Barry Hanson

Career Overview

Barry Hanson had a varied and influential career in British theatre, television and film. Key stages include:

1. Theatre / Early Publicity Work

   • After university, he taught for a year. The Scotsman

   • Then moved into theatre publicity: Harrogate Theatre (1967), then Royal Court Theatre, London. The Scotsman+1

   • At the Royal Court he also worked as assistant to Peter Gill (artistic director), directed productions, etc. The Guardian+2The Scotsman+2

2. Hull Arts Centre (late 1960s)

   • He was Artistic Director at Hull Arts Centre. The Scotsman+1

3. BBC – Pebble Mill / English Regions Drama (early 1970s)

   • Moved into television; worked with David Rose on the newly formed English Regions Drama department. Forgotten Television Drama+1

   • Roles: script editor, producer, director of “plays” for the regionally based series (e.g. Play for Today, Second City Firsts) Forgotten Television Drama+1

   • He directed some early plays for Pebble Mill, especially those that came from emerging regional writers. Forgotten Television Drama

4. Thames Television & Independent Producing (mid-1970s to 1980s)

   • Joined Thames Television, where he produced The Naked Civil Servant (1975), which was groundbreaking in its representation and won major awards. The Guardian+2The Scotsman+2

   • Other notable TV & film works: Plays for Britain (1976), ITV Playhouse (1977-78), Out (1978) among others. The Scotsman+2Forgotten Television Drama+2

5. The Long Good Friday (1979/1980)

   • Probably his most celebrated film. He produced The Long Good Friday. The Scotsman+2IMDb+2

   • There was a struggle with the original backer (Thames / Lew Grade’s Black Lion Films) over content (particularly violence and political / IRA-related material) which led Hanson to sell to HandMade Films so the film could be released. The Scotsman+1

6. Later Projects & Roles

   • He set up his own production company (Telekation International) producing shows for Channel 4 such as The Wine Programme (1983-87) and The Victorian House (1987). The Scotsman

   • Returned to BBC Pebble Mill in 1991 as Head of English Regions Drama. Projects during and after that era include A Year in Provence and Lady Chatterley (1993). The Scotsman+1

   • In 2004, he co-produced Creep, a horror film set under London (using disused Aldwych tube station among locations). The Scotsman+1

Style, Impact & Significance

• Hanson was particularly noted for championing new writing, especially voices from the English regions. He worked to bring regional playwrights and those outside London into television drama. Forgotten Television Drama+2The Guardian+2

• He had a reputation for supporting strong, sometimes controversial, material, and for protecting creative freedom (e.g. standing by The Long Good Friday when violence and politics provoked push-back) The Scotsman+1

• His work is regarded as part of a “golden era” of British television drama, especially in the 1970s, combining high artistic ambition with popular impact. Forgotten Television Drama+2The Guardian+2

• Despite illness (he suffered from rheumatoid arthritis), he continued to work in television through the early 1990s. The Guardian+1