a hurricane coming, is a chastening picture of the devil’s bargain of worldly success.

BASIL ABBOTT

A Question Of Errol Flynn

From Stage to Screen: Introducing Pick Up Pictures Ltd

After years of storytelling under the name Missing Pieces Theatre Show Ltd, we’re excited to announce a new identity that reflects our evolving creative journey: Pick Up Pictures Ltd.

Our roots in theatre have shaped the way we tell stories — with heart, nuance, and a deep respect for character.

As we move into Television and digital media, this new name marks a fresh chapter while honouring everything we’ve built so far.

We’re still the same passionate team, now with a broader canvas.

Whether you’ve followed us from the beginning or are just discovering our work, we’re thrilled to have you with us.

Stay tuned for new projects, behind-the-scenes insights, and a few surprises along the way.

Welcome to Pick Up Pictures Ltd.

Karen and Graham Writers/Producers and Richard Creative Producer/Choreographer