| Teacup Travels |
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| Genre |
Drama |
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| Developed by |
- Micky MacPherson
- Simon Parsons
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| Written by |
- Polly Churchill
- Bar Ben-Yossef
- Dean Wilkinson
- Peter Hynes
- Erin Carter
- Brian Jordan
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| Directed by |
Simon Hynd |
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| Composer(s) |
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| Country of origin |
United Kingdom |
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| Original language(s) |
English |
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| No. of series |
1 |
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| No. of episodes |
25 |
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| Production |
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| Executive producer(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
- Micky MacPherson
- Simon Parsons
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| Cinematography |
- Malcolm McLean
- Ryan Kernaghan
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| Running time |
15 minutes |
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| Production company(s) |
Plum Films |
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| External links |
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Teacup Travels |
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Plum Films |
Teacup Travels is a British children’s TV series. The show was created and produced for CBeebies by Plum Films with support from Creative Scotland. It began transmission on 9 February 2015 for a run of 25x15 minute episodes.
The concept of the series is historical fiction for young children, incorporating genuine historical artefacts into dramatic adventure stories. At the time of filming, all the artefacts featured in the series were held in museum collections around the UK.
Concept
Stories are used by the character of Great Aunt Lizzie to entertain her young visitors, Charlotte and Elliot. When either one arrives at the house she offers them a cup of tea, but first they have to choose a teacup from her vast collection which she keeps locked away in an enormous dresser in the kitchen. Each cup is unique and illustrated with one of the museum artefacts. As their Great Aunt begins to tell its story, the young guest begins to imagine being there as the tale unfolds.
Kay Benbow, Director of Children’s Television, said, “This is a first for CBeebies to bring ancient history and archaeology to our young audience. The series combines story telling with high adventure in a way that will inspire and encourage children to want to learn more about life in ancient times. I think children will love going on the adventures with Charlotte [and Elliot] to discover more about what life was like thousands of years ago.”[1]
Key cast
- Gemma Jones as Great Aunt Lizzie
- Evie Brassington as Charlotte
- Roderick Gilkison as Elliot
Series one
The stories in series one are split between Ancient Rome, Imperial China, Ancient Egypt and the pre-medieval Celtic lands, spanning a period from 2500 BCE to 1850 CE.
List of episodes in series one
- Episode 1: Spectacles - (Original Air Date: February 9, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Charlotte and the Adventure of the Expensive Spectacles: An artist in Imperial China with poor eyesight can't afford the spectacles he needs. Charlotte goes on an epic quest to find a pair for him.
- Associated Museum: British Optical Association Museum
- Episode 2: Thimble - (Original Air Date: February 10, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Elliot and the Adventure of the Brass Thimble: A seamstress needs her special thimble to sew a Celtic warrior queen into her armour.
- Associated Museum: Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
- Episode 3: Mortarium - (Original Air Date: February 11, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Charlotte and the Adventure of the Magnificent Mortarium: A monk in Ancient Rome is running out of time to prep a special meal for the priests.
- Associated Museum: Dumfries Museum
- Episode 4: Mirror - (Original Air Date: February 12, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Elliot and the Adventure of the Glassless Mirror: An Ancient Egyptian sees his reflection and thinks his chance of marriage is over.
- Associated Museum: National Museum of Scotland
- Episode 5: Tiger Tally - (Original Air Date: February 13, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Charlotte and the Adventure of the Tiger Tally Mix-Up: A guard in Imperial China mistakes Charlotte for the doctor who must heal the Empress.
- Associated Museum: Durham University Oriental Museum
- Episode 6: Scales - (Original Air Date: February 16, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Elliot and the Adventure of the Roman Scales: An apple juice vendor in Ancient Rome has trouble recreating the secret family recipe.
- Associated Museum: British Museum
- Episode 7: Headrest - (Original Air Date: February 17, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Charlotte and the Adventure of the Ancient Headrest: A wealthy Ancient Egyptian is shocked to discover that sleeping will ruin his new hairdo.
- Associated Museum: Swansea Museum
- Episode 8: Lucky Horse - (Original Air Date: February 18, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Elliot and The Adventure of The Lucky Horse: A medical student in Imperial China thinks his skills depend on a good luck charm.
- Associated Museum: Durham University Oriental Museum
- Episode 9: Amphora - (Original Air Date: February 19, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Charlotte and the Adventure of the Roman Amphora: A muddled merchant in Ancient Rome mixes up an important order on her first day at work.
- Associated Museum: Royal Albert Memorial Museum
- Episode 10: Brooch - (Original Air Date: February 20, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Elliot and the Adventure of the Bronze Brooch: A young Celtic blacksmith loses a valuable piece of jewellery he had made for his mum.
- Associated Museum: The Dick Institute
- Episode 11: Brick Mould - (Original Air Date: February 23, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Charlotte and the Adventure of the Wooden Mould: A brick maker in Ancient Egypt needs a new mould before the Pharoah's architect arrives.
- Associated Museum: Manchester Museum
- Episode 12: Abacus - (Original Air Date: February 24, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Elliot and the Adventure of the Amazing Abacus: An old woman in Imperial China needs a better way to keep count of the villagers' savings. Elliot goes on an epic quest to find an abacus.
