Blood on the Dole (1994)
Alan Bleasdale's touching yet frank drama for Channel 4 about the struggles of a group of young adults leaving school in a deprived area of Liverpool. Starring Stephen Walters, Suzanne Maddock and Amanda Mealing. Based on the acclaimed play by Jim Morris, voted Most Promising Playwright by the Financial Times and Morning Star in 1981. Blood on the Dole shows the lives of four teenagers, two boys and two girls, struggling to cope after being thrust into the real world for the first time after leaving school. Living in deprived Merseyside, the four youths' bright-eyed optimism for their futures and new-found freedom is soon crushed by the realities of unemployment, poverty, and the brutal reality of living and trying to find work in a city in decline. They all soon find themselves in the hopeless situation of facing complete dependence on state handouts, "the dole". The four teenagers instead find themselves turning to each other to find the strength to survive.
Cast
- Stephen Walters - Joey Jackson
- Philip Dowd - Ricky Jones
- Suzanne Maddock - Cathy Thompson
- Rachel Caldwell - Jean Kavanagh
- Aneirin Hughes - David Williams
- Jake Abraham - Paul Price
- Rachel Maxwell - Tracey Ryan
- Amanda Mealing - Laura
- Gill West - Jobcentre Receptionist
- Jodie Draper - Jobcentre Receptionist
Screenplay
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Blood on the Dole about?
- Alan Bleasdale's touching yet frank drama for Channel 4 about the struggles of a group of young adults leaving school in a deprived area of Liverpool. Starring Stephen Walters, Suzanne Maddock and Amanda Mealing. Based on the acclaimed play by Jim Morris, voted Most Promising Playwright by the Financial Times and Morning Star in 1981. Blood on the Dole shows the lives of four teenagers, two boys and two girls, struggling to cope after being thrust into the real world for the first time after leaving school. Living in deprived Merseyside, the four youths' bright-eyed optimism for their futures and new-found freedom is soon crushed by the realities of unemployment, poverty, and the brutal reality of living and trying to find work in a city in decline. They all soon find themselves in the hopeless situation of facing complete dependence on state handouts, "the dole". The four teenagers instead find themselves turning to each other to find the strength to survive.
- Who directed Blood on the Dole?
- Blood on the Dole was directed by Pip Broughton.
- Who stars in Blood on the Dole?
- Blood on the Dole stars Stephen Walters, Philip Dowd, Suzanne Maddock, Rachel Caldwell, Aneirin Hughes, Jake Abraham.
- How long is Blood on the Dole?
- Blood on the Dole has a runtime of 1h 30m (90 minutes).
- What genre is Blood on the Dole?
- Blood on the Dole is a Drama film.
- Where was Blood on the Dole produced?
- Blood on the Dole was produced in United Kingdom.