Coming-of-Age Drama 'Dreamers' Premieres on Channel 4

Produced by the award-winning Duck Soup Films (Lost Boys & Fairies), Dreamers—a coming-of-age drama series created by Lisa Holdsworth (Discovery of Witches, Call The Midwife)—is now airing on Channel 4. Directed by Sara Dunlop of The Corner Shop.

Dreamers follows an eclectic group of dance students as they navigate the intense highs and lows of coming of age in today’s complex world – captured through stories that are as joyful and funny as they are raw and truthful, brought viscerally to life via irresistible dance choreography.

Rooted in real stories from Leeds, the drama champions authenticity and resilience, with characters shaped through workshops and inspired by true experiences. Supported by the Young Audiences Content Fund (YACF)—managed by the BFI and funded by the UK Government—Dreamers tackles relevant and hard-hitting themes while celebrating the determination and spirit of youth. The series also offers a dynamic and energising glimpse into the city of Leeds and its vibrant community.

Filmed in and around Leeds, the production provided a unique opportunity for 10 local individuals to break into the broadcast industry. Through 4Skills’ fully funded training initiative, Duck Soup Films partnered with the National Film and Television School (NFTS) to offer 10 paid full-time placements. The program was designed specifically for those without previous production experience, offering training, mentoring, one-to-one sessions, career planning, and hands-on experience on a major production. As a result, many participants have since advanced their careers within the industry.

Leaning into Sara Dunlop’s directorial style, Dreamers highlights her affinity for casting real people in her projects, adding to the cinematic realism. Picked from over 500 young people, the cast (who had no previous TV experience) were put through a rigorous workshop process, where they were encouraged to help create their characters and even some dialogue for scenes.

On directing the series, Sara said, "I love casting real people in my commercial projects and so had an idea of how I could work with the cast to get the grit and authenticity needed in Dreamers. It was thrilling to work with such a young dynamic cast who were so dedicated to the challenge. The show was shot roughly chronologically, and watching them grow through the series was particularly rewarding. And with so much of our crew also breaking into the industry behind the scenes, shooting Dreamers felt like we were a group of people telling a story that truly felt specific to a community.”

Rebekah Wray-Rogers, co-founder of Duck Soup Films, said, “We couldn’t be more thrilled that Dreamers was born and raised in our very own city. Collaborating with such a phenomenally talented and diverse group of new-to-the-industry creatives has been an unforgettable journey, and we are buzzing to finally bring this exceptional series to the screen.”

The six-part series also features series titles and animation designed by fellow Corner Shop director Varun Chopra.

Dreamers is available to watch on Channel 4 and stream on Channel 4’s online platform in the UK.