Stark (BBC-ABC 1993, Ben Elton, Colin Friels)

A co-production between the BBC and Australia’s ABC Stark is even more relevent now than on its original broadcast with its tale of a world that is on its last legs thanks to the systematic rape and abuse of its vital resources and minerals by the same big business that is planning to leave it all behind with a space bound escape plan.

Stark begins though with pommie Colin “CD” Dobson living in Western Australia and getting arrested for causing a disturbance in a peace protest (mainly because he is trying to cop a feel off the hippy girl he is with), when he meets the super sexy Rachel (Jacqueline Mackenzie) though his whole world is in turmoil.

She likes CD as a friend, he on the other hand is in serious lust, happy to go along with her plans for more direct action, when the pair discover that businessman Sly Morgan (Colin Friels) is caught up in the ‘Stark’ conspiracy they find themselves in a race against time to save not only themselves but the entire Earth.

production details
UK – Australia / BBC Two – ABC – Cascade / 3×55 minute episodes / Broadcast 8-22 December 1993

Writer: Ben Elton from his own novel / Script Editor: Ellen Fraser / Music: Colin Towns / Titles: Bob Cosford / Design: Laurence Eastwood / Costume: Kerri Barnett / Executive Producers: Michael Wearing, Phil McIntyre, Jill Robb / Producers: Timothy White, David Parker, Michael Wearing / Director: Nadia Tass.

cast
BEN ELTON as C.D
COLIN FRIELS as Sly Morgan
JACQUELINE McKENZIE as Rachel
DERRICK O’CONNOR as Zimmerman
BILL WALLIS as Walter
DEBORA LEE-FURNESS as Chrissie
FIONA PRESS as Karen