In a quiet street on the outskirts of Liverpool city centre small arrows for road-signs guide you to a low-level unassuming building that houses a myriad of rooms packed with creative opportunity. This is Toxteth TV ‘a community-based media centre, providing education for young people in film production, start-up units and a central cafe area.’ The Tardis-like atmosphere where corridors opened onto rooms of various sizes had the feel of a much larger space than it looked from the outside. This was a fitting setting for an audience with the British ‘Legendary Doctor Who Director’ who is the only person to have directed episodes of both the original run (1963–89) and revived run (2005–) of the BBC programme.
Starting off in ‘the café area’ a long, low-ceilinged, rectangular room decorated with comfy sofas, retro TV carcasses and packed with 1970’s computer consoles, set to ‘free play’ for the occasion, you could be forgiven for thinking that you had fallen Alice-like into an adult youth club or sixth-form common room. Instantly immersed in the experience, there was a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. An expectant buzz around the room increased as each mostly bespectacled and predominately male (and bearded) new audience member arrived. This was no ordinary audience. A tiny smattering of small, well-spoken, well-behaved children represented the next generation of Dr Who fans. A quick headcount added up to thirty-two but it felt like so many more. Firmly seated on my high stool and only slightly pitying those with standing room only I was jolted from my high-school reminiscence by the announcement that we were about to start and could we make our way to the ‘studio’.
A mere two paces across the corridor led our eager party through sound-proofed doors into a simple TV recording studio. Three rows of chairs faced two small armchairs with a coffee table in front of a white curtain wall backdrop. Blinding overhead lights shone on the set as two TV cameras pointed from either side of the audience. This was now fully immersive and only piqued audience expectancy as we ceased to be individuals and had become part of the cast.
Interviewer Matt Charlton from 5064 Productions announced the schedule that included an interview with Graeme Harper, then a thirty-minute break followed by narrated TV and film archive footage and a Q&A that added up to a four-hour programme. Finally, we were introduced to Harper, a small man in a good suit with comfy shoes. What followed was an unexpected directing Masterclass. Dr Who fan, Charlton enthusiastically filled in episodes (as we would movie titles), names and characters whenever Harper hesitated, demonstrating the interviewer’s in-depth research and knowledge.
The first half was an autobiography of Harper’s life from a ragged kid, always in trouble at school to BBC Runner and then director of films and visually stunning action-packed TV series. Harper was enrolled in the Italia Conti Stage School at the age of ten with the backing of his educational social worker. Cast in an adaptation of ‘Pickwick Papers’ he accidentally became a child actor as they wanted a red-haired boy, (which he thought hilarious as it was shot in black and white). Harper stayed at the school on the condition that any earnings were retained to pay for his tuition fees. Not very good at acting, by his own admission, he managed to leave school with £200 in his pocket having paid off all his fees. The experience, however, left him with an understanding and empathy for actors. Something that shines in his work, not least of which was demonstrated in some previously unseen film footage of actual rushes (unedited director’s film clips) that he’d brought of David Tennant and Billie Piper’s final scene together in Dr Who.
Clips of Coronation Street’s famous fiftieth anniversary tram crash episode, which he was specially commissioned to direct, showed his skill in creating blockbuster type action on a low budget within a tight time frame. Audience questions were strictly Dr Who based and revealed trade secrets in costume, pyrotechnic and stunt challenges. For the record Harper loves the new Lady Doctor as she embodies the traits of all the previous Doctors. He confesses to preferring the simpler storylines as he didn’t understand some of the ones he directed.
Now aged 73, Harper is at the stage where he would happily be asked back for the right project but thinks it unlikely. He appears baffled by his own success. Typically understated he said his secret was to surround himself with the best people in the business. Like a favourite grandfather he gives you his full attention and answers questions with just the right amount of name dropping and anecdotes. Just enough to leave you wanting more. A brilliant way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Reportage - Barbara Sherlock
on - 24/2/19
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