The Changes (TV series)

"The Changes" is a British children's science fiction television serial filmed in 1973 and first broadcast in 1975 by the BBC. It was directed by John Prowse. It is based on the triology written by Peter Dickinson: "The Weathermonger" (1968), "Heartsease" (1969) and "The Devil's Children" (1970) (the books were written in reverse order: the events of "The Devil's Children" happen first, "Heartsease" second and "The Weathermonger" third).

Background

"The Changes" posits a Britain where a sudden enveloping noise emanating from all machinery and technology causes the population to destroy them. The resulting upheaval displaces many people and reverts society back to a pre-industrial age where there is a deep suspicion of anyone who may be harbouring machinery. Even the words for technology are taboo. The remnants of modern technology that escape destruction (such as electricity pylons) produce a physical and sometimes violent repulsion among those left in Britain.

The Changes are seen through the eyes of teenage schoolgirl Nicky Gore (Victoria Williams), and the 10-part series, originally broadcast every Monday from 6 January to 10 March 1975, traces Nicky's quest to reunite with her parents and solve the mystery. The serial's theme echoes contemporaneous adult drama series "Survivors" in which a small group of British people attempt to survive the decimation of the world's population by disease.

Despite its modest budget, "The Changes" was noted for its extensive location filming in Bristol, the Forest of Dean and Sharpness. Its original premise, downbeat tone and Sikh characters make it an example of 1970s acclaimed British television.

Theme and incidental music composer Paddy Kingsland went on to score both the radio and TV adaptations of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and incidental music for a number of "Doctor Who" stories in the early 1980s. Writer Anna Home later became head of head of BBC Children's Programmes.

The high reputation of the "The Changes" is partly based on the scarcity of its showings. The first episode, seeing ordinary people smash ordinary objects in fits of seeming madness made a great impact on its young audience, although the pace slowed through the serial and the denouement was rather diluted from the book's original premise.

The series was exported, but hasn't been released on video or DVD. It was repeated on the BBC in 1976 and on UK Gold in 1994.

Described by BBC continuity as "a serial for older children", the TV series was freely adapted by Anna Home from a trilogy of novels by Peter Dickinson. The series took most of its material from "The Weathermonger" which, together with "Heartsease" and "The Devil's Children" has recently been reissued in a single volume in the UK. In the original books, however, the lead character of Nicky Gore however appears only in "The Devil's Children" - the books have entirely separate characters, and Nicky is introduced into scenarios in which she does not appear in the books, mixing with characters from the other two books. Also, the time span of the Changes is considerably reduced from that in the original trilogy.

Episode guide

1. "The Noise"

First broadcast: 6 January 1975

Writer: Anna Home

Director: John Prowse

Story: Peter Dickinson

Returning cast: Vicky Williams as Nicky Gore, Keith Ashton as Jonathon, David Garfield as Davy Gordon, Rafiq Anwar as Chacha, Zuleika Robson as Margaret, Oscar Quitak as Mr Furbelow, Rugby Brar as Gopal

Guest stars: Sonia Graham (Mrs Gore), Bartlett Mullins (Old Man), Bernard Horsfall (Mr Gore), Clyde Pollitt (Preacher)

A strange noise fills people all over Britain with a violent rage against modern technology.

2. "The Bad Wires"

First broadcast: 13 January 1975

Separated from her parents, Nicky joins a group of Sikhs.

3. "The Devil's Children"

First broadcast: 20 January 1975

Guest star: Arthur Hewlett (Mr Tom) Nicky and the Sikhs settle at Brooker's Farm but are dubbed by villagers as "the Devil's Children".

4. "Hostages!"

First broadcast: 27 January 1975

Guest stars: Arthur Hewlett (Mr Tom), Edward Brayshaw (Chief Robber), Derek Ware (Second Robber)

Bandits attack the village and take the children hostage.

5. "Witchcraft!"

First broadcast: 3 February 1975

Guest star: Roy Evans (Carter)

Nicky tries to track down her aunt, while the farm is visited by a witch finder.

6. "A Pile of Stones"

First broadcast: 10 February 1975

Nicky is found guilty of witchcraft and sentenced to death by stoning.

7. "Heartsease"

First broadcast: 17 February 1975

Guest star: Kenneth Gilbert (Innkeeper)

Nicky and Jonathon escape, pursued by the witch-finder and enraged villagers.

8. "Lightning!"

First broadcast: 24 February 1975

Guest stars: Tom Chadbon (Michael), Kenneth Gilbert (Innkeeper)

Nicky and Jonathon try to escape to sea but their boat is struck by lightning.

9. "The Quarry"

First broadcast: 3 March 1975

Guest star: Tom Chadbon (Michael)

Nicky and Jonathon set off to investigate a mysterious power source on the other side of the mountains.

10. "The Cavern"

First broadcast: 10 March 1975

The protagonists enter a cavern and uncover the cause of the unbalancing of the world.

External links

*
* [http://www.bilderberg.org/changes.htm Changes Fansite]
* [http://www.thechestnut.com/changes.htm Little Gems] minisite with extensive screencaps episode-by-episode
* [http://www.action-tv.org.uk/guides/changes.htm Action TV]
* [http://www.lynskeyium.tripod.com/the-changes.com.htm Unofficial website]