- Associated Museum: Durham University Oriental Museum
- Episode 13: Key Ring - (Original Air Date: February 25, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Charlotte and the Adventure of the Lost Key Ring: A baker in Ancient Rome accidentally bakes his key-ring into a batch of bread loaves.
- Associated Museum: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
- Episode 14: Sandals - (Original Air Date: February 25, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Elliot and the Adventure of the Ragged Sandals: A cobbler in Ancient Egypt is unable to mend sandals after a mix-up with a paper-maker.
- Associated Museum: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
- Episode 15: Merchant's Ring - (Original Air Date: February 27, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Charlotte and the Adventure of the Merchant's Ring: A pair of bumbling merchants run into some trouble when they cannot prove their identity.
- Associated Museum: Dumfries Museum
- Episode 16: Snake Bracelet - (Original Air Date: March 2, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Elliot and the Adventure of the Roman Snake Bracelet: A woman in Ancient Rome needs Elliot's help to be reunited with her long-lost mother.
- Associated Museum: Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery
- Episode 17: Wooden Horse - (Original Air Date: March 3, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Charlotte and the Adventure of the Wooden Horse: A carpenter in Ancient Egypt doesn't believe children will like the toys she makes.
- Associated Museum: Manchester Museum
- Episode 18: Seal Matrix - (Original Air Date: March 4, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Charlotte and the Adventure of the Expensive Spectacles: An artist in Imperial China with poor eyesight can't afford the spectacles he needs.
- Associated Museum: Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
- Episode 19: Jade Flute - (Original Air Date: March 5, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Charlotte and the Adventure of the Jade Flute: A prince in Imperial China gives up playing the flute after his best friend is sent far away.
- Associated Museum: Durham University Oriental Museum
- Episode 20: Inkwell - (Original Air Date: March 6, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Elliot and the Adventure of the Inkwell and the Soldier: A soldier in Ancient Rome needs a way to keep in touch with his mum while he is away.
- Associated Museum: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
- Episode 21: Key - (Original Air Date: March 9, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Charlotte and the Adventure of the Small Bronze Key: A penniless brother and sister must work together to unearth a hidden box of treasures.
- Associated Museum: Stranraer Museum
- Episode 22: Moon Fan - (Original Air Date: March 10, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Elliot and the Adventure of the Chinese Moon Fan: An Imperial Chinese trader has trouble selling her moon fans until she makes a new friend.
- Associated Museum: Durham University Oriental Museum
- Episode 23: Lamp - (Original Air Date: March 11, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Charlotte and the Adventure of the Roman Lamp: A servant in Ancient Rome must replace her broken oil lamp before it gets dark.
- Associated Museum: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
- Episode 24: Scarab Necklace - (Original Air Date: March 12, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Elliot and the Adventure of the Flying Scarab Necklace: A young woman in Ancient Egypt breaks a precious necklace her mother gave her.
- Associated Museum: Ulster Museum
- Episode 25: Armlet - (Original Air Date: March 13, 2015)
- Summary: Great Aunt Lizzie tells the story of Charlotte and the Adventure of the Warrior's Armlet: A great Celtic warrior is to be presented a rare treasure but fetching it is a challenge.
- Associated Museum: Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
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Production
Development
The creative team Micky MacPherson, Tony Bibby and Simon Parsons had backgrounds in TV commercial production, advertising, and children’s TV. Parsons and MacPherson began experimenting with illustrated sets when they collaborated with director Simon Hynd on a short film called Meat the Campbells in 2005. The new team came together in 2011, taking inspiration from Bibby's real aunt whom he used to visit in Liverpool as a child,[2] and added the extra dimension of genuine history. The series was directed by Simon Hynd. It was art directed and illustrated by John Gosler.
A late, but key, addition to the team was Production Designer Leslie Dilley, a double Academy Award Winner for Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark.[3]
Museum involvement
A key element of the show is its involvement with museums across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom. Plum Films consulted museums at key stages of production to ensure that the real artefacts that inspired Great Aunt Lizzie's stories reflected its core truths. Where possible, Plum Films representatives visited the museum to capture the dimensions and likeness of the object to be featured in the show. This aided the prop makers to replicate the prop, which would then be presented to each associated museum's curator for notes and approval. Similarly, script outlines were shared with each associated museum to give the all clear that the episode represented a satisfactory representation of their piece.[4][5][6][7]
List of associated museums in series one
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Filming
The TV show is a combination of full live action for the prologue and epilogue scenes in Great Aunt Lizzie’s house, and live action filmed against green screen then composited with colour saturated 2½d illustrated backgrounds for the story world.
Locations
Filmed entirely in Scotland with funding from the BBC and Creative Scotland, the sets were created in Loretto School, Musselburgh, while outdoor scenes featuring Great Aunt Lizzie's iconic cottage were filmed at the Head Gardener’s Cottage in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh.[8]
Composers for
Teacup Travels:
Rasmus Borowski (on the left) and Alexius Tschallener (on the right)
Music
The soundtrack for the series was composed by Rasmus Borowski and Alexius Tschallener. The score was recorded live in Prague, Czech Republic, with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra with Nic Raine conducting.
Reception
Ratings
In its debut week of 9 February 2015, the show placed three times in the top 10 viewed shows on CBeebies, peaking at 561,000 viewers.[9]
References
External links
