Taxi Tales

written and presented by Ishy Din

Tamasha & Ishy Din co-production

TAXI TALES takes you on a surprising journey through Middlesbrough, in and out of the cabs of three very different drivers.

Meet a young British-Pakistani entrepreneur who believes that immigrants have always been enterprising by nature; a local man who used to work in construction on towering glass buildings down south; and an older seasoned driver who is in love with his job… until the day he falls out of it.

The show stars three local taxi drivers from Middlesbrough and features a supporting cast of Tees Valley locals, all of them non-actors. Their stories uncover what lies beneath the surface of a post-industrial northern town, and unfold into a state-of-the-nation tale.

TAXI TALES was part of the BBC’s Performance Live strand – a partnership between BBC Arts, Arts Council England and Battersea Arts Centre, showcasing some of the most exciting artists working in performance today.

Originally a piece of theatre set in cabs where the passengers were the audience, the show is written and presented by Middlesbrough taxi-driver-turned-playwright/screenwriter Ishy Din (SNOOKERED, APPROACHING EMPTY), directed by BAFTA winner Ben Anthony and produced by Clare Callan for Tamasha.

“A fierce expression of local pride by playwright and former Teesside taxi driver Ishy Din”

The Sunday Times, Critics’ Choice

“A resonant state-of-the nation tale. More of this kind of thing, please.”

The Guardian, Friday’s Best TV

“A perfect piece of Boro’ Rave reviews for Taxi Tales – the BBC show filmed on Teesside”

Middlesborough Gazette

“Our pick of tonight’s TV choices”

The Northern Echo

Creative

Written & presented by Ishy Din

Director Ben Anthony

Producer Clare Callan

Radio Presenter Gary Philipson

Rehearsal Directors Diyan ZoraPeter BradleyOli O’Shea

Line Producer Vanya Barwell

Film Editor Rupert Houseman

Make up and Wardrobe Tracy Whalen

Props Mike McLaughlin

1st Assistant Director Patrick James Stephens

Director of Photography Mark WolfAdam HallMichael Timney

Camera Assistants Ralph Messer, Ali Hutchinson, Christopher Orr

Grip Renny Borthwick

Gaffer Rory Grierson

Driver Graham Gove

DIT James Mustard

Stills photography Junior AyubPaul StephensonColin Davison

Sound Stuart WrightPhilip Quinton

Script Supervisor Fiona Collins

Online Editor Steve Dix

Colourist Nuala Sheridan

Dubbing Mixer Andrew Godwin

Casting assistance DJW Talent

Production Coordinator Jonathan Smith

Production Assistant George Woodhouse

Production Managers Piera Buckland, Melanie Rainbow

Executive Producer for BBC Emma Cahusac

Associate Producers for Arts Council England Neil DarlisonCassandra Mathers

Performance Live Strand Producers Battersea Arts CentreAndrew Fettis

Filmed on Location in Middlesbrough and Redcar. With thanks to ARC Stockton Arts Centre and Christine Bell of Boro Taxis

Cast

Asif Ishaque

Doreen Frankland

Jeff Meaney

Eve Conway

Khan Hanif