Dramarama is the name of a British children's anthology series broadcast on ITV between 1983 and 1989. It tended to feature drama of a science fiction or supernatural bent. The series was created by Anna Home, then head of children's and youth programming at TVS, however production responsibilities were divided amongst most of the regional ITV franchise holders. Thus, each episode was in practice a one-off production with its own cast and crew, up to and including the executive producer. Dramarama was largely a place for new talent to prove themselves and was a launching pad for the likes of Anthony Horowitz, Paul Abbott, Kay Mellor, Janice Hally, Tony Kearney, David Tennant and Ann Marie Di Mambro. It was one of Dennis Spooner's last credits. One of Dramarama's episodes, "Dodger, Bonzo And The Rest", gained so much popularity that it was turned in to its own series the following year. It starred Lee Ross and was based around a large foster home. The episode "Blackbird Singing In The Dead of Night" was developed by Granada into the TV series Children's Ward. It was also repeated for the first time since its original broadcast on 5 January 2013, during CITV's 30th anniversary Old Skool Weekend. The Series 7 episode "Back To Front" – notable for featuring a mirror image of the Yorkshire Television logo card at the end – was repeated on 6 January 2013, again as part of CITV's 30th anniversary Old Skool Weekend.
Dramarama (Season 2)
Night of the Narrow Boats (Episode 1)
Air date: 1984-05-14
Fowl Pest (Episode 2)
Writer: George Orwell
Air date: 1984-05-21
Overview: Chaos results when Amy gives her mother a birthday present of four chickens.
Dodger, Bonzo and the Rest (Episode 3)
Writer: Geoffrey Case
Air date: 1984-05-28
Overview: When they overhear that their children's home may be closed, the youngsters hatch a series of plans, not all totally above board, to raise money to keep it open.
Que Sera (Episode 4)
Writer: Tony Allen
Air date: 1984-06-04
Overview: Fortune teller Rose is trying to teach young Stella the tricks of her trade when the new owner of the Pleasure Palace threatens her professional existence with his future business plans. Clairvoyance is urgently needed, but maybe one of them has real paranormal talents?
Stalemate (Episode 5)
Air date: 1984-06-11
Snoop! (Episode 6)
Writer: George Markstein
Air date: 1984-06-25
Overview: Colin Egan, a cub reporter, is sent on an apparently boring assignment. Events, however, soon take a dramatic turn.
Mr. Stabs (Episode 7)
Writer: Trevor Preston
Air date: 1984-07-02
Overview: Mr Stabs is summoned to the City of Shadows, where he must perform various heroic deeds in order to defeat the evil Polandi, and ultimately face mortal, magical combat with Melchisedek.
Josephine-Jo (Episode 8)
Air date: 1984-07-09
The Purple People Eater (Episode 9)
Writer: Harry Duffin
Air date: 1984-07-16
On Your Tod (Episode 10)
Writer: Polly Churchill
Air date: 1984-07-23
Overview: 18-year-old Ben seems to have all the luck. In reality, he is bored and lonely - and it takes a gate-crasher at his party to force him to acknowledge his problems.
The Old Firm: Two for Starters (Episode 11)
Writer: Dave Humphries
Air date: 1984-07-30
Rachel and Rosie (Episode 12)
Writer: Jane Hollowood
Air date: 1984-08-06
Overview: Wheelchair-bound Rosie is waiting in hospital for an operation. When she has to share her hospital room with Rachel, a very different girl with a more streetwise outlook, Rosie must learn to deal with Rachel's prejudices towards her.
