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EXCLUSIVE: UK drama producer Fictionhouse, founded by Dominic Cooke and Kate Horton, is closing its doors with the pair both pursuing their own theater projects.
The pair set up Fictionhouse in 2020 with a remit to work up projects across film, stage and TV. They had previously worked together during a prolific spell at the Royal Court Theatre, and both were also at the UK’s National Theatre.
Fictionhouse is ultimately part of Newen Studios, the production and distribution group owned by French broadcast giant TF1. Newen, which is about to be rebadged as Studio TF1, confirmed to Deadline that Fictionhouse is shuttering.
Newen’s investment in Fictionhouse was originally made through Ringside Media, an investment arm of Gub Neal and Kate Bennetts’ Newen-backed Ringside Studios label, which made Liaison for Apple.
Neither Cooke or Horton would comment when contacted by Deadline. It is understood the former will focus on freelance directing. He is preparing to direct Imelda Staunton in George Bernard Shaw’s Mrs. Warren’s Profession after the pair worked together on Hello, Dolly! at the Palladium last year.
Horton, meanwhile, was recently lead producer on Mike Bartlett’s Unicorn, which is running at the Garrick. That work was done through Kate Horton Productions, which filings show was incorporated last October.
“Fictionhouse is in the process of winding down with Kate and Dominic moving forward to pursue their own freelance theater projects,” a Newen spokesperson said. “Ringside, and Newen, remain committed to working together with Kate and Dominic and are co-developing a selection of film and TV projects across Fictionhouse’s development slate.”
In a statement given to Deadline, Bennetts said: “We at Ringside have greatly enjoyed collaborating creatively with the hugely talented Kate and Dominic and look forward to continuing this relationship across certain film and TV projects together going forward. We wish them all the best in their individual freelance theater work as well.”
These are tough times in in the UK TV drama business. As covered extensively by Deadline, financing drama out of the UK has become increasingly challenging as streamer strategies shift and with costs at an all-time high. Even series that secure a greenlight are struggling to complete their funding, with several big projects currently in limbo.
The Fictionhouse news follows the exit of Leona Connell, the UK-based commercial boss at distribution arm Newen Connect. Speaking to Deadline about the changes, some industry watchers questioned Newen’s commitment to the UK market in light of recent developments.
Newen’s spokeperson responded by saying: “These recent changes do not compromise either our ambitions in the UK or our desire to expand internationally.
“As we have said recently, Newen Connect is continuing to support UK projects within the group, such as [upcoming drama project] Bruno, in partnership with Ringside Studio on pre-financing models, and Cooper & Fry, an 8-episode series produced by Chalkboard for Channel 5. We also have our partnership with [Jude Law’s] Riff Raff which has several projects in development with key UK players.”
