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Screen Two: The Grass Arena

BBC Two
on BBC Two England

A new series of BBC films begins with an extraordinary, true story. Starring Mark Rylance
Brutalised at home and school, John Healy drinks a promising boxing career into the "grass arena" - the savage community of vagrant alcoholics. He drifts towards certain death, until a fellow prisoner teaches him chess. His striking new talent leads him to compete in championships where he plays for recognition and a chance to belong. This film won the Michael Powell Award for Best
Feature Film at last year's
Edinburgh Film Festival and the Grand Prix at the Dinard
Film Festival in France.
Screenplay Frank Deasy , based on John Healy 's autobiography
Producer Ruth Baumgarten Director Gillies MacKinnon
0 TELETEXT SUBTITLES: page 888
0 DRAMA: page 4; FILMS: pages 27-32

Contributors

Unknown:
Mark Rylance
Unknown:
John Healy
Unknown:
Michael Powell
Unknown:
Frank Deasy
Unknown:
John Healy
Producer:
Ruth Baumgarten
Director:
Gillies MacKinnon
John Healy:
Mark Rylance
Dipper:
Pete Postlethwaite
Madalena:
Lynsey Baxter
Mrs Healy:
Marian McLoughlin
Mr Healy:
Billy Boyle
Fieldhouse:
Ronan Vibert
Young John Healy:
Andrew Dicks
Source: Radio Times

BBC Two England

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