A NEW drama series set in Belfast is set to make a star of a young boy from Co Antrim.
Dinosaurs is one of five brand new dramas, commissioned by RTÉ and Northern Ireland Screen, for the new season of Storyland and will be shown on the RTE Player.
The new gripping drama, produced by Belfast-based production company Six Mile Hill Productions, features the acting debut of nine-year-old Luke Walford from Ballymena.
The series is described as a "pre-apocalyptic dystopian drama" and chronicles the final years of one family on earth as they try to adapt to an ever changing and increasingly dangerous world.
Dinosaurs is produced by Brendan Mullin and Belfast-based production company Six Mile Hill Productions and is written by Aaron Gray and Paul Skillen and directed by Chris Baugh.
Filming took place in Belfast and surrounding areas.
Now in its sixth season, Storyland brings original stories to audiences and showcases a great breath of Ireland’s creative talent across writing, acting, producing and directing.
As well as Dinosaurs, the new series of Storyland features crime drama Costigan. dark coming of age drama Hot Knives plus comedies Smitten and Quinn and O'Grady.
As well as featuring new and emerging talent, the Storyland also feature established names including actor Rory Keenan in Costigan currently starring in the BBC drama War and Peace, while Costigan writer Gary Duggan also wrote RTÉ drama Amber and Costigan's director of photography Tim Fleming is the director of photography for Rebellion.
Actress Mary Murray who played Janet in Love/Hate stars in Hot Knives, while Smitten actor Gus McDonagh is currently appearing in Rebellion and played Bertie Ahern in RTÉ drama Charlie.
Also starring in Smitten is Clare Monnelly who played Fidelma Moone in all three series of Moone Boy.
The female leads in the irreverent comedy Quinn & O'Grady are played by Riona O’Connor and Sharon Sexton, also known as the comedy duo The Craic Whores.
David Crean, executive producer for RTE Television said: "RTE dramas such as Rebellion, Love/Hate, Amber and Charlie have become must-watch TV shows.
"Encouraging Ireland’s pool of creative talent to become the hit-makers of tomorrow and to discover emerging creative entrepreneurs is vitally important to RTÉ and the TV industry on the island of Ireland.
"Storyland has continuously proven to be a great catalyst for actors, writers, directors and producers, to go on to establish careers in the TV and film industry.
"Now entering its sixth season, we are excited to bring the new season of Storyland to audiences in Ireland and around the world on RTÉ Player and RTÉ Player International."
Andrew Reid, head of production, Northern Ireland Screen, said: "This is Northern Ireland Screen’s first year to be involved with Storyland and we are delighted to be working with RTÉ in supporting the development of storytelling skills.
"This is a welcomed partnership that allows us to create opportunities for, and invest in, a new generation of creative talent.”
For the sixth series of Storyland, RTÉ and Northern Ireland Screen commissioned five single dramas of up to twenty minutes duration.
The five production companies awarded the commissions are Against the Grain Films, Mycrofilms, Out Left Productions, Six Mile Hill Productions and Two Hungry Fish Productions.